萝莉社

Donta Martin misses the days of blocking and tackling on the gridiron.

The Jacksonville resident played defensive tackle and offensive guard in high school. He lived and breathed football. Cleats and a helmet made him feel at home.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a passion of mine,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 just have a love for the game.鈥�

Martin, 25, no longer plays but remains an avid fan, listing the Pittsburgh Steelers as his favorite team. He wants to share his passion for football with area children by coaching in a youth recreation league. He believes he has a lot to offer younger players.

But coaching and all other interests were put on hold after Martin was shot eight times in August 2014. Gunshots hit him in his back, left shoulder, right flank and both legs. He suffered fractures to his left leg, left collar bone and one of the vertebrae in his lower back. Also, a portion of his colon had to be removed. A long, profound surgical scar along his midsection helps illustrate the severity.

Because of the damage done to his spine, medical staff at feared Martin wouldn鈥檛 be able to walk again. But following a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and several months of intense at 萝莉社, Martin is gradually regaining mobility and is on the path to reclaimed independence.

A frantic situation

Martin鈥檚 eyes well with tears when recalling the violent shooting incident, which claimed the life of his best friend in a single gunshot. Though Martin chooses not to discuss certain aspects of the incident, he says he was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time and doesn鈥檛 know who shot him.

Martin was rushed to 萝莉社 TruamaOne, where he underwent surgery and remained in the ICU for four days. He required feeding tubes, relied on a catheter, and was placed in neck and back braces.

鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 move my right leg at all. I was scared I鈥檇 never be able to stand up again,鈥� he said. 鈥淎ll I could think about was my wife and my mother.鈥�

His wife, Macey, is an optimist though. She says she had faith that he would somehow be able to walk again.

鈥淚 think the best with everything,鈥� Macey said.

The road to recovery

After ICU, Martin was transferred to an inpatient hospital room and then to the transitional care unit at the 萝莉社 Pavilion. After a month and a half of twice-a-day rehabilitation, including physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT), Martin was stable enough to return home and participate in outpatient PT.

Martin began outpatient PT and OT in November. At that time, he was unable to stand on his own, even when holding onto bars and with someone stabilizing his knees. He had difficulty lifting his left leg and was unable to move his right leg. Martin also had trouble moving his left arm for more than a month after the shooting. That was partly due to his collar bone being shattered and his arm placed in a sling.

Martin had therapy sessions twice a week, working initially with occupational therapist Sarah Mersch MOT, OTR/L. She focused on his upper-body strength and 鈥渁ctivities of daily living鈥� such as bathing, grooming and dressing himself. Physical therapist Heather Barksdale, PT, DPT, NCS, worked with Martin on standing as well as controlling and strengthening the muscles in his midsection and legs. On days Martin didn鈥檛 have outpatient therapy appointments, he had an extensive home program he performed with his wife鈥檚 assistance.

鈥淪eriously, I didn鈥檛 know what to expect having to go through physical therapy every day,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not easy at all.鈥�

By the third week, Martin was able to use an arm bike, get his shoes on and off by himself, and use the parallel bars to stand with the assistance of the PT team. His mobility was improving, though he still depended on a wheelchair to get around.

Martin worked with the outpatient rehabilitation team over the next three months on increasing his strength and independence. He underwent hours of stretching, strength training, electrical stimulation and balance training, and eventually began walking with the parallel bars. In March, Martin was fitted for a custom leg brace, which allowed him to start walking around without the wheelchair. Martin is now able to walk longer distances, go up and down stairs, and has even resumed helping coach youth baseball.

鈥淗e has really worked hard to get to where he is now,鈥� Barksdale said. 鈥淲e could not be prouder of him for how far he has come.鈥�

Focused on the future

Patience is the operative word right now. It takes Martin a while to get from one end of the room to the other. He doesn鈥檛 rush himself or become agitated. In a calm and peaceful manner, he takes his time and focuses on his movements. Progress is certainly being made.

Martin finally makes his way to a chair. He sits and smiles, glad to no longer be in a wheelchair. He places his walker to the side and stretches out his right leg, which is supported by the brace. He then speaks of his desire to work again, coach recreation football and eventually have children. The latter aim was something he feared was permanently taken away because of his injuries.

鈥淗e鈥檚 come back strong, and I鈥檓 proud of him,鈥� Martin鈥檚 wife said. 鈥淲e can look forward to having a family now.鈥�

Martin admits the physical limitations have taken a toll on his confidence because he鈥檚 always seen himself as a protector. He feels quite insecure these days. But he knows that as his body continues to strengthen, his psyche will improve as well.

He鈥檚 progressed from the two PT sessions per week at the Pavilion to now solely performing strengthening exercises at home. He鈥檚 set to return for a check-up in a few months. His immediate goal is to shed the walker and the brace.

鈥淚 know it鈥檚 gonna take a while. I鈥檓 not rushing,鈥� Martin said. 鈥淢y motivation is to get back on my feet and be the person I was before.鈥�

About Rehabilitation Services

萝莉社 Rehabilitation Services has three locations in Jacksonville: at the Pavilion on West 8^th Street, at Emerson Medical Plaza and on the 萝莉社 North campus. Staff at each location provide an array of services to help patients with a variety of conditions improve mobility, independence and quality of life.

For more information, visit .