Grant and Shawna Korgan
Siskin Hospital announced Grant and Shawna Korgan as the guest speakers at the 13th annual “Possibilities: Siskin Hospital Celebrates Life Beyond Disability” Luncheon on Tuesday, March 22. The luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.at the Chattanooga Convention Center.
The Possibilities Luncheon will feature an inspirational video that highlights personal stories of Siskin Hospital patients who have overcome their disabilities. Their miraculous recovery stories of love, courage, and perseverance show that with hope life can be full of possibilities.
World-class adventurer, nanoscientist, and professional athlete Grant Korgan had never balked at a challenge. And on March 5, 2010, the day his life’s direction veered dramatically, he undertook his greatest challenge of all – an astounding recovery from a paralyzing spinal cord injury.
A day that started with good friends and snowmobiles in the Sierra Mountains of California ended with a helicopter ride to Reno’s renowned medical center. He’d overshot a jump and burst fractured his L1 vertebra, or, in the words of a close friend and eyewitness to the accident, “exploded his L1 vertebra [sending] shrapnel” throughout the fracture site. He underwent nine hours of reconstructive surgery to repair the damage. His determination, and the unconditional love and support of Shawna, his wife of five months, strengthened him to not only recover, but to rise and reclaim his active lifestyle. From wheelchair to walker to crutches to two canes, Mr. Korgan progressed painfully, tirelessly, steadily, eventually becoming the first spinal cord-injured athlete in history to ski 80 miles to Antarctica’s South Pole. Today, he is the emerging face of spinal cord recovery and heralds his message of choosing positivity through adversity so that we may all climb a mountain for someone we love.
Mr. Korgan chronicles his injury and road to recovery in his autobiography, “Two Feet Back,” aimed at reminding us all “that regardless of ability (or perceived dis-ability), every single one of us has the power to come to the awareness that you can achieve everything you desire in this life.”
“I believe humanity’s natural state is one of positivity, greatness, and, ultimately, love,” he said. He is committed to sharing with others what he knows about the power of positivity, achieving goals regardless of circumstance, and the importance of remembering that life is happening right now, in this moment, with or without our permission.
On that fateful day, Ms. Korgan held the face of her husband of five months as he told her that he couldn’t feel or move anything from the waist down. She determined to keep the promises she had made to him just five months earlier and work for the beautiful vision they’d had of their future together. She took his recovery head on, with a drive and tenacity equal to Mr. Korgan’s, drawing upon her 15 years as a certified personal trainer and her bachelor of science degree in Health Ecology. She worked with doctors and therapists to devise a rigorous plan to reach Mr. Korgan’s goal of 120 percent recovery, integrating traditional forms of therapy with spiritually-inspiring techniques to transport him to the places he holds special in life.
Ms. Korgan believes the opportunity to serve others is one of the greatest gifts we can receive. Through blogs, webinars and private coaching she empowers individuals, with and without injuries, to reach their health, fitness and life goals. She is currently writing her first book about her journey through his recovery, as well as developing a guide for caregivers.
A steering committee, led by Rick and Pam McKenney, is working with Siskin Hospital staff to help coordinate the luncheon. The Possibilities Luncheon is Siskin Hospital’s only community-wide fundraising event. The proceeds provide needed services for patients without adequate insurance to cover the cost of their care. Siskin Hospital would like to thank Unum for its continued support as the Premier Event Sponsor of the Possibilities Luncheon for 13 years. Additionally, organizers are grateful for the following sponsors: Hamico Foundation (Presenting Speaker Sponsor – Grant and Shawna Korgan); Chattanooga Times Free Press (Principal Press Sponsor), and Brewer Media (Primary Broadcast Sponsor).
Individual tickets to the event are $75. Platinum sponsorship tables of eight are available for $3,000; Crystal sponsorship tables of eight for $2,000 and Patron sponsorship tables of eight for $1,500. For more information or to reserve your place at the Possibilities Luncheon, please contact Donna Deweese at (423) 634-1208 orddeweese@siskinrehab.org. Online registration and donation opportunities are available by visiting www.SiskinRehab.org.
Rick and Pam McKenney