Ryan McKenna, sole survivor of 2022 crash, leaves rehab after 272 days

Ryan McKenna, 29, the sole survivor of a head-on-collision from 2022, officially walked out of rehabilitation on Wednesday after being there for 272 days, and is ready to start his next chapter in life.

On Feb. 14 of last year, McKenna, his caretaker, and their dog were driving in East Brookfield on Route 49. While on Flagg Road, which is a straightaway on the rural side of town, a driver heading the opposite direction going 65 mph, hit McKenna’s car head on, killing his caretaker and dog.

When the crash happened, McKenna, who was the passenger, was fully alert and could hear the metal crunching around him.

“He could see that [his caretaker] was gone,” said Alissa Suitum, director of social services at Blackstone Valley Health and Rehabilitation. “He could see the dog was gone. He could hear the medical first responders trying to get to him. So that was very traumatic.”

McKenna’s journey to recovery began at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, where he was in critical condition, and then he was transferred to Fairlawn Rehabilitation in Worcester.

He finally landed at Blackstone Valley Health and Rehabilitation, where he has received physical therapy, occupational and speech therapy and daily nursing needs the past 272 days, according to Ursula Hanus, director of Referral Management and Admissions.

“When he [was] admitted to our facility, he was completely dependent for all of his needs, unable to bathe, brush his teeth, care for himself and was bed bound and unable to walk,” recalled Hanus about McKenna.

After enduring more than 30 surgeries, having a tracheostomy, feeding tubes and multiple wounds that required skilled nursing care, McKenna was officially given the thumbs up to leave the rehab center, and move to an assisted home in Winchendon, which will promote his independence but also provide McKenna assistance if he needs it.

While living at the rehab center, McKenna, 29, was younger than most residents, since the median age is about 85, and that was a bit of a culture shock for him. However, McKenna still found ways to keep himself entertained.

“To have… the staff that joke around, hang out and water the plants,” said McKenna, “Cleaning up debris on the sidewalk. Activities like planting the flowers, cleaning windows — you know a year ago, I didn’t think I would be able to wipe a window … I did … wax on, wax off.”

“Honestly through this all, your sense of humor and your wit has, I think, been a very big part of your recovery,” Suitum told McKenna Wednesday before he said his goodbyes.

Before the crash, McKenna had a landscaping business called McKenna’s Landscaping, which he bought all the equipment for by working two jobs at Walmart and BJ’s. The business was shared between him and his caretaker, who McKenna considered as his stepfather.

McKenna hopes to continue his landscaping work after he gets settled at the staff assisted home and do tasks like mowing, raking leaves, mulching, planting flowers, shoveling and cleanup.

“I like getting my hands dirty,” said McKenna, “Because when you have your hands dirty, it tells you, you accomplished something.”

Ryan McKenna stands in front of his garden at Blackstone Valley Health & Rehabilitation. (Liesel Nygard)

Besides employment, McKenna also wants to buy a 2002 Ford F350 pickup truck, which he used to have before the crash. Adjustments will have to be made to the truck since McKenna’s full range of motion isn’t there but McKenna is allowed to drive, which he said he’s excited about.

McKenna’s journey through recovery has motivated McKenna to give back. After the crash, McKenna remained in contact with the first responders and the town of East Brookfield, Suitum said, and has made several phone calls to find out what they’re doing “to make sure that this doesn’t happen again.”

“There are these huge dividers at the intersection where the accident happened,” said Suitum, “And then all the intersections from there on, they have made complete changes to the safety of that road from this accident. And Ryan has been an integral part of that planning, which is amazing.”

McKenna said he contacted the East Brookfield town hall and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and told them his story about the crash.

“Change is now finally happening. It takes one phone call to change something that [can] prevent other fatalities or injuries on that road…[it] should’ve been done years ago but like I said, accidents happen. One phone call could change the rest,” McKenna said.

Wednesday afternoon, staff and faculty members of Blackstone Valley rehab lined up in front of the rehab entrance, on each side of the sidewalk, to congratulate McKenna as he walked to the van that would drive him to his new home.

Handshakes, tears and hugs were shared between the staff, faculty and McKenna.

Before getting into the van, McKenna turned around to face everyone who was still lined up on the sidewalk and said, “Thank you Blackstone Valley for everything and I love you guys.”