Josh Russo On How SHARE Helped Him & His Family
Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative helped Josh Russo regain control of his life
“It was all cascading.”
That’s how Josh Russo describes his life in 2024. He was preparing to retire from the military, where he spent most of his 21-year career in special operations for the U.S. Army. Neuropathy in his right leg was so debilitating and painful that he had required a wheelchair, and he was experiencing depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideations.
“I felt out of control, like I was on a speeding train that I couldn’t get off,” Josh says. “It made me self-isolate and not want to be around anyone, including my family.”
On the recommendation of a nurse case manager, he came to Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative in November 2024.
“I had been trying to get help,” Josh remembers, “but nothing was working. I wasn’t sure SHARE would either.”
Josh spent eight weeks working on pain management, physical mobility, and learning how to regulate his emotions. He had three goals: to better understand his symptoms and why he was experiencing them, show up more at home, and build a life beyond the military.
Physical therapy helped with the neuropathy, as well as some chronic neck and shoulder pain he had as a result of several military deployments. He worked with a neuropsychologist on his emotional issues. 
Josh says one of the most helpful things was having his wife and three children come to Shepherd during his treatment so they could all learn about what he was experiencing and ways they could help each other.
“All of us benefited from that,” he says. “We all came away with a better understanding of my symptoms and ways we could work as a team in managing everything.”
By the end of the program, Josh felt physically and mentally stronger and ready for his next chapter.
In March 2025, Josh retired from active duty and began consulting — work that has opened the door to new entrepreneurial opportunities. Though he calls himself a “work in progress,” he is better equipped to manage pain, stay connected, and keep moving forward.
“SHARE allowed me to step back and understand what was happening and identify clear pathways to navigate through it,” Josh says. “I had never encountered that level of care and client-focused continuity of care that I experienced there. It’s a world-class program.”
Written by Sara Baxter
With five decades of experience, Shepherd Center provides world-class clinical care, research, and family support for people experiencing the most complex conditions, including spinal cord and brain injuries, multi-trauma, traumatic amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and pain. An elite center ranked by U.S. News as one of the nation’s top hospitals for rehabilitation, Shepherd Center is also recognized as both Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems. Shepherd Center treats thousands of patients annually with unmatched expertise and unwavering compassion to help them begin again.