All in the Family
A Tragedy Leads to Transformative Care
Just one week after his 21st birthday, Ricky Palermo suffered a spinal cord injury from an automobile accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down. When Ricky left the hospital five months later, doctors warned he faced a grim future that could ultimately destroy his family. Instead, that tragedy has only strengthened the Palermo family, with their love and support now supporting The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a Center of Excellence at the Miller School, on both financial and research fronts.
Ricky’s ties to The Miami Project run deep. In 1986, just five years after his spinal cord injury and one year after The Miami Project opened, he left his home in western New York and headed to the center to participate in a research study using computerized electrical stimulation to initiate purposeful movement in his legs. Ricky was one of six patients enrolled, and the program led to the development of the functional electrical stimulation (FES) bicycle. FES bicycles are now widely used in therapy centers worldwide.
“I’ve been in love with The Miami Project ever since,” Ricky said. “They’ve become part of our extended family. The doctors have a lasting connection with their patients and would like nothing more than to see us regain ability and movement.”
The Palermo family established the Ricky Palmero Foundation to raise funds and awareness for spinal cord research. The foundation has raised $2 million over 28 years, donating $1.3 million to The Miami Project, with the rest staying within Ricky’s community of Batavia, New York, to support local hospitals and a FES bicycle program.
Ricky believes that with ongoing support, researchers at The Miami Project will continue to develop life-changing treatments and, one day, find a cure for paralysis.
Inspiring Future Generations
Important components of that research are studies conducted by Ricky’s niece, Annie Palermo, D.P.T. ’15, Ph.D. ’20. The UM alumna was so inspired by the work of The Miami Project and how it served as a beacon of hope to her family that, as an undergraduate, she sought an internship with Mark Nash, Ph.D., the associate scientific director for research at The Miami Project.
“Uncle Ricky came down for a week or two and I saw firsthand how much The Miami Project meant to him,” Annie said. “Seeing him up on the Lokomat, a body-weight-supported robotic treadmill, was incredible. That’s when I realized I wanted to become a physical therapist and pursue a research career. I wanted to be able to create those moments not only for my uncle, but also other people with spinal cord injuries.”
Today, Annie’s focus is on trunk stability and optimizing functions such as breathing, balance and bowels to keep people healthy and as independent as possible. She is currently conducting post-doctoral research at the Neuroscience Research Australia.
Dr. Nash considers it a privilege to have mentored Annie and values the ongoing support — both financial and as a volunteer — Ricky has provided to The Miami Project and the Buoniconti Fund since he was a participant in Dr. Nash’s initial FES study.
“Altruism is genuine in the Palermo family,” said Dr. Nash, who also serves as vice chair for research in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “Their efforts have always been bigger than Ricky. They have always thought beyond him in wanting to help all spinal cord injury patients.”
Building a Legacy, Finding a Cure
Barth A. Green, M.D., chair and co-founder of The Miami Project and executive dean of Global Health and Community Service at the Miller School, values the familial relationship he has fostered with Ricky and the entire Palermo clan.
“Every day I count my blessings and am very grateful and humbled by the extraordinary energy and loyalty that Ricky and his family have inspired,” Dr. Green said. “For someone who’s been in a wheelchair for almost four decades, Ricky is remarkable and serves as a great example of someone who is with us every single day, even though he’s thousands of miles away.”
According to Ricky, he never set out to be a motivator. He simply wants to support The Miami Project and people like himself living with a spinal cord injury.
“Spinal cord injury is rare and underfunded,” Ricky said. “Every penny we collect goes to research. Our monies are being used to make huge discoveries, and results are happening. The Miami Project hasn’t given up, and neither have I. I’m confident they will find a cure one day.”
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