After a motorcycle accident left him with a traumatic brain injury, Michael Hickmon’s mother, Janel, advocated for his care and rehabilitation to help him regain his life and independence.
Michael Hickmon, 26, a Harley Davidson mechanic, was driving home on his beloved motorcycle one afternoon after attending his cousin’s swim class. He was traveling along the 495 Beltway in Maryland when his mother, Janel, snapped a photo of him.
“When I got home, I sent Michael a photo of himself passing us on the beltway,” Janel said. “He responded, ‘Nice,’ and that was the last message I received.”
Life-changing motorcycle accident
Soon after, the police arrived at Janel’s house and told her that Michael had been involved in a motorcycle accident and had been taken to Suburban Hospital.
When Janel arrived at the hospital, a physician explained that Michael had several injuries, including a brain injury, and that emergency surgery was needed to save his life.
“When I got to the ICU and learned about all his injuries and broken bones, I was devastated,” she said. “They didn’t think he would make it through the night. His ER doctor said the next 24 to 48 hours were the most crucial as they worked to stabilize him. A few days later, his neurosurgeon recommended a craniotomy, along with other emergency surgeries to save his life.”
Emergency surgery and brain injury diagnosis
Michael underwent nine surgeries and, although his condition stabilized, he continued to face significant challenges.
Along with his injuries, Michael was diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder that occurs when a brain injury damages areas of the brain responsible for speech and comprehension.
Janel said that she spent three months at her son’s bedside, watching him fight for his life.
Advocating for the right inpatient rehabilitation
Once he was stable enough to begin rehabilitation, Janel wanted to ensure her son received the right inpatient rehabilitation.
Michael and his family ultimately chose the Rehabilitation Hospital of Bowie, a joint venture between Encompass Health and the University of Maryland Medical System, for inpatient rehabilitation. There, he could work with a care team focused on his complex recovery needs. His recovery goals were clear: to regain the strength needed to transfer, stand, walk and complete daily self-care tasks.
Relearning to walk and communicate after a brain injury
When Michael arrived at the Rehabilitation Hospital of Bowie, he began brain injury rehabilitation. He worked closely with a multidisciplinary team, including a physical therapist, occupational therapist and a speech-language pathologist.
“His therapists were amazing and worked so well with him,” Janel said. “Rachel, his speech-language pathologist, did an incredible job. Michael said more in that one-hour session with her than he had in months.”
Through hard work and intensive therapy, Michael began making meaningful progress in both communication and mobility — important steps toward regaining his independence.
“Before Encompass Health, he would resist getting up to walk,” Janel said. “He went from transferring using a Hoyer lift to standing with assistance. With his physical therapist, he began walking and continued to walk more each day. Even when he was uncomfortable, he kept pushing to get better.”
Janel said she was amazed at the progress Michael made as she watched him during his therapy sessions. He was regaining his ability to walk and finding his voice again.
Continuing the journey to recovery and independence
When Michael was discharged, his care team showed up to support him — a moment that left a lasting impression on Janel.
“Everyone was cheering him on throughout his recovery,” she said. “The nurses, techs and others made him feel supported from start to finish. Although we didn’t have a big discharge celebration because we left the hospital at 7 p.m., I’m grateful for his care team and everything they did for him.”
Currently, Michael is continuing his recovery and regaining his strength while completing outpatient therapy. He walks with the assistance of a walker and independently performs his self-care tasks.
“I’m excited that he is regaining more of his independence every day,” Janel said. “He just started relearning how to go up and down the stairs. He has made tremendous improvements since he started at Encompass Health.”
Now, Michael is looking forward to continuing his recovery and getting back to the activities he enjoys.
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