PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

Mary Beth Davis Celebrates Home Run for Life

April 9, 2013 - Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City RedHawks and INTEGRIS Health are proud to reintroduce the "Home Run for Life" series on Friday, April 12 during the RedHawks home opener. The RedHawks and INTEGRIS will start the season by recognizing Mary Beth Davis, a 22-year-old Oklahoma State student who was paralyzed in 2010, but now uses the unique Ekso bionic suit to aid her recovery at the INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center.

"Home Run For Life" recognizes people in the Oklahoma City community who, with the help of their families, physicians and health care professionals, have overcome a significant medical event in their life. Honorees are recognized during the game and get to take a home run "lap" around the bases, symbolizing the end of a battle against adversity.

The INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center is just one of 14 facilities in the world to have an Ekso bionic suit. Davis will demonstrate the use of the Ekso bionic suit-which helps gives her the ability to walk-on the field.

"We are very proud to partner with INTEGRIS Health and continue the 'Home Run For Life' series in 2013," RedHawks President/General Manager Michael Byrnes said. "It gives us a chance to highlight some special people who have summoned a lot of courage and strength to get where they are today."

On a Friday afternoon in August, 2010, Davis was driving home to Guthrie after completing her classes for the day in Stillwater. While traveling east on State Highway 51, she remembers driving in the right lane and glancing down from the road for a second. She overcorrected into the left lane, corrected again and flipped her truck twice down a steep hill. Davis was wearing a seatbelt, but the impact of the cab roof collapsing on her broke Davis' C6 and C7 vertebrae toward the top of her spine. Rescue personnel worked for about an hour to cut her free from her truck.

Davis spent about two weeks in an intensive care unit before being transferred to the INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center for six weeks of inpatient treatment.

Although she had to temporarily withdraw from OSU, Davis was back in Stillwater taking one class during the spring semester. When the new school year began in the fall, she was enrolled full-time.

Around the same time, Davis was beginning to use the Ekso bionic suit during her outpatient therapy sessions. The Ekso bionic suit weighs about 50 pounds, straps over the user's clothing, and has three walking speeds. After just two weeks of use, Mary Beth progressed quickly enough to walk across the stage and receive recognition at the 2012 INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Courage Awards Gala.

"I love it," Davis said of Ekso. "I love being in it...I think I'm tall again. It's weird how short you feel to everybody. It's really cool. I get to decide where we go, so it's fun."

Davis has caught the attention of several doctors at the INTEGRIS Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center for her determination and leadership. She currently serves as a peer mentor for other patients.

"She has just grown and she has kept her faith the entire time," said Josie Gimple, Dr. of Physical Therapy/Assistive Technology Professional. "A lot of people would get frustrated...She just has amazing effort. She keeps making progress."

To read Mary Beth's full story and to see video of her using the Ekso bionic suit, visit okcredhawks.com.

Come see Mary Beth Davis use the Ekso bionic suit on the field during "Home Run for Life" following the third inning during the RedHawks game Friday night against the Memphis Redbirds. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Interview requests for Davis or RedHawks personnel can be made through the RedHawks' media department. Tickets for Saturday's game are available through the RedHawks ticket office at (405) 218-1000 or by visiting okcredhawks.com.

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