In 2005 Ariel Cohen was an active 13-year-old who suffered a rare and devastating pediatric stroke during a swim meet. When she arrived at NRH, the left side of her body was immobile. But before long, she could sit unassisted and walk the hospital's hallways.

During her stay at NRH's National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation (NCCR), Ariel was able to work hard with her therapists and get her life back. Ariel feels that NRH instills this new attitude in you, an attitude that makes you feel as though you can do anything.

At the age of 17, Ariel began training for her first marathon and successfully completed the race. Ariel went back to school and has returned to the pool where her strength improves daily. She is 100 percent back to where she was prior to her stroke. Her mother credits NRH with teaching Ariel how to get her life back.