Jake Orlick

Jake Orlick has always had big dreams. A naturally outdoorsy person, he worked as a chef on a dive boat and was learning how to scuba dive. But when he suffered a traumatic injury from a motorcycle accident, his dreams took a radical detour. He became paralyzed from the chest down and was told he would never walk again.

However, with the help of his coordinated care team at Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital (CRH), Jake is now discovering new ways to pursue his dreams.

Using adaptive equipment such as electric chair lifts and safety bars provided by CRH, Jake is able to navigate comfortably at home. He enjoys being an avid participant in nearly all of CRH’s adaptive sports programs like golf, cycling, rugby, and swimming, and he regularly volunteers for the Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp.

Jake can also visit the beautiful Santa Barbara beaches again using an offroad wheelchair. He is even back out on the water using an adapted boat and has rekindled his dream of scuba diving.

Now back at home following his time at CRH, Jake is looking to the future. In addition to relearning how to drive and getting back to cooking, he also wants to earn a degree in social work. He hopes to have a positive impact on people’s lives, even beyond his inspiring recovery story.

When someone in our community like Jake faces a life-altering injury or disability, they turn to Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital to receive the very best care. For more than 60 years, patients have trusted us to help restore their lives and get back to what they love.

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