Dizziness & Balance Care

Like Nowhere Else: Autumn's Story Video Transcript

(DESCRIPTION)
A teenage girl with dark hair and glasses laces up a pair of white ice skates in an indoor ice rink. She wears a black high collared jacket, black pants, and mismatched gloves.

(SPEECH)
AUTUMN: My name is Autumn Paulus, and I'm 13 years old, and I'm a figure skater.

(DESCRIPTION)
The girl spins several times on the ice, first with her right leg out in front, then twisted over her left ankle. , then skates backwards, her right arm outstretched in front of her.

(SPEECH)
Whenever I'm on the ice, I feel like it's my one place I can go, and I can escape from everything else and just be me and the ice. On June 10, I was in a class for figure skating, and then I ended up tripping.

(DESCRIPTION)
She stumbles and falls coming out of a jump

(SPEECH)
SPEAKER: It didn't look that spectacular. She just tripped. But she hit her head on the ice.

(DESCRIPTION)
Photo of a short cut over Autumn's left eyebrow, thin line of blood trailing down the side of her face.

(SPEECH)
We honestly thought it was just going to be some stitches. And we brought her in. She had her stitches, and ended up having memory loss, and slowly her balance started going.

(DESCRIPTION)
Photos of Autumn's head wounds. Sign, Essentia Health Duluth Clinic, 3rd Street Building

(SPEECH)
For her care at Essentia, she started out with Dr. Canoff and pediatric neurology. They were absolutely stellar. They were the ones that actually coordinated a whole community of care for her.

(DESCRIPTION)
Autumn stands on a round platform atop half a round ball. A man holds her hand as she wobbles, trying to gain her balance.

(SPEECH)
The balance clinic is very specialized. It was certainly amazing to have that opportunity to have her in it, especially as a figure skater.

(DESCRIPTION)
Autumn buckles a harness that is strapped over her shoulders and waist.

(SPEECH)
MIKE: My name's Mike Ryder. I was Autumn's physical therapist. Working with Autumn was certainly a fun challenge. The early on treatment was more about developing some basic balance skills.

(DESCRIPTION)
The man twirls in front of Autumn

(SPEECH)
Learning from Autumn about what she needed to do as a figure skater and the types of things she did as a figure skater, we were able to work together to come up with a plan and a progression to help her regain those abilities. SPEAKER: I think what surprised me with her care at Essentia was the level of commitment that the care team had for her and for her goal and the extra steps that were taken.

(DESCRIPTION)
Autumn's feet on a moving platform

(SPEECH)
AUTUMN: When I first stepped on the ice, I got this feeling that I could never forget. It

(DESCRIPTION)
Autumn spins on ice.

(SPEECH)
was like me making peace with the ice again. I almost broke down into tears because I was so happy to get back on the ice. For me to fully heal, I need to get back to skating. Because that's one way I can only heal. Because the ice didn't break me. I'm too strong enough for it to break me.

(DESCRIPTION)
With one knee bent and the other behind her, Autumn glides across the ice in a red flowing skating dress with gold accents, her hair swept high atop her head.

(SPEECH)
My dreams are worth fighting for, because some dreams are bigger than an injury. And Essentia Health helps get you back on that path to that dream, like nowhere else.

(DESCRIPTION)
She spins, arms above her head. Across the rink, Autumn skates backward. A white Essentia Health logo appears, consisting of three leaves in a circle. Autumn speeds by.