TRUE NORTH SPOTLIGHT: STAY IN STEP
by Leslie Parsons
In 2010, Romy and Gaby Camargo had a problem. The couple lived in Tampa, Florida near James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital where Romy was receiving treatment for a combat wound that left him paralyzed from the neck down. When Romy was discharged from the hospital, they discovered that the nearest physical rehabilitation center that met his needs was located in Orlando—two hours away.
Romy and Gaby did not want to leave Tampa. They wanted to stay close to their friends and family and to the hospital, in case there was any kind of emergency. So, they began making the four-hour round-trip drive to Orlando twice a week. It didn’t take them long to decide that there had to be a better way. It was during these drives that they came up with the vision for a brain and spinal cord injury recovery center located in their home city of Tampa.
That vision became a reality in June 2015 when Stay in Step (SIS) opened its doors for the first time. At SIS, veterans and civilians suffering from spinal cord injuries and neurological disorders resulting in paralysis are able take part in the center’s Activity Based Exercise Therapy program. They are assisted by a licensed Physical Therapist as well as several trainers and training aides.
In addition to its core program, SIS is working to develop a variety of specialized offerings. At the time this article is being written, the center is in the process of hiring an Occupational Therapist and has plans to start offering Massage Therapy in the very near future. The Camargos are well aware of the costs that patients can incur while receiving treatment and therapy. They are developing a Wellness Program which will allow patients with limited financial means to make use of the facility’s state-of-the-art exercise equipment and select services without having to pay the price of the full program.
Romy and Gaby Camargo have worked tirelessly to build SIS into the kind of facility that Romy—and others like him—need. However, building and running SIS has also given them several unexpected opportunities to serve other parts of their community. SIS hosts quarterly events designed to support and assist caregivers as they navigate the challenges of caring for a loved one who is not fully mobile. SIS also regularly invites students from local colleges and universities to serve internships at the center. Gaby Camargo is particularly proud of this program, as she believes it has been instrumental in helping these students define and develop their future careers in the fields of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Exercise Science.
For all that they have accomplished with Stay in Step, the Camargos are just getting started. With funds raised at the annual Stay In Step gala, they were able to move to a larger space in October 2022. This has allowed them to take on 55 new clients (so far) and add several new pieces of equipment to their gym. The funds raised at this year’s Gala (which will be held on September 23, 2023) will go towards “Phase 2” of Stay in Step. This includes plans to create a specialized program for those with Parkinson’s Disease and to install a pool with an underwater treadmill. Not only will this allow SIS to offer its current clients a new form of therapy, but the Camargos hope it will allow them to expand their client base to include athletes in training or recovering from injuries.
The True North Foundation is proud to support the Camargos and Stay in Step. SIS plays a pivotal role in the lives of those suffering from paralysis due to spinal cord injury or neurological disorders. To learn more about the organizations we work with, please visit our website and be sure to join our mailing list by scrolling to the bottom of our home page.