Two years after a motorcycle crash near Loop 101 left him with a traumatic brain injury, Stewart Sparks returned to the Scottsdale rehabilitation hospital where he worked to regain basic abilities. He came back to thank the team that helped him learn to speak and eat again.
Sparks was injured on August 12, 2024, in a crash just off Loop 101, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. He said it was the first time he had ridden without a helmet and that the crash left him badly hurt.
Sparks said the crash left him unable to hear in either ear and unable to see out of one eye. He said he was amazed to have survived.
A Long Road Through Rehab
Sparks began recovering from his traumatic brain injury at HonorHealth Rehabilitation Hospital. Speech therapist Lauren Kane recalled that he was confused and agitated when they first met.
Kane said Sparks also had difficulty speaking and eating when treatment began, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
Helmet rules and TBI rehabilitation
Arizona law requires motorcycle operators and passengers under 18 to wear a protective helmet, subject to exceptions in the statute, according to the Arizona Legislature.
Rehabilitation after a traumatic brain injury can include speech therapy to help with communication skills and swallowing disorders, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
The recovery period also meant missing family milestones. “I missed our anniversary. I missed my daughter's birthday,” Sparks said.
Returning to Say Thank You
Two years later, Sparks returned to HonorHealth for its annual patient reunion near Pima Road and Via de Ventura in Scottsdale, according to FOX 10 Phoenix. The event gave him an opportunity to reconnect with members of the team involved in his care.
Sparks had made significant progress by the reunion, though he continued to face challenges with support from his care team. Kane said seeing him return two years after his injury was rewarding.
