by Annette Pinder

Natalie Barnhard-Castrogiovanni grew up in Cheektowaga with her parents and siblings. After graduating from Cheektowaga Central High School, she attended Villa Maria College to become a physical therapy assistant and Trocaire College to become a licensed massage therapist. Everything was going according to Natalie’s plans until October 22, 2004, when, while working full-time as a PTA, a 600-pound exercise machine suddenly fell and landed on her, crushing her spine and causing her to become paralyzed.

Natalie was rushed to Erie County Medical Center, where she stayed for several agonizing months before being transferred to The Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, a well-known facility for severe spinal cord injuries. There, she underwent three intense months of neurorehabilitation, fighting to regain some independence. But she had to face a new, heartbreaking reality of living as a person with quadriplegia. Her body was almost completely still, robbed of the abilities she once took for granted, as her boyfriend, with whom she was building a life, walked away, unable to cope. Her plans for marriage, family, career, and buying her grandmother’s house vanished, leaving her to confront the pieces of a life she no longer recognized.

Somehow, through sheer determination, Natalie regained some movement in her arms. Grateful for the care she received, she says, “The Shepherd Center did an excellent job educating me and my family on how to navigate this new life. I also learned that only 6% of people with injuries like mine have access to this type of care.” So, after spending nearly a decade in Georgia healing and regaining greater control over her body functions, Natalie returned to Buffalo, determined to build a state-of-the-art rehab center. “I didn’t have a business background, but I did have passion, perseverance, and determination. So, I gathered people whom I thought could help make my dream a reality.”

Initially, Natalie founded Wheels with Wings, now known as Motion Project Foundation: The Natalie Barnhard Center for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation and Recovery. As both a rehab center and a nonprofit, Motion Project awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in grants to eligible individuals. “To me, Motion Project embodies not only the movement of our bodies but also the movement of our journey—the path forward to living a fulfilling, successful life.” Reflecting on her rehabilitation and recovery, Natalie says that securing funding for a physical facility was challenging. “Because of my strong passion and belief in what I wanted to create, I used much of my own money to build Motion Project, which is staffed by a talented team of neuro-recovery and rehabilitation specialists who treat clients with spinal cord injuries or other paralyzing neurological conditions. It is a place that feels like home, where hope moves and patients discover strength, purpose, and progress.”

Natalie married Steve Castrogiovanni, a board-certified master arborist, in 2023. The couple believes divine intervention made their union possible, as Steve spent much of his life caring for his father, who had muscular dystrophy. “Our relationship is a beautiful partnership. Steve helps me physically, and I bring my strengths in other ways—we balance each other,” says Natalie.

Dedicated to intensive activity-based rehabilitation, building a community of support, resources, and education through knowledge and her lived experience, Natalie continues to make progress under the care of Kevin J. Gibbons, MD, FACS, FAANS, Chief of Neurosurgery at Kaleida Health. Emphasizing what sets Motion Project apart, Dr. Gibbons says, “The way rehab and outpatient therapy are set up under current Medicare and insurance rules is designed for acute problems and a quick recovery. For example, after a knee replacement, long-term success depends on the range of motion achieved in the first few weeks after surgery. However, with spinal cord problems, recovery may not start for months and can take years to achieve, making six weeks of therapy or rehab inadequate and ill-timed.”

Natalie’s experience has allowed her to have deep, heart-to-heart conversations with her clients, encouraging them to connect with people who understand what they’re going through, to leave isolation behind, and to find freedom in their pain. Believing that her faith has given her the perspective and strength to move forward, she says, “I was miserable, angry, and bitter. I was broken for a long time, but I prayed God would give me the strength and passion to overcome this injury. Acceptance has brought me a sense of freedom. It’s a process. Every journey is different. It took time to learn how to see myself this way, love myself, and realize that I still have value.”

Learn more about Motion Project at motionprojectny.org.