Austin Rump

Austin Rump, 22, got into a severe motor vehicle accident during the summer. Alone at the time of the accident, Austin waited several hours for EMS to arrive. He suffered severe injuries including, multiple broken bones. EMS rushed him to the University of Cincinnati Level 1 Trauma Center.

Upon arrival, Austin was stabilized, placed on a mechanical ventilator, and moved to the surgical intensive care unit. There, he underwent surgery to correct his broken bones. Austin was recovering well until he suffered a sudden onset seizure. After that, his neurological status changed. The hospital rushed to get imaging on his brain, which revealed a fat embolism. It caused deficits in his speech and neurological status.

Austin spent several days at the University of Cincinnati. When he became medically stable, Austin was ready to transition to the next level of care. Austin and his family chose Gateway Rehabilitation Hospital to begin his intensive rehabilitation journey.

Upon his arrival at Gateway, Austin required assistance with mobility and walking. His greatest weaknesses were his mental status, cognitive deficits, and speech. He demonstrated deficits in memory, voice, expression, and problem-solving. Despite the many challenges he faced, Austin maintained his determination.

Austin came motivated to therapy and worked hard with his team at Gateway. He recalls being grateful for his speech therapy team, especially for how well they listened. They took it one day at a time, and Austin remembers the staff encouraging him not to give up on his dreams. One of his goals is to become a telephone lineman one day.

After a lot of determination and hard work, Austin discharged home. He continued his therapy through the outpatient program at St. Elizabeth Dearborn. Austin is happy to report that he finished his physical and occupational therapy. He gained his full mobility back and is running several times a week. Austin continues with speech therapy at St. Elizabeth Dearborn, focusing on problem-solving.

When asked what advice he would give others suffering from a traumatic brain injury, Austin said, “Never give up!”