In 2008, during a combat operation in Afghanistan, Chief Warrant Officer Romulo “Romy” Camargo sustained a gunshot wound that left him paralyzed from the neck down. Despite the challenges, Romy defied the odds and survived without using a ventilator. His journey to recovery, including countless surgeries and rehabilitation appointments, inspired the creation of the Stay in Step (SIS) Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center. Romy and his wife, Gabriela, realized that individuals with spinal trauma, brain injuries, and other neurological disorders causing paralysis required specialized care and attention on their path to recovery.

At Stay In Step, they take immense pride in providing a distinctive long-term rehabilitation center that focuses on physical recovery and fosters a supportive family environment. The dedicated staff has worked tirelessly to cultivate a motivating and nurturing atmosphere, employing advanced therapeutic techniques and innovative approaches to challenge and empower individuals, enhancing their functionality and improving their quality of life.

“Watching each patient progress in their way gives me joy because we are making a difference. I love coming to work every day, knowing that patients enjoy coming to therapy,” says office manager Catalina Cedeño. 

Thanks to their new building, they can now accommodate more patients, though renovations are still underway in phases. Phase II will begin shortly, providing additional rooms for services, with the goal of eventually incorporating a therapeutic pool for patients’ benefit. 

“Having a new building is going to allow us to provide more services like Occupational Therapy, Massage Therapy, and more,” says Cedeño.
If you wish to contribute to Stay In Step, there are several avenues for involvement. 

To learn more, visit stayinstep.org.

A NOTE FROM JACK GORDON, BOARD-CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL LAWYER

For me, the importance of Stay in Step is the manner in which the organization was developed. Both Romy and my client John Pelaez were traveling to Orlando to garner top-notch spinal rehabilitation because there was nothing comparable in Tampa. They met there in Orlando when Gaby (Romy’s wife) and Patricia (John’s mother) discussed how important it could be to have a facility like this in Tampa.

The dedicated staff and advanced technology have provided significant improvement for John — both physically and motivationally. I tried John’s case in December 2017 and the jury was astounded at the footage from Stay in Step. The organization, by virtue of its commitment to its patients like John, contributed to the successful outcome (a judgment of nearly $15 million dollars) in that trial.

For that contribution and the daily commitment to improving the lives of its patients, I am forever grateful to the organization.

SPACE DONATED BY MANEY | GORDON TRIAL LAWYERS