Fighting to Help Others Walk Again
Marissa Koscielski ’17, ’18 M.S., was in eighth grade when she was told she wouldn’t walk again. A gymnastics accident and spinal mass had left her paralyzed on the left side from the waist down. But she was determined and decided to build her own device to facilitate her rehabilitation. With strings and tape and bits of therapy equipment, Marissa repurposed a walker to help her slowly walk, and then run, once more.The experience taught her there is a gap in the tools and technology available for those rehabilitating from severe injuries, illnesses, and amputations. After completing her undergraduate degree at Notre Dame, she entered the ESTEEM program—a one-year master of science program focused on entrepreneurship and commercialization—and launched Enlighten Mobility, a startup that designs specialized rehab technology. Today, all of the company’s employees are Notre Dame graduates. Enlighten Mobility has since created its first product, a gait trainer largely based on the one Marissa designed for herself. The walker and other upcoming inventions are enabling Marissa to help others walk again.Learn more: https://go.nd.edu/HelpOthersWalkAgain
More from What Would You Fight For?
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