Helping Each Other Help Each Other

Brent Geeslin, a native of Atlanta, has always been skilled with his hands. He fondly remembers spending time with his father, learning to work on cars through trial and error.

"My father used to fix what I messed up when I was young, which is why I've been in love with automotive ever since,” Brent recalls.

In February 2024, Brent was recovering from a severe bout of COVID-19. Unable to sit still, he wanted to return to work, but his manager told him to go home. Restless still, he headed to his farm to chop firewood.

"I was about probably 3/4 of the way home, and they think I might have swerved to avoid an animal because the report said I slammed on brakes," he recounts.

Brent’s Life360, a location-sharing and driving safety app, showed sudden braking, and then the car ran into a tree. The crash resulted in multiple severe injuries, including a broken back, broken ribs, and extensive damage to his neck ligaments and tendons.

After an initial stay at a local hospital, Brent transferred to Shepherd Center's Comprehensive Rehabilitation Unit (CRU) to begin rehabilitation. Despite the daunting task of recovering physically, his occupational therapy sessions gave him a new perspective on his journey. An exciting challenge arose when he overheard a conversation about installing wiper blades, something he was familiar with due to his experience working on cars. Despite his limited fine motor skills, he saw an opportunity to improve his dexterity and help someone in need.

"I heard one of the therapy techs, Hannah [Gross], telling my therapist, Jena [Kelly, OTR/L], that she had bought wiper blades for her car but didn't know how to put them on or where to go to get them installed," he explains.

Seeing a chance to help, Gross offered to make this task part of his therapy.

"I thought this was a great idea! Not only would I get a great fine motor skills workout, but I would also be able to help someone,” Brent recalls.

The session took place on a bitterly cold spring day. Despite the challenging weather, he managed to coach Gross through the process, empowering her to install the wiper blades herself.

"Unfortunately, I didn't know it would be in the 30s with high winds. Hannah put her heavy jacket on me, which was not my size. Still, it kept me warm," he recalls, highlighting the makeshift solutions they adopted to manage.

The experience was transformative. Previously frustrated by his inability to help friends and family due to his injuries, he found a new sense of pride.

"The empowerment I received from helping somebody helping me was mind-blowing," he notes.

The moment marked a milestone in his recovery, reigniting his fire and commitment to rehabilitation. His therapists, including Gross and Kelly, played pivotal roles in encouraging him to succeed in such therapeutic activities.

"Jena was always positive, saying ‘You can do this,’" he shared.

This support was crucial as he navigated complex emotions and physical challenges post-injury. Brent is now continuing his rehabilitation at Shepherd Pathways, a comprehensive outpatient rehabilitation program for people recovering from brain injuries. The supportive atmosphere of Shepherd Center fostered his recovery and community spirit. He says he formed bonds with the therapy staff and others.

"I've made a lot of friends, and I've had a lot of folks rooting for me, which is a big help,” Brent says.

Written by Dominique McPhearson