How It Started

Shortly after turning 60 years old, a speeding driver ran a red light going over 55 mph and brutally T-boned my driver's door. The impact was so great my car spun around through the intersection hitting the front wall of the second rowhouse and bounced back out into the street. There was a surreal moment when I believed I died.

Five days later in ICU after multiple lifesaving surgeries and procedures, my surgeons could not say if I would ever regain the active lifestyle I loved. Instead, they cautioned me to expect at least 2 yrs to recover as much as possible. But I believed otherwise.

Using my die-hard positive attitude and knowledge as a rehab specialist, exercise physiologist, and health coach, I overcame hundreds of setbacks to make a remarkable recovery in half the time.

I can help you discover your inner strength not to give up until you reach your highest recovery potential.

My remarkable comeback story was picked up by the UPMC HealthBeat marketing department and was chosen as the first of Pittsburgh Steeler, Ryan Shazier's 50 Phenoms series! Ryan began a video series in partnership with UPMC to promote remarkable people who made phenomenal recoveries from all sorts of health situations.

Ryan himself suffered a lumbar spinal contusion

Listen to Paula’s story Ryan Shazier's 50 Phenoms

I WAS RETIRED PITTSBURGH STEELER RYAN SHAZIER’S FIRST 50 PHENOM

Since the debut of Ryan’s 50 Phenoms in September 2019, his stories of triumph are now in their 5th season!

In Season 3, Ryan himself describes what Inspiration means to him.