Sarah G.: Recovery, Resilience, and Hope

Two decades after a traumatic event, Sarah G. reflects on the day that changed her life forever.

At the time, she was a young eighth-grade student at St. Boniface Parochial School in Wilkes-Barre. After being dropped off outside her home on Hazle Street, Sarah began to cross the road when a car struck her, launching her into the air. She landed on the pavement with catastrophic injuries. Paramedics fought to deliver oxygen to her brain before she was airlifted to Geisinger Medical Center.

She remained unconscious for six and a half weeks.

When Sarah emerged from her coma, the road ahead was uncertain. She could not sit up, walk, or even hold a pencil. A tracheotomy helped her breathe. Her condition was critical - but there were signs of hope.

Slowly, she began to respond.

That hope would grow into something extraordinary - thanks in large part to an array of community supports and a lifelong partnership with Allied Services.

A Seamless Transition to Healing


After beginning her recovery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Sarah returned home in April 2007 - but “home” took on a new meaning.

As she transitioned out of inpatient care, Sarah began intensive outpatient therapy at Allied Services Wilkes-Barre Pediatric Rehabilitation Center, receiving coordinated support across multiple disciplines including speech, occupational, physical, and cognitive rehabilitation.

The transition from CHOP to Allied Services was seamless. Surrounded by a dedicated care team and supported by the Luzerne County Intermediate Unit, Sarah was given not just treatment, but a foundation for rebuilding her life.

“I received so much support,” Sarah recalls. “From my education to my therapies, it was a community effort.”

The Power of Belief

At Allied Services, Sarah met someone who would profoundly shape her recovery: speech-language pathologist Karen Proctor, CCC/SLP.

Their connection went beyond therapy sessions. Karen instilled something essential - belief.

She saw beyond the limitations of Sarah’s injuries and recognized her potential, encouraging positivity, resilience, and determination at a time when those qualities were hardest to access.

That belief became a turning point.

Years later, Sarah still reflects on Karen as someone who “went to bat” for her. Someone who helped her see that she was more than her diagnosis.

Today, Sarah carries that same philosophy into her own work.

Rebuilding a Life Through Support

With Allied Services as a cornerstone of her recovery, Sarah returned to school and pursued her education with determination. She graduated from Holy Redeemer High School with high honors.

She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Ursinus College, graduating with honors and designing her own minors in Drama Therapy and Movement Psychology.

Her academic journey took her abroad - to the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and University College Cork in Ireland - expanding her perspective and fueling her passion for understanding the brain.

In 2016, she returned to St. Andrews for a master’s degree in Health Psychology, earning one of just three full scholarships out of 500 applicants.

It was there that Sarah met her now-husband, Cameron Houston, PhD, a medieval historian. They were married in 2022.

Through every milestone, the foundation built during her time at Allied Services remained with her.

Giving Back - and Moving Forward

Sarah’s experiences inspired her to help others.

She volunteered at Camp Cranium, supporting children with brain injuries, and later worked with students on the autism spectrum while earning a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis from the University of Scranton.

Today, she serves as a Behavioral Support Specialist at State Street Elementary School in Larksville, Pa.

Her mission is clear: to be the person in her students’ corner - just as Karen Proctor and her Allied Services team were for her.

“I want them to know from day one that someone believes in them,” she says.

A Lifelong Connection to Allied Services

For Sarah, Allied Services is not just part of her past - it is part of her present.

She continues to attend weekly physical therapy at Allied Services Wilkes-Barre Rehab Center, participating in aquatic therapy with her care team, Johnna Welch, PT, and Mary Jane Dulsky, PTA.

Despite ongoing challenges - including hearing loss, mobility complications, and continued medical care - Sarah maintains a positive outlook and remains committed to her rehabilitation.

Her journey is a testament to what long-term, compassionate care can achieve.

“Allied Services has played a huge part in my life - and still does,” she says.

Redefining What’s Possible

Sarah’s story is not defined by her injury - but by what came after.

She is an educator, an advocate, a scholar, and a survivor. She speaks openly about the importance of how we talk about brain injuries and the need for greater understanding and compassion.

Her message is simple but powerful:
People with brain injuries are not defined by their conditions - and her life is proof.

Looking back, Sarah reflects on everything she has endured - and everything she has gained.

“It was terrible what happened to me,” she says, “but everything else that came after worked out because of all of the outstanding support.”

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