Mokena Man’s Appreciative Donations to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross Now Include…Him!

Thanks to the dedicated work by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab therapists at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Bo Boll was able to walk out of the hospital after a few weeks in May 2023, even though Guillain-Barre Syndrome earlier had rendered him a quadriplegic. 

The AbilityLab therapists – especially Physical Therapist Jada Green and Occupational Therapist Lindsay Sloan – got to work on Boll right away. Every day for two hours, they would urge, cajole and use humor; whatever they needed to do to convince Boll he could do more. 

Nearly fully recovered (“Just some tingling in my fingertips and toes”), Boll, 75, wants to help the therapists help other patients get back on their feet. 

“I am going to be a volunteer at Silver Cross,” said Boll, “and when they asked me where I wanted to go, I immediately said 5:7, Inpatient Physical Therapy.” 

Since his release last year, Boll has by no means been a stranger. He’s been back several times, bringing lunch for the staff and, as a carpenter by trade, making therapy equipment he thought of or was requested by the staff. 

Among the most recent ones are a wider platform that therapy patients use to practice going up steps with their walkers, and a vertical pipe with rods patients use to place different size washers to enhance their dexterity.

Inspiring Others

Now and then, Boll also would talk to a few of the patients working with his therapist friends, telling them about his journey. “And if I could do it, so could they. They seem to appreciate that.” 

Boll believes that first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to go through therapy, especially those rough early days, can help him inspire others to trust what the therapists say. With a gentle nudge from Jennifer Zolp, Clinical Manager of Inpatient Rehab, Boll applied as a volunteer. 

Lora Diaz, Administrative Director of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross, is thrilled he did.  

“He’s pretty awesome,” she said. “He will do a great job.”

Becoming a Volunteer

Initially, Laura Valencik, Silver Cross Director of Guest and Volunteer Services, didn’t realize she had a rock star on her hands when she called Boll in for an interview. 

“I knew he had been a patient, but I hadn’t connected the dots,” she said. “After talking to him a bit, I said, ‘I know you. You are the wonderful person I heard about.’ He is so loved by the people at the AbilityLab. And he will be able to talk with the patients there and give them hope. And hope means a lot. He’ll be a shining light to the patients there.” 

Boll said he looks forward to talking to the patients, two or three days a week, four hours a day, as a volunteer. 

“I’m well on my way to being 110 percent recovered,” he said. “And I am so grateful. I want to keep giving back.” 

To learn more about volunteering at Silver Cross, visit silvercross.org.