07/01/2025
In a split second, everything changed.
In December 2023, Yisenia Tirado an active mother of three and regular gym-goer, was hit head-on by a wrong-way driver. The crash left her with devastating injuries: a shattered right ankle and wrist, a fractured hip, an exposed kneecap with shattered bone and internal bleeding that left her bruised and battered.
“I couldn’t put pressure on my leg. I depended on a walker, then a cane. Bending my knee was my biggest challenge,” she said.
For someone used to moving with strength and purpose, recovery wasn’t just physical; it was emotional. But Yisenia was determined. With the guidance of physical therapist Christopher Hayes and the rest of her rehabilitation team, she began a long and focused road to healing.
“Chris pushed me in areas I didn’t think I could reach. He challenged me and I met those challenges,” Yisenia said. “The entire team was knowledgeable and supportive. I couldn’t have asked for better care.”
There were setbacks and surgeries along the way, including the removal of scar tissue and metal from her knee. Yisenia hit a major milestone when she was finally able to bend her knee to 125 degrees.
“I wanted to walk without a limp and bend my knee again, and I did both,” she said.
One moment that stands out? Running, or close to it, on the antigravity treadmill. “Even though I wasn’t using my full weight, it felt amazing to jog again,” she said.
Now, she’s back at the gym, moving forward, literally and figuratively, with a renewed sense of gratitude. And she's not done yet. “I feel great. I’m excited to keep healing and improving,” she said. “I’d absolutely refer my family and friends here.”
