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PARALYZED BROTHER OF FAMED
SHARK TANK STAR WALKS AGAIN
AFTER LIFE-ALTERING SPINE SURGERY
John Corcoran, Barbara Corcoran’s brother, became
paralyzed after a horrific motorcycle accident last fall
and is now getting back to life as he always knew it.
By: Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists
It was Labor Day weekend…a beautiful Satur-
day afternoon. John Corcoran, owner of
Statewide Roofing and Siding in Edgewater,
NJ and brother of Shark Tank millionaire, Bar-
bara Corcoran, headed out to do what he
loves most – take a ride on his motorcycle.
An experienced rider, John had driven
through Morris County hundreds of
times…but this time was different. He was on
a side road when he came up to a turn too
fast. His bike hit a curve and jumped across
the road. John was thrown across the road
where he landed atop giant concrete blocks.
It wasn’t until seven hours later that his fami-
ly located him unconscious in the hospital
because his friend – a member of the Edge-
water Police Department – pinged his phone.
“John was rushed to Morristown Medical
Center,” Barbara explains. “He had suffered
five crushed vertebrae, 18 broken ribs and
lungs that were filled with blood. Worst of all,
when he arrived at the hospital, he was para-
lyzed, having lost all function in his legs and
bladder control.”
As luck would have it, Dr. Yaron Moshel, a
neurosurgeon at Atlantic NeuroSurgical Spe-
cialists (ANS), was on call in the trauma center
that night. While most physicians would have
considered the damage to John’s spinal cord
irreversible and would not have immediately
performed surgery to remove crushed verte-
bral fragments off of his spinal cord, Dr.
Moshel set on a mission to have John walking
again.
“Although no one would have expected this
amazing outcome, I thought we should give
John the benefit of the doubt,” Dr. Moshel
notes. “We rushed him into surgery to recon-
struct his spine and relieve pressure from his
spinal cord. It was a risky decision considering
his other systemic injuries, but we had the full
support of a great trauma team and were able
to offer him the surgery within hours of arriv-
ing to the hospital instead of days later. When
it comes to spinal cord injury, early protection
of the spinal cord and not wasting precious
time is critical.”
John received specialized care directed by the
trauma and neurosurgery teams in the ICU for
one month and came out of a month-long
sedation moving all of his limbs. After a
seven-week hospital stay and a two-week stay
in a rehabilitation center, John returned home
and began resuming his normal activities.
“I’m driving again – although I have not yet
gotten back on my motorcycle…it’s in the
repair shop,” John quipped. “I do plan to get
back on it…I plan to ski again and do every-
thing else I enjoy. All thanks to the fabulous
team of doctors who spent hours, days and
almost two months focusing on me. Without
them, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Dr. Moshel added, “I was truly thankful and
somewhat surprised that John emerged from
his long recovery walking around as if nothing
had happened! Traumatic spine injuries can
be devastating and to have such a positive
outcome in such an upbeat patient keeps us
aware of why prompt and high-level care is so
important.”
“Our whole family feels our brother’s recovery
is nothing short of a miracle!” Barbara con-
cludes. “We all waited anxiously knowing full
well that his chances of walking again were
next to zero if not for the quick thinking of Dr.
Moshel and the expert care he received. It is
truly amazing to see John today.
“We just returned from a short vacation to
Utah where, believe it or not, he would have
skied had Dr. Moshel not asked him not to,”
she continues. “John has nine siblings who
adore him, and our mom always said John
would be a big success because he is such a
hard worker. It may have been the habit of
working hard that helped put him on the road
to recovery. He is an inspiration to us all.”
For more information on trau-
matic spinal cord injury and
ANS, visit ansdocs.com or call
973.285.7800.
When John
Corcoran, owner of
Statewide Roofing
and Siding in Edge-
water, NJ and
brother of Shark
Tank millionaire,
Barbara Corcoran,
arrived at the hos-
pital, he was para-
lyzed. Featured
here with his
granddaughter, he
came out of a
month-long seda-
tion moving all of
his limbs.
After seven
weeks in the
hospital and
two in a
rehabilitation
center, John
returned home
and began
resuming his
normal activi-
ties – including
enjoying time
with his grand-
daughter, Lilah.
Having back pain is uncomfortable enough. Having to deal with multiple
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That’s why – at
Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists’ Spine Center
–
our subspecialized team of fellowship trained spine specialists provide
comprehensive care. New Jersey’s largest neurosurgical practice and
one of the most renowned in the country, we are known for leading
edge treatments delivered with compassion and care.
We take care of it all – so you or your loved one can focus on just one
thing: getting better.
Atlantic NeuroSurgical Specialists – the only connection you need.
For more information onANS, visit
www.ansdocs.com
or call
973.285.7800
.
Not sure about your insurance coverage?We can help! Ask to speak with our insurance counselor.
Glenpointe Centre Atrium
400 FrankW. Burr Blvd.
Teaneck, NJ 07666
201.530.7035
11 Overlook Road
Suite 180
Summit, NJ 07901
908.516.2941
310 Madison Avenue
Suite 300
Morristown, NJ 07960
973.285.7800
3700 Route 33
Neptune, NJ 07753
732.455.8225
781 Route 15 South
Jefferson, NJ 07849
973.729.0266
www.ansdocs.com
They say you need connections to
navigate your way through back pain.
We say you only need one.
Health and Wellness
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