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Finding Success in College

Gina's Story


This past spring Gina P.’s family and friends gathered with Webster Court staff and fellow clients to celebrate an important milestone in her recovery – earning a college degree.

Back in the fall of 1999, Gina, known for her tenacity and spunk, was a college-bound senior with dreams of becoming a music teacher. A gifted student and trombonist, she had won a music scholarship to Oakland University when the unthinkable happened. Just one week into her senior year, Gina’s car was broadsided on her way to marching band practice.

Gina, now 27, sustained a brain injury and was in a coma for 10 weeks. Doctors didn’t expect her to wake up, much less attend college, and recommended that Gina’s parents find a long-term care facility. As a last ditch effort to help, her band teacher transported the entire marching band to the hospital to play for Gina in the courtyard. The next day, Gina woke up.

“Never say never about Gina,” says her mom, Judy.

With intensive therapy, she quickly regained most of her basic abilities and was able to graduate from high school just a year later than scheduled. Although she still struggled with some cognitive impairment that affected her learning and personal management skills, she was determined to go to college and started classes at Oakland University the following fall.

“That’s when everything fell apart,” recalls her mother, who turned to Special Tree for help. Gina was failing classes and was becoming “unglued” with the multiple demands of college. OU offered help, but was unsure how to support a student with a brain injury. Gina wasn’t receiving much therapy and her mother, a strong and motivating force throughout Gina’s recovery, was reaching the painful realization that she didn’t know how to move her daughter forward. A visit from Gina’s external case manager confirmed how desperately Gina needed help. “She said that Gina had more problems than I realized and hooked us up with Special Tree,” said Judy.

In 2003, Gina put college on hold and moved to an apartment at Special Tree’s Webster Court, a supportive independent living environment where Gina could receive the treatment she needed to move forward with her recovery.

“Gina was determined to overcome her challenges so she could go back to school,” said her Special Tree Case Manager Carolyn Caldwell. At OU, Gina had struggled with daily and long-term planning, managing her time and schedule, and the ability to focus. With the right blend of therapy and medical interventions, Gina’s team helped her develop the learning tools and compensatory strategies to accommodate her cognitive challenges and altered learning style. With support from Carolyn and the Webster Court staff, Gina was also learning the skills necessary for independent living including doing laundry, planning and preparing healthy meals, prioritizing tasks; keeping track of scheduled work, school, social activities, and using the bus system.

After a year of therapy, Gina returned to school in 2004 at Oakland Community College. Armed with the right combination of supports and accommodations, Gina was now able to achieve success. She made the Dean’s list twice and earned her Associates Degree in General Studies.

“Gina worked hard to get through school,” said Carolyn. “This was a tremendous accomplishment, and we’re all so proud of her.”

Gina continues to live at Webster Court and is looking forward to continuing her education in music or environmental science. She is still passionate about playing her trombone and is now engaged.

Never say never about Gina.


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