CRAIG INSIDER
The Heart Behind the Gift
Honoring the generosity and compassion of our donors
Supporting the Growth of Horticultural Therapy at Craig
“In Craig’s greenhouse and gardens, we practice patient therapies in ways that feel natural and joyful,” explains Mattie Cryer, a horticultural therapist at Craig Hospital. “Getting hands dirty in the soil or working toward a return to gardening at home, our program carries a special kind of magic.”
She adds, “The horticultural program embodies the hospital’s holistic approach to healing and is made possible through the generosity of others. Horticultural therapy at Craig is possible because there are people who believe in the healing power of nature as strongly as we do. For that support, we are profoundly grateful!”
One of those generous donors is Mike Hoops, who has been supporting horticultural therapy at Craig since the 1990s.
A LEADING INNOVATOR
Mike — a lifelong gardener and cofounder of Organix Supply and The Richlawn Company — recalls first hearing about Craig’s program from Susie Hall, a former horticultural therapist who retired from Craig in 2021.
“I met Susie at a trade show,” Mike says. “And after talking to her about Craig’s horticultural therapy program, I was very intrigued. So when she invited me and my wife, Rhea, to tour Craig’s impressive gardens, we couldn’t resist.”
He adds, “In addition to learning about the hospital through Susie, I also have a good friend who was a patient at Craig. He had an amazing recovery, thanks to his rehab at Craig. It was these connections that inspired me to support the hospital.”
While Mike was supporting Craig, he was also working to develop a method of turning chicken waste into a viable fertilizer.
“Mike Hoops is a true pioneer in sustainable agriculture,” says Judd Fitzgerald, sales manager at Organix Supply and The Richlawn Company. “He worked with Colorado State University to transform chicken waste into organic fertilizer for home use, which revolutionized the fertilizer business.”
Adds Judd, “In honor of Mike’s retirement and his longs-tanding support of Craig Hospital, we made a pledge in his name to support the hospital’s horticultural therapy program. It’s a tangible way to celebrate Mike’s retirement while honoring his belief in the power of plant care.”
THE HEALING POWER OF GARDENING
For the past four decades, horticultural therapy has played a key role in the hospital’s holistic approach to rehabilitation. Craig’s horticultural therapists utilize gardening and plant-related activities to help individuals with spinal cord and brain injuries advance toward their rehabilitation goals and discover or reengage in a meaningful form of recreation.
Mike and Rhea Hoops
Horticultural therapy offers patients the opportunity to change an environmental setting, which in turn can lead to a change or shift in perspective. While neurorehabilitation is often a challenging journey for patients, horticultural therapy serves as a respite — patients are distracted from pain, and working on goals doesn’t feel like work. “There’s scientific evidence that plants are calming to the nervous system and lower cortisol and blood pressure,” Mattie says.
In fact, the documented benefits of this form of therapy are vast — from improvements in cognition, time management, problem solving, task initiation and communication abilities to increased muscle strength, coordination, balance and endurance. Multiple studies have also found that spending time in soothing outdoor spaces can improve mental and physical health and that the environment in which physical or occupational therapy takes place plays a central role in patient outcomes.
Craig’s program utilizes both indoor and
NORTH GARDEN PROJECT
Last summer, we moved our North Garden to its new location at Girard and Clarkson across from the PEAK Center. This larger site supports our campus expansion and offers a welcoming, accessible space for patients, families, staff and neighbors — serving both as a therapy area and a peaceful retreat. With an additional 2,400 square feet, the garden was thoughtfully designed by an interdisciplinary committee, featuring Colorado-native water-wise plants to create a healing community space.
Thank you to all the donors who made this possible. Learn more about the project and watch the construction time-lapse at craighospital.org/ north-garden-project
outdoor gardening spaces. Inside the hospital is a 320-square-foot green room used for teaching basic houseplant care and propagation. Highintensity supplemental lighting provides the adequate lighting needed for growing indoor tropical plants as well as sowing spring seed starting for the summer gardens.
Outside are two therapy gardens designed specifically as teaching areas where patients learn accessible gardening techniques. These areas are utilized for patient treatment and also serve as welcoming places for all who visit.
“It was Susie who explained to us how well Craig patients respond to the therapy they receive in Craig’s gardens,” Mike explains. “Being a gardener myself, I completely understand how people can forget their problems and limitations when working with living plants and watching them respond and grow due to the care you have given them. And I have been very proud to support a program that helps patients thrive through this type of therapy.”
Milestones That Inspire
Stories of hope, tenacity, and new beginnings
Shooting for the Stars
When 22-year-old Carissa “Luu” Aspnes arrived at Craig Hospital last June, she was fitted for a wheelchair on her very first day.
“I was blown away seeing her in a wheelchair,” recalls Carissa’s mother, Patti. “For the past three months, Carissa was stuck in bed. But there she was, actually sitting in a wheelchair.”
Patti adds, “I remember feeling so many different emotions on that first day at Craig, but mainly, I felt hopeful. In fact, it was the first time I felt hope since Carissa’s accident.”
AN UNEXPECTED CALL
It was the evening of March 28 when Carissa went for a ride on a friend’s motorcycle.
“My phone rang that night around midnight,” says Patti. “It was one of Carissa’s friends calling to tell me that my daughter had been in a serious accident.”
Living in Fort Collins at the time, Patti jumped in her car and raced down to Denver. “When I arrived at the hospital, I was told that the motorcycle Carissa was riding on had been hit by a car and she was thrown headfirst into a concrete barrier. We were devastated but tried very hard to remain positive.”
Carissa’s family stayed by her side, waiting and praying. After almost three weeks in the ICU, she was moved to a long-term acute care (LTAC) facility.
“We were so happy that Carissa pulled through, but having her in the LTAC was very challenging,” Patti recalls. “For the next few months, she lay in bed, not getting any better. We knew that Craig would give her the best chance at recovery. It’s where she needed to be, so we fought hard to get her there.”
THE RIGHT PLACE
Patti describes Carissa’s first week at Craig as a whirlwind: “We met so many nurses, doctors, therapists and staff. It was exciting, but also overwhelming.”
She adds, “I remember meeting Dr. Eric Spier [Craig’s Brain Injury Program Medical Director] who told me, ‘At Craig, we shoot for the stars every time, and where we land is where we land.’ This approach completely changed my mindset, and Dr. Spier’s words became my motto. I felt peace for the first time since March.”
In addition to participating in Carissa’s numerous therapies, Patti began to closely watch how Carissa’s nursing team cared for her.
“I didn’t know how long insurance would pay for Carissa to be at Craig, so I wanted to learn everything I could as quickly as I could,” Patti explains. “I was pleasantly surprised to find that Craig teaches you everything you need to know. The team empowered me to be hands-on with all of Carissa’s care. They not only supported my daughter, but they were there for me as well.”
BECOMING FAMILY
Patti’s training was part of Craig’s donor-
supported Clinical Practice Specialist (CPS) program, developed to prepare patients and caregivers to perform nursing duties after discharge.
“Carissa’s nursing team spent a lot of time educating and training Patti on how to care for Carissa, and my job as a Clinical Practice Specialist was to close any gaps,” explains Lori Snow-Ricord.
“Before Carissa’s accident, Patti had little nursing knowledge. She felt some trepidation, so I encouraged her to start by observing staff and then slowly building her skills,” Lori explains. “Because she was focused and eager to learn, Patti was quickly practicing Carissa’s skin, bladder and bowel programs, as well as learning how to manage her respiratory and medication needs.”
Adds Patti, “I spent so much time at Craig that the staff began to feel like family. As Carissa’s discharge date got closer, it felt bittersweet. I was excited to take her home, but it was also sad to leave.”
BRINGING CARISSA HOME
When it came time for Carissa to return home in early October, Patti left her marketing job to become Carissa’s full-time caregiver.
“Accessing funding from the Foundation’s Patient Assistance Funds, we helped provide much-needed home modifications, including a wheelchair lift and various bathroom equipment,” says Joanah Cruz, Clinical Care Manager.
“Joanah, whose positivity and support helped carry me through this journey, also helped arrange in-home rehabilitation with a local agency specialized in brain injury rehab,” Patti explains.
She adds, “Some people have the goal of walking out of Craig. But my goal was to bring Carissa home. And thanks to Craig, we didn’t just bring her back to her house; we brought her home to experience a rich, full life. I truly consider Carissa’s story to be a success — a story made possible by everyone at Craig.”
Craig Earns Fifth-Consecutive
Recognition for Nursing Excellence
Only 1.4% of U.S. hospitals have achieved five Magnet designations — your generosity helps make this possible.
We’re thrilled to share inspiring news with you: Craig Hospital has been designated as an ANCC Magnet® organization for the fifth consecutive time, extending our Magnet status through 2030. This is nursing’s highest national honor and a powerful affirmation of the skill, compassion and constant improvement you help fuel at Craig.
Magnet recognition reflects exemplary nursing practice, strong outcomes and a culture of collaboration across our entire hospital. As one of the very few hospitals nationwide to achieve five straight designations, Craig outperformed national benchmarks in 14 areas of care — evidence that excellence here is sustained, measurable and meaningful for the people and families we serve.
Highlights from this year’s review:
• Education and expertise: 94% of Craig nurses hold a bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing.
• Safety and prevention: Exceptional results in infection control and reduced falls with injury in inpatient care.
• Person-centered experience: Top marks in careful listening, respect, education and overall inpatient experience.
• Outpatient quality: Strong performance in medication review, fewer readmissions and fewer falls with injury.
To our donor community: thank you. Your partnership helps us recruit and retain outstanding nurses, invest in education and advance innovations that improve care every day. This Magnet milestone is a tribute to the dedication of our nursing teams — and to your belief in what’s possible at Craig.
Extending the Benefits of ARC-EX Beyond the Clinic
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently cleared the ARC-EX Therapy System for home use, with the help of Craig Hospital.
ARC-EX, which delivers programmed, transcutaneous spinal stimulation, was originally intended for use in medical centers but can now be used at home.
“I am excited to see this innovative spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation technology now available for home use,” explains Dr. Candy Tefertiller, P.T., D.P.T., Ph.D., N.C.S. and Executive Director of Research and Evaluation at Craig. “For people with limited independence who navigate daily logistical challenges, having the option to use this therapy at home can make a meaningful difference. Integrating in-clinic and at-home therapy helps support and maintain improvements in hand strength and sensation, contributing positively to overall quality of life.”
Back in 2022, ONWARD Medical, the medical technology company that created the ARC-EX therapy, designed a trial, called the LIFT Home Study to examine the safety and performance of the therapy when used at home.
The LIFT study enrolled participants from five leading U.S. research centers, including Craig Hospital. Participants were followed for four weeks to assess whether continued access to the therapy in the home is safe and can be used to enhance longterm benefits.
“This study was a very important step in understanding the potential benefits that people with SCI may derive from continued access to ARC therapy outside the clinic,” says Dr. Tefertiller, who served as primary investigator.
The LIFT study is a successor to a pivotal trial, named the Up-LIFT Study, that took place in 2021 with 14 participating research centers in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
The results, which were published in Nature Medicine, revealed that 90% of participants improved upper extremity strength or function and 87% reported improvement in quality of life. Additionally, participants also reported less spasm frequency, improved sleep quality and better upper body sensation and sense of touch.
“Thanks to generous donors who support research at Craig, we were able to purchase several ARC-EX systems for the hospital,” explains Dr. Tefertiller. “This will not only help Craig patients but will also benefit the research team as we conduct translational research.”
She adds, “The clinical integration of transcutaneous spinal stimulation underscores the importance of having a dedicated environment where research can directly translate into improved patient outcomes.”
Join the Community, Fuel the Mission Opportunities to engage, support, and lead
Empowering Lives Through Corporate Support
Engagement Opportunities
• Team volunteering
• Campus tours
• Hosting Craig at your workplace
Philanthropy Opportunities
• Sponsorships
• Workplace Giving
• Matching Gifts
Is your company interested in getting involved with Craig?
Contact Caroline Craven at 303-789-8578 or ccraven@craighospital.org, or visit craighospital. org/foundation/howtogive to learn more!
Would You Like an Inside Look at Craig Hospital? Come See Us!
Join us for a tour of our state-of-the-art facilities and experience our unique cheerful and positive campus atmosphere firsthand.
Choose from one of the upcoming tour dates below and contact the Foundation at 303789-8650 or foundation@craighospital.org to confirm details.
Thursday, March 5 | 4 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17 | 10 a.m.
Saturday, March 28 | 10 a.m.
Wednesday, April 8 | 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 18 | 10 a.m.
Monday, April 27 | 10 a.m.
Honoring Our Own
Steve Smith, CSM (Ret.), U.S. Army, was honored by the Denver Broncos for his service and his leadership of Craig’s Operation TBI Freedom program which advances veteran-centered traumatic brain injury (TBI) care at Craig.
2026 SIGNATURE EVENTS
IMPACT CELEBRATION: PERFORMING ARTS
FRIDAY, APRIL 10 | STUDIO LOFT AT ELLIE CAULKINS OPERA HOUSE
We’re delighted to present Impact Celebration: Performing Arts. This event will feature Craig graduates performing live with song, poetry, music and more!
IMPACT CELEBRATION: ADAPTIVE ATHLETICS
THURSDAY, JUNE 25 I KENT DENVER
Featuring wheelchair rugby! Craig graduates push boundaries and redefine possibility through full contact sport — sharing powerful stories of resilience, determination and triumph.
CRAIG HOSPITAL GOLF TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY RE/MAX, LLC
THURSDAY, JULY 9 I SANCTUARY GOLF COURSE
Our tournament at the exclusive Sanctuary Golf Course is more than just golf. By sponsoring, you make a powerful difference for Craig’s patients and their families. Enjoy brunch, golf and a reception, all while helping transform lives.
GLOW & ROLL: ILLUMINATE WHAT’S POSSIBLE
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 | CLEMENT PARK, LITTLETON
Glow & Roll is an inclusive twilight 5K + 1 mile walk/run/roll where walking, running and rolling come together under a canopy of light, music and hope to shine a spotlight on Craig Hospital’s incredible work.
