Local teenager has made a remarkable recovery

By JOSHUA S. FLESHER Tribune Chronicle

From having a wheelchair and needing a walker to get around, to walking freely and resuming athletic practice, Lordstown teenager Philip Vigorito has come a very long way in a very short amount of time.

''Phil's great,'' said his father, Newton Falls Municipal Court Judge Philip Vigorito. ''You'd never know he had anything wrong to tell you the truth.''

''Last time he went in to see his neurologist, he almost had to double check his chart to make sure it was the same kid standing in front of him,'' his father said.

Just about two months ago, Philip, 16, was facing the biggest challenge of his life. He was paralyzed from the chest down, unable to walk at first and then only with the aid of a walker.

Philip was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological disorder that causes damage to the myelin covering nerve cell fibers, which creates nervous system scars that interrupt the connections between nerves, often leading to paralysis.

Philip was taken Dec. 17 to the emergency room at St. Joseph Health Center in Warren and it was believed at that time that he had suffered a concussion.

Two days later on Dec. 19, with his condition worsening, Philip was admitted to St. Elizabeth Health Center and then transported to Akron Children's Hospital the next day.

He spent 11 days in Akron before he was transferred to the Cleveland Clinic where his diagnosis was confirmed.

Following his diagnosis, Philip began a tough battle to regain his strength and ability to walk, undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital Rehabilitation Center.

What stood out at that time in mid-January was his happy disposition and positive attitude.

''Some of (the rehab exercises) are pretty fun,'' he said at the time. ''Like walking and riding an arm bike, that's pretty fun.''

Since then, Philip has regained his ability to walk and inches closer everyday to making a full recovery.

''They don't give us a timeline,'' said his father. ''Based on how fast he's come back, they are giving us an expectation that he's going to have a full recovery.''

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, recovery normally begins between two to 12 weeks of the beginning of the disorder and can take up to two years. However, extensive recovery is not likely if there is no improvements in the first three to six months.

Now, only two and a half months after his initial diagnosis, Philip is back at school and doing the things he most enjoys.

''His neurologist has released him to partially work out with his track team ... he can do a slow jog,'' said his father.

''I'm back at school and I just started track practice,'' added young Philip, who has been back to school full time for a little more than a week.

His track practice is limited, but getting back together with his teammates and working out only shows how far he has come.

''So far, I can do just light jogging and light weight lifting,'' he said. ''(I feel) pretty good.''

''I'm amazed at how fast it all came back to him,'' said his father. ''Ever since he's been getting his feeling back, it's been something new coming back, a feeling or a reflex, everyday.''

At almost 100 percent, Philip must continue working out and going to rehab to return to normalcy.

''He's anxious to get back to normal,'' said his father.

Looking toward the future, Philip hopes to be able to put the past few months behind him as he prepares for the next big challenge in his life.

''He's been released to do driver's training,'' said his father.

jflesher@tribtoday.com