Earnest Collier has a large, stuffed fish mounted on his wall, its mouth open, fins spread-probably looking just like it did the day it took the bait from Collier's fishing line. Collier hooked this large catch in a pond near his home in Black Creek, North Carolina, a rural community that presents a Mayberry-type charm framed against the picturesque, flat farm fields of Wilson County. In October, Collier was weed-eating not far from that favorite pond, and what followed next is vividly etched in his memory; a moment frozen in time not unlike the prize catch mounted on his living room wall.

He was walking down a series of terraced steps, constructed to keep any water from overflowing, when his kneecap popped out, bending his leg completely behind him. Somehow, Collier was able to pop his kneecap back into place and get up. But when he headed toward his truck, the knee popped again, causing him to fall and break his back. He crawled two-tenths of a mile to get to his truck. He learned later that when his kneecap popped out, it tore the ligaments in his right leg---causing them to retract just like a window shade.

After extensive surgery to repair his leg and a knee replacement, it came time for Collier to undergo rehabilitation. His physician and fellow parishioners had one recommendation-The Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center (BTAR) on the campus of Nash Health Care.

"I have no doubt I could not have come home from the hospital without the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center. I had heard about it from a lot of friends...it is the best place that I could conceive of anybody going for rehab or if you're recovering from having knee surgery or back surgery," he said.

Collier (who is pictured with his wife, Jean, on the right) still carries some of the reminders from that day. He still has a leg brace - he has dubbed his "bionic leg"-and the injury to his back makes it necessary for him to have a back brace as well. Through it all, by his side, is Jean, his wife of 50 years, who enjoys reminiscing through black and white photos of their decades together. Mrs. Collier said she was incredibly pleased with the treatment her husband received while at BTAR.

"We all went to see the facility...they gave us a tour. I was impressed from the moment I walked in. The facility is so beautiful...I have nothing but high praise for it," she said. "It was so amazing; when you needed the nurses and buzzed, they were right there, immediately. Never did they fail. They were there instantly, and helped you with anything you asked. That was the most impressive thing I saw, period."

Thousands of patients have walked through the doors of the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center during the last ten years. The center puts patients on the road to recovery, regaining skills needed for independent living, skills that were taken away due to a stroke, neurological disorders, joint replacement, brain injury, spinal cord injury, accident or illness. Health care employees guide them on their journey, taking them step-by-step past the colorful painted mural of the Rocky Mount cityscape, past the colorful fountain and old-fashioned streetlamp, and through the therapeutic walking garden; all of these items serve not only as décor, but as landmarks, celebrated by each step forward. Health care workers celebrate these daily victories with their patients, leaving footprints of inspiration and determination for others to follow on the pathway to independence.

"It has been a privilege to able to offer these services to our community. Rehabilitation is a long and challenging process. It's during times like this that it is important to be close to home, friends and family, and that's one reason the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center was established," said Brian Agan, BTAR director. "Serving these patients for the last ten years and watching their incredible determination is inspiring because it enables us, as health care workers, to see their lives transform, and it is an incredible feeling to be a part of that process."

The center opened in November, 1999, and since then, it has served more than 6,000 patients. At the grand opening celebration, Bryant T. Aldridge, the former Nash Health Care CEO for whom the facility was named, joined county officials, local dignitaries, and keynote speaker Ted Kennedy Jr., to cut the ribbon, signifying a new era at Nash Health Care.

Kennedy, who lost his leg to cancer when he was 12, was keenly aware of the importance of the facility back in 1999 when he said:

"I admire your commitment. You have created a world-class rehabilitation center right here in Nash County. There are so many places in this country where people have to travel for hours and hours for rehabilitation while being separated from their families. This new facility is equal to any medical facility in the world. It's not a luxury. It's a necessity. It is truly visionary."

It is a vision for which many patients are thankful.

"As a relative newcomer to Nash County, I can tell you that the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center has an outstanding reputation that expands far beyond the borders of Nash County," said Larry Chewning, CEO, who took the helm of Nash Health Care in 2008. "It is so much more than just a gateway to independence; it is a tangible reflection of everything a community health care system should strive to be. It is such a blessing to have a world-class facility like the rehabilitation center within easy reach of patients in Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson and surrounding counties."

As for Collier, he is still continuing his journey toward independence. Currently, he has a therapist visit him at his home to help him continue with his physical therapy. It is a slow journey, one that requires patience and innovation...not unlike catching a prize fish.

Mrs. Collier said the quality of care her husband received at BTAR was critical in his success today.
"It is the best place around if you have to have therapy," she said. "I'd crawl there if I had to."

For more information on the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center, please call 252-962-3702 or click on 'Hospitals' on the menu at the top of this website and then select the approrpiate item from the menu on the left.

Quick facts about the Bryant T. Aldridge Rehabilitation Center

• Opened in November 1999
• Named after Bryant T. Aldridge, President and CEO of Nash Health Care Systems from its opening day in 1971 until November, 1998.
• 43,763 square feet
• 23 beds
• Swimming pool for aquatic therapy (3 feet to 6 feet depth)
• The center also offers an AquaFit water exercise
  • Large therapy gym (47 x 28)
  • Dining room and scenic patio with a view of a pond.
  • Therapeutic recreation area
  • Therapeutic walking garden:
  • For patients to re-acclimate themselves on different walking surfaces
• Transitional living suite:
  • An actual apartment with bedroom and kitchen where patients will test their re-learned skills.
• The center's therapists specialize in many different disciplines. The center has:
  • Four McKenzie-Certified therapists
  • One certified hand therapist
  • One lymphedema-certified therapist
  • One certified ergonomic specialist
• A support group for stroke and brain injury survivors.
• Pediatric rehabilitation services
• A Nintendo Wii gaming system for use in helping rehabilitation patients develop balance, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.