By Paige Orr, Fox23 News
TULSA, Okla. — 10 years ago, Chris Lieberman was fighting for his life after falling from a ladder. Now, the man who brought the Route 66 Marathon to Tulsa crossed a different kind of finish line by opening the city’s first Activity-Based Therapy (ABT) facility.
On Wednesday, the Brain Injury Recovery Foundation officially celebrated the grand opening of DEFY NeuroRehab in Tulsa.
The state-of-the-art center is designed to fill a critical gap in Oklahoma’s medical landscape, providing long-term, intensive recovery resources for those living with traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries.
For Lieberman and his partner, Kim Hann, the journey to this ribbon cutting was paved with personal frustration.
Following his 2016 accident, Lieberman’s family struggled to find specialized facilities in Oklahoma that offered the intensity of care required for neurological recovery.
“We didn’t even know what a brain injury was, but we definitely learned it the hard way,” said Lieberman. “Then my daughter found activity-based recovery in Plano, Texas, and it did not take me that long before I was walking again. It needs very specialized equipment and trainers. It’s not just about noticing what their problem is, but how to make it better.”
The struggle to find local care is a common thread among survivors.
Harris Varickappallil, a University of Oklahoma student who suffered a traumatic brain injury in 2020, said he spent years bouncing between facilities.
Now finishing his psychology degree, Varickappallil recalled the difficulty of returning home to a city that lacked the right equipment.
“I went to multiple rehabs in Texas and Oklahoma. Coming back to Oklahoma, I was really struggling because the facilities in Tulsa were lacking a little bit until we found out about the DEFY.”
Neurologist Dr. Hilary Kneale, who served as the neurointensivist for Lieberman during his initial injury, noted that Tulsa residents have had to cross state lines for basic neuro-rehabilitation for too long.
She called the opening of the new facility a “turning point” for the city that will allow families to stay together during the grueling recovery process.
The facility focuses on Activity-Based Therapy, which uses intensive exercise to rebuild strength and function long after traditional insurance-based therapy typically ends.
Hann said the impact is already visible in the clients who began using the gym in early January.
“We had a client last week who sat up for the first time on his own and that is life-changing for him [and] for his family too. He’s 19-years-old and so this literally meant everything for the family.”
Tulsa Mayor Monroe Nichols joined the foundation for the opening, highlighting that roughly 3,000 Oklahomans suffer a traumatic brain injury every year.
“Those 3,000 folks [were] going to have to go somewhere else for their recovery,” said Mayor Nichols. “They don’t have to do that anymore thanks to Chris, Kim and to so many people in the room.”
DEFY NeuroRehab offers specialized programs and equipment designed for individuals living with the following:
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Stroke or Acquired Brain Injury
- Neurological and Neuromuscular Conditions, such as:
- Parkinson’s
- Transverse Myelitis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Pediatric Neurology Conditions
- Cerebral Palsy
In addition to physical rehabilitation, the center serves as a community hub by hosting monthly support group meetings and social events to help survivors and caregivers navigate the emotional toll of neurological trauma.
To learn more about the facility and the programs it offers, click here.
