Peter LeBuhn
Kathy Flamm
Sasha Perry
Stricken with epilepsy at the age of 4, Peter LeBuhn has lived a life of courage, desire and perseverance. Tormented by grand mal seizures daily, including falling seizures, Peter and his family made the difficult decision to go forward with a Corpus Collosotomy, a surgical procedure that severs the corpus callosum, interrupting the spread of seizures from hemisphere to hemisphere in the brain. Following the surgery Peter‘s seizures declined but he was left partially paralyzed and could barely speak a single word. With a “never give up spirit” that is an integral part of his character, Peter continues to fight back from every one of his setbacks through hard work and determination, with a profound faith that he will get better. He’s been buoyed through it all by his loving and supportive parents and family, and more recently by his trainer and good friend of three years, Steve Tauder. In spite of his challenges Peter has managed to earn his Certificate in Holistic Health Studies from Drexel University and has also become certified as a Reiki Grand Master Teacher. He also finds time to give back to the community and in 2009 received the “Because You Care Award” from Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital for the volunteer work he does there. Peter LeBuhn embodies the Fighting Back spirit every day of his life and is richly deserving of being honored tonight.
Kathy Flamm arrives at the Fighting Back Gym twice a week with the goal of improving her quality of life and independence, as well as encouraging others who find themselves in a similar situation. According to her trainer, Katie Pritchard, Kathy is the “heart and soul” of the Fighting Back program. She suffered a stroke while in her forties, which left her in a wheelchair. She worked hard in her rehabilitation and was progressing well when she fell and broke her neck, shoulder and arm. Despite setbacks Kathy would not be deterred and eventually walked again with her balance and coordination improving. Kathy sets goals for herself and one was to take part in the Philadelphia 5K Stroke Walk and she did – walking a short distance and then being pushed in a wheelchair the rest of the way. The following year she completed about half of the distance on her own feet. Year three found Kathy completing the 3.1 miles on her own and in last year’s walk she beat her own time. Encouraging her throughout the Stroke Walks have been “The Flammanators”, a group of 100 or more relatives, friends and acquaintances who have been inspired by
Kathy’s spirit and determination. With a smile and kind words of encouragement for others, Kathy is a true inspiration to those around her and exemplifies the qualities inherent in the Fighting Back Program – Courage, Desire and Perseverance.
Sasha Perry - Award Recipient
In her second year at Community College in 1997, nineteen year old Sasha Perry was involved in an auto accident which left her in a coma for more than six months. Awakening to a severe traumatic brain injury, Sasha began her rehabilitation at Moss Rehabilitation Hospital where she progressed slowly. Four years following the accident she learned to walk again. Sasha’s been working on her rehabilitation at Fighting Back with her trainer, Ron Nicholson, for three years. She enjoys working with Ron and exercises with great enthusiasm. Ron says the first thing you will notice about Sasha is her personality. She’s very outgoing, engaging and a hard worker. Her determination and persistence have paid off as her balance and hand-eye coordination have improved significantly. Her distinctive personality makes Sasha a well known member of the Fighting Back community. Her trademark “thumbs-up” to others in the room and her unique phrase “that’s what’s up” has made her a favorite among Fighting Back members. With Susan, her mother and caregiver, always at her side, Team Perry is a wonderful example of the love, support and perseverance that is so deserving of tonight’s award.