Chances are you’ve seen him: the man in the wheelchair zipping through Spring Valley with purpose, his rescue dog Luna trotting beside him. For those who don’t yet know him, his name is Robert Marsteller and it is a privilege to feature him and his story in these pages.

Twenty-five years ago this October, Robert was leaving a business meeting when life changed in an instant. Walking along on the G Street sidewalk toward Metro Center, he heard the screech of rubber then saw a car barreling toward him. “I had a choice: Get run over or jump up on the hood and try to ride it out,” he recalls. He leapt, landed on the hood, leaning against the windshield, grasping for windshield wipers to help balance with, pardon the expression, a front row seat seeing this nightmarish accident unfold until the out- of-control car swerved to avoid traffic and flung him into a parked UPS van.

Robert’s next memory was gazing up at a brilliant blue October sky, suspended in a moment that felt like floating in space. What he didn’t know was that his spinal cord had been damaged at the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae, which left this athletic husband and father of two young children paralyzed. While retelling this event during an interview, he said, “I don’t know what it is about me, but I always seem to find the humor.”  Amid the chaos of the accident, as EMTs requested his permission to cut off his suit to more safely transfer him onto a board, he remembers telling them, “Guys, this is hardly a proud moment for me — Cut away!”

The mischievous spark with which he tells the story is at the heart of his desire to show others what is possible when life takes an unexpected turn. He is grateful to all the devoted people who have helped the Marsteller family since then, starting that day with friends who commandeered a conference room at George Washington Hospital to surround his wife, Maralyn, with support. 

He notes — and his friends would agree — that marrying Maralyn, who has provided unwavering love and support throughout their 37 years together, was by far the best decision of his life. The second best decision, he says, was to invest deeply in relationships, noting that “close friends and family provided Maralyn, our children and me with every imaginable form of assistance beginning the moments following the accident. That incalculable amount of help allowed me to focus intently on my rehabilitation and gave Maralyn the time to carefully raise Wiley (age 7) and Emily (age 5) while working through the myriad of challenges that lay ahead.”  Of particular note was how Maralyn’s remarkably gifted architect brother, Cliff Elmore, redesigned and oversaw the expansion of their highly inaccessible Tilden Street house into a seamlessly integrated and accessible house perfectly arranged for the new way of life that lay ahead. 

Another wonderful friendship which blossomed was with Ed Eckenhoff, the inspirational founder of MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital (MedStar NRH). Ed, who had sustained a spinal cord injury in college leaving him with paraplegia, was a tremendous motivator, “an ideal example of what was possible after my injury.”  Ed had left his senior administrative position at the famed Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now known as Shirley Ryan AbilityLab) to come to Washington in the early 1980s to establish a top-notch board, fundraise, hire a talented team, and open the doors of what would become one of our nation’s best acute rehabilitation hospitals with over 60 outpatient centers.

Robert spent three months rehabilitating at MedStar NRH after his own accident. He credits the NRH physicians and therapists armed with advanced equipment and techniques, his remarkably supportive family and friends, along with a positive yet fiercely competitive spirit forged over many years as a competitive tennis player with the success he has achieved in returning to a full and active life. 

Robert’s work life for more than 20 years has been devoted to the hospital where he received his second chance at life. He considers it a blessing and an honor to give back to NRH as well as to pay it forward through his work supporting NRH and those seeking their own rejuvenation. 

Until this past year, Robert was singularly focused supporting NRH’s philanthropic efforts, working closely with Ed and NRH President, John Rockwood, to raise $20 million of the $23 million necessary to complete the current transition to 100 percent private rooms to further enhance the overall rehabilitation experience.  Robert is particularly proud to have helped secure ongoing funding for unbillable programs such as peer mentoring, music therapy, extensive exercise classes, and adapted sports programs. “If you haven’t seen wheelchair rugby yet, you’re missing out!” he says.

Today in his new position focused on patient experience matters and advocacy at MedStar NRH, Robert plays a unique role in helping shape patients’ experience. “I love personally visiting with nearly every inpatient to hear their stories, answer questions, encourage, and help ensure that we are providing the excellent care and therapy they need to reach their goals. I know both sides of the bed and I know how NRH works,” he says. “I am intensely driven to help inspire and challenge patients while also working to resolve any issues they may have.”

This means spending time with patients during their first few days of arrival, when they can understandably feel very low because what has been thrust upon them. It’s so important to work with patients early on to help them develop that “can-do spirit” so important to aiding recovery. “And that’s up to everybody — all our associates work towards lifting their patients up. We feel strongly that our patients’ experience needs to be inspiring and empowering,” he says. “Our credo, “Adding life to years,” says everything. We want to work as hard as we can and challenge patients as much as safely possible to help them regain as much functionality and independence as possible.”

Robert cautions that all rehabilitation facilities are not the same. Unlike rehabilitating from a sports injury of joint replacement, rehabilitating from a serious medical event such as a spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury or stroke requires three-plus hours of very customized and intensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy per day that can only come from a high performing acute rehabilitation hospital such as NRH.

Robert enjoys his role as a sounding board to friends, neighbors and acquaintances when they and their families are faced with rehabilitation challenges after life-changing events. So, please feel free to stop him on his rolls with Luna through Spring Valley. Luna’s very friendly and so is he! Otherwise, feel free to reach him at robert.marsteller@medstar.net or 202-877-1772.

“Above all, please know that MedStar NRH is here to help those at perhaps their lowest point in their lives regain their abilities, confidence and independence in order to realize a bright future,” Robert says.  “Yes, it may be the most challenging time of their lives, but they will be surrounded by a caring and dedicated team devoted to helping them reach their goals.”

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MedStar NRH welcomes the community’s continuing support of the hospital’s many programs that are dependent on philanthropic donations. We also welcome investments to help close the final $3 million gap needed to complete our transition to private patient rooms to better serve patients and visiting families. Those interested in learning more about our philanthropic opportunities are welcome to contact Amy Ruccio at amy.m.ruccio@medstar.net or 703-943-1713.

To become involved this month, MedStar also welcomes you to join its Super H 5k Run, Walk and Wheel race in Tyson’s Corner on September 14.  Named after one of its indefatigable past patients, Harry Freedman, funds raised from this event support our accessible sports program.  To learn more, including how to participate or sponsor, please connect to medstarhealth.org/SuperH or contact Gabriella LaRocca at gabriella.larocca@medstar.net 

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MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital

102 Irving Street

Washington, DC  20010