A Spark of Nerve Restoring Movement to Paralyzed Limbs
Dr. Susan E. Mackinnon is a plastic surgeon whose pioneering work in nerve transfer surgery is restoring movement to limbs that many doctors believe to be permanently paralyzed. Loren was 15 when she was brutally stabbed five times, severing the nerves in her neck. Michael faced a similar, dead-end diagnosis after a freak chain saw accident paralyzed his arm. Chelsey survived a horrific late-night car accident, but her arm is also now useless. A Spark of Nerve follows the charismatic Mackinnon and several of these patients for three years as their emotional stories unfold--from trauma and disappointment to hope and finally joy, as freedom of movement is slowly regained.
Mackinnon is committed to sharing her groundbreaking surgical "recipes" and is creating a military funded teaching website for all surgeons anywhere in the world. With rare access, we visit the Walter Reed Peripheral Nerve Clinic in Maryland to see how nerve transfers are being used to help wounded soldiers returning from the Middle East conflicts. A SPARK OF NERVE will inspire the millions with nerve injuries to not lose hope and to seek out these little known but life-changing surgeries.
Festivals & Awards: Best Overall Documentary - Los Angeles World International Film Festival, Official Selection - Carmel International Film Festival, Official Selection - The Global Public Health Film Festival
Running Time
79 mins
Nb videos
4 videos included
Kanopy ID
1206994
Filmmakers
Features
Chelsey Kolkmann, Denise Wilson, Dr. Allan Belzberg, Dr. Ida Fox, Dr. Leon Nesti, Dr. Susan E. Mackinnon, Dr. William Campbell, Jerice Boston, Laura Moser, Loren Schaller, Lorna Kahn, Michael Dietchweiler, Tom Wachtel
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4 videos in this playlist
A Spark of Nerve
Dr. Susan E. Mackinnon is a plastic surgeon whose pioneering work in nerve transfer surgery is restoring movement to limbs that many doctors believe to be permanently paralyzed. Loren was…
Restoring Hand Function to Quadriplegic Patients
A cervical level spinal cord injury can significantly affect hand function, including paralysis. Dr. Ida Fox of Washington University Medical School in St. Louis discusses how nerve transfer surgery is…
Facing a Serious Sports Injury
Sean was a high school senior when during the big football game he made a play that resulted in a severe injury. His torn knee was saved but a damaged…
Motorcycles and Music
A sudden motorcycle crash left Don with two injured arms. As a professional musician this was devastating. His options for recovery were quickly fading when he heard about nerve transfer…
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Comments (2)
We are thrilled to announce that A SPARK OF NERVE won “Best Overall Documentary” at the Los Angeles World International Film Festival in October. It also screened at the Carmel International Film Festival and The Global Public Health Film Festival. Getting out the word that “There really is ...Read more
We are thrilled to announce that A SPARK OF NERVE won “Best Overall Documentary” at the Los Angeles World International Film Festival in October. It also screened at the Carmel International Film Festival and The Global Public Health Film Festival. Getting out the word that “There really is hope for paralysis!
Read lessWe vividly remember the moment our phone rang and we got the chilling and incomprehensible news: our 15-year-old daughter, Loren, had been brutally stabbed in a neighborhood bakery. As parents of a girl who suddenly had a paralyzed arm as a result of a traumatic injury, we found ourselves at ...Read more
We vividly remember the moment our phone rang and we got the chilling and incomprehensible news: our 15-year-old daughter, Loren, had been brutally stabbed in a neighborhood bakery. As parents of a girl who suddenly had a paralyzed arm as a result of a traumatic injury, we found ourselves at a medical dead end. After many failed attempts to find a cure, it was only by coincidence that we found help to save our daughter’s arm with Dr. Susan Mackinnon. We were lucky. What if we hadn’t stumbled upon that solution or found it in time? We began asking ourselves, “How many other people with these same injuries don’t know where to look for treatment or that they need it quickly? Why is it so hard to find this information?” That’s when we decided to help get the word out about these little known, but life-changing nerve transfer surgeries. Even if this information saves only more one arm or leg, it will be worth it!
Read less