A new year brings a new incomparable HEC-TV program lineup including an all-new episode of our exclusive local series Impact– set to air on January 25th. This show promises to engage our viewers as it highlights innovative ways people and organizations in our own community are making a difference in the lives of others. You may remember a Sneak Peek of the program posted a few weeks ago that featured the Community CollabARTive program offered at the Peter and Paul Community Center.
Today I am going to share another heart-warming story that you will see in the new Impact show. As an orthopedic surgeon at Progress West HealthCare Center (PWHC) in O’Fallon, Dr. Ted Rummel’s life took an unexpected turn when a blood-filled sac in a nodule of his spinal cord erupted, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
This Impact segment explores Dr. Rummel’s road to recovery and how he conquered the challenges of living in a wheelchair. Although he was told he would never be able to perform surgery again, PWHC provided him with the necessary support and accommodations so that he could return to work and operate just like any other surgeon. You can learn more about Dr. Rummel in a recent article published by the St. Louis Post Dispatch.
“I relate one hundred percent differently to my patients now. I listen better and I’m much more empathetic. I really feel for their condition and how it’s affecting their life.”
-Dr. Ted Rummel
Dr. Rummel’s story is one of personal triumph; it is a tragedy turned around that shows how to overcome life’s obstacles and have an all-around positive outlook. Don’t miss this inspiring segment of Impact, airing January 25, exclusively on HEC-TV!
