Vincent Chigbu is from Aba, Nigeria, a former British colonial administrative center on the east coast of Africa, known today for its many fine primary and secondary schools.  Chigbu excelled in his schooling and attended the University of Maryland, where he received a master's degree in finance. 

After working as an accountant for several years in Newark, Delaware, he and his wife received attractive job offers in Boston, put their house up for sale and prepared for the next promising chapter of their lives.  But a car accident that left him with a severe traumatic brain injury has forced a change in plans.

Where does one begin again after such a catastrophic physical, cognitive and emotional blow?  Chigbu, 43 years old, was transferred to Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital three weeks after his injury to begin therapy in the Emerging Awareness Brain Injury Program for people not yet fully aware of their surroundings.  After 2-1/2 months of intensive inpatient therapy, the father of two young children was ready to transfer to the Day Treatment program to continue his recovery. 

Despite lingering weakness on his right side, Chigbu was able to complete a 10-item checklist that included 20 degrees of wrist extension and 10 degrees of finger extension, qualifying him for and intensive form of therapy called constraint-induced therapy.  (See sidebar).  He continues to make steady progress with the goal of returning to work in finance.

Photo Caption: 
Constraint-induced (CI) therapy helps create new neural pathways in the brain to replace damaged ones in people with paralysis on one side.  Monitored by neurologist David Long, Chigbu performs repetitive tasks with his weakened arm and hand while wearing a mitt on his strong hand to discourage its use. 

2006 Annual Report