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With unwavering determination, a Currituck County High School senior will walk across the stage at graduation thanks – in part – to a wearable robotic exoskeleton.

In July 2024, Luke Spinato, now 18, was celebrating Independence Day with his friends and family when a diving accident caused him to break his neck and sustain a spinal cord injury, paralyzing him from the chest down.

According to a GoFundMe page set up to support Spinato, that night he “dove off the dock the way he always did but this time, this dive, this shift of fate, Luke hit the bottom in a way that broke his neck. His friends thought he was joking as he floated face down in the water. Luke tells us that he thought he had died and that if this was death, it sucked. But then he realized he was holding his breath and couldn’t move. Laughing, his friends waded out and turned him over only to discover that he was not joking. Working fast, they stabilized him on a boogie board and called for help.”

The life-altering accident occurred just weeks before the start of his senior year. Following emergency spinal surgery, Spinato spent several months in inpatient physical rehabilitation at Sheltering Arms Institute in Richmond, Virginia.

Throughout his recovery, Spinato has worked tirelessly to regain his mobility and independence. During his inpatient stay, Spinato’s therapists introduced him to the Ekso Bionics robotic exoskeleton, a wearable robot that allows individuals with spinal cord injuries or other neurological injuries to walk with the supervision and support of a skilled clinician.

“[The exoskeleton] was hard, but it felt really good to stand up and actually walk around,” Spinato said regarding his experience with the advanced technology.

When his senior year began, Spinato enrolled in virtual classes to continue his education while simultaneously focusing on his recovery. “Knowing that I could have been in school and around all my friends was pretty hard. It was definitely easier for me to learn in person,” Spinato said about the challenges of virtual learning.

Upon completing inpatient and outpatient therapy at Sheltering Arms Institute, Spinato enrolled in Sheltering Arms’ NeuroFit program to continue building his strength. Spinato’s positive attitude and sense of humor have helped carry him through the ups and downs of the recovery journey.

“Working with Luke has been an honor and a privilege. Seeing this young man come in with a dedicated mindset and give 110 percent every single session has been amazing to witness,” said Alexander Lavallis, ACSM-EP, Spinato’s exercise physiologist. “He’s not only making consistent progress, but he also truly reflects the definition of our motto: the Power to Overcome!”

On Friday night, June 6, Spinato will use this cutting-edge robotic technology once more, this time to receive his diploma, walking across the stage in Barco. After everything he has endured over the past year, this graduation ceremony is a celebration of Spinato’s resilience.

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You only get to walk across that stage once, and I wanted to make sure I actually had the chance to walk it,” Spinato said when asked what this graduation means to him. “In life, difficult things will happen, but you just have to live with it, get better from it, and learn from it.”

After graduation, Spinato plans to reside in Moyock, his hometown, while continuing to work on his recovery. His long-term goal is to enroll in trade school and pursue a career in welding.

About Sheltering Arms Institute

Sheltering Arms Institute is a non-profit and donor-supported state-of-the-science physical rehabilitation hospital and network of outpatient centers that brings together the brand and clinical reputation of Sheltering Arms and the nationally ranked programs and research of VCU Health through a joint venture. Ranked #1 in Virginia and #19 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the Institute blends advanced technology, research, and evidence-based clinical treatment to create an innovative, transdisciplinary model of rehabilitative care that facilitates superior outcomes for patients. For more information, go to ShelteringArmsInstitute.com.

About Sheltering Arms

Sheltering Arms Community Programs—the majority joint venture partner of Sheltering Arms Institute, a nationally ranked physical rehabilitation hospital and network of outpatient centers located in Richmond, Virginia—offers a vast array of adaptive and medical fitness, wellness, and recreation services, including its mission-driven day recreation program, Club Rec. To learn more, go to ShelteringArms.com.

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