Molly Hale: warm water therapy helps dream come true

Molly & Jeramy Hale each benefited from the
warm water of the Abilities United Aquatic
Services in the Betty Wright Swim Center

There are many individuals at Abilities United who represent thet, and one is Molly Hale, who has been coming to Abilities United for 17 years.

In 1995, Molly was in a car accident that resulted in a broken neck, and doctors told her that she would be permanently paralyzed from the neck down. But Molly wasn’t buying it.  

She started rehabbing in the warm water pool at Abilities United and became a huge believer in the powers of aquatic therapy, gradually getting increased use of her hands and arms. Then, with the help of a highly trained therapist on the Abilities United team, she reached the huge milestone of being able to stand in the pool, and then later on land.

“It took six years to be able to be able to stand,” says Molly. “What a thrill that was, to finally be able to stand! It was like a dream. Today I can stand on land, and I can get around a bit as long as someone is there to help me with my balance.”

Molly continues to make progress with her rehab, and her enthusiasm is inspiring. She tools around in her colorfully adorned wheelchair, rides a horse with the assistance of two “sidewalkers” who help her maintain balance, continues with martial arts training, and is currently looking forward to an upcoming wheelchair ballroom dance class.

Molly’s husband Jeramy has also used the aquatic facility at Abilities United. “I had thought it was just for people with disabilities, and not for me,” he says. “Then I pulled a hamstring doing martial arts training, and with the help of one of the Abilities United staff, I starting rehabbing in the pool. I’m now a huge proponent of using the pool to rehab sports injuries.”

You can see Molly at the pool at Abilities United several days each week; just look for a happy lady that’s swimming and tumbling in the water, while merrily chatting up anyone in ear-shot.  Thanks Molly, for setting such an amazing example for all of us!

Based on a 2012 interview with Molly and Jeramy Hale.  Written by Bob Thomas, edited by Molly and Jeramy Hale and Wendy Kuehnl.