Issue link: https://tmcpulse.uberflip.com/i/339692
t m c » p u l s e | j u ly 2 0 1 4 14 A dversity in the form of debilitat- ing illness and injury can act as a barrier, presenting obstacles in every facet of life, from something as simple as brushing your teeth in the morning to the ability to engage in competitive sports. Peter and Aaron Berry, 11 and 10, respectively, have consistently broken through those barriers since becoming paralyzed from the waist down in an automobile accident in 2011. Juggling a busy schedule that includes schoolwork, spending time with family and friends, swim therapy and wheel- chair basketball, the boys haven't allowed their disability to slow them down; for them, obstacles have become opportunities. "They're very passionate about basketball. The coaching is incredible… it just epitomizes this all encompass- ing approach to providing support," said Simone Berry, the boys' aunt and guardian. "Before the accident, the boys were very competitive in their sports, and this has allowed that competitive energy and spirit to carry on. They learn life lessons in the experience with wheelchair basketball and through traveling across the country—they're so close with their teammates." Founded in 1997, TIRR Memorial Hermann (The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research) Hotwheels is a competitive traveling junior wheelchair basketball team, com- prised of elementary, middle and high school students age eight to 18. In 2013, the team achieved the highly coveted number one ranking in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA) Junior Division. As one com- ponent of the adaptive sports program at TIRR Memorial Hermann, Hotwheels serves as a testament to the potential of holistic rehabilitation to give individu- als their lives back. Continually recognized as one of America's Best Hospitals by U.S. News and World Report, TIRR Memorial Hermann is a national leader in medical rehabilitation and research. Redefining Rehabilitation A holistic approach to rehabilitation sets TIRR Memorial Hermann apart Founded in 1977, TIRR Memorial Hermann Hotwheels is a competitive traveling junior wheelchair basketball team, comprised of elementary, middle and high schools students age eight to 18. Peter, left, and Aaron Berry, right, are both proud members of the team. (Credit: TIRR Memorial Hermann) Emphasizing their dedication in educa- tion, they also act as a teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Treating patients both within the Texas Medical Center and beyond, TIRR Memorial Hermann's integrated network of rehabilitation facilities enables them to serve the entire greater Houston community. "When you look at what we do, it's clear that we're a leader not only in patient care, but in contributing to new technology and research, in terms of the productivity and dedication of our staff, and in our efforts at preparing rehabilitation professionals for the future, across all disciplines," said Carl Josehart, chief executive officer of TIRR Memorial Hermann "I really do believe that we are creating the standards that other people are follow- ing in the industry." Since 1959, TIRR Memorial Hermann has been a national leader in interdisciplinary rehabilitation services, patient care, education and research. Through the continued education of its experts, TIRR Memorial Hermann has maintained its status as the source of new discovery and thought leadership within the field for decades. To further those efforts, TIRR Memorial Hermann opened the TIRR Memorial Hermann Research Center in 2013. With the renovation of the 42,600 square foot building behind the main hospital, all of the research endeavors came together under one roof. TIRR Memorial Hermann patients are able to see their physician and continue across the sky bridge to par- ticipate in research. Josehart describes the bridge that connects the hospital to the research building as more than a physical connection. "It's a symbolic connection of how we want to do the research. Our research is really trans- lational based on things we think can help our patients and make our rehab efforts more effective. It's a visible B y A l e x O r l a n d o