Stewart Sparks attended the annual patient reunion near Pima Road and Via de Ventura to meet the care team credited with saving his life following a severe motorcycle crash in Arizona during the summer of 2024.
“I was part of a motorcycle accident right off the 101… First time I was really without a helmet on, and it hurt me bad,” Sparks said.
Sparks woke up in the hospital connected to a feeding tube after the wreck.
That moment initiated his recovery from a traumatic brain injury at HonorHealth Rehabilitation Hospital.
“My brain injury was really bad. I saw a picture of me when it first happened, and I was amazed that I was still alive,” Sparks said.
Reflecting back on the beginning phases of his rehabilitation, HonorHealth Rehabilitation Hospital speech therapist Lauren Kane described how he was doing at the start.
“When I first met Stewart, he really didn’t know what was going on. He was very confused and agitated,” Kane said.
Sparks met with members of his care team at the gathering to reconnect with the professionals who helped guide his recovery.
“When we met him he was having a really hard time speaking, a hard time eating, just confused, so we were able to help him,” Kane said.
Sparks reflected on the difficult rehabilitation timeline and the personal moments lost during treatment.
“I had a ways to go. I had not eaten since May and this was August 12 when this happened. I missed our anniversary. I missed my daughter’s birthday. I missed a lot of stuff, started getting better,” Sparks said.
Two years later, Sparks has improved his recovery.
“Getting to see someone from right when their injury happened, then two years after the fact, it’s really a rewarding profession to work in,” Kane said.
Supported by his medical staff, Sparks continues to navigate ongoing obstacles on his healing journey as he eagerly anticipates what lies ahead.
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