Patient Stories 
Box Elder teen Sam Biberdorf hasn’t yet met a challenge he couldn’t stare down. That includes recovering from a brain injury and graduating from high school.
One sunny Saturday last fall, Sam Biberdorf ran in the state cross country meet. No small feat considering it was not long ago he was unsure if he’d be able to run again. The senior at Douglas High School ran the course and finished his high school cross country career with a full heart. His performance, designation as team captain and very presence at the state meet is impressive enough, as Sam overcame an obstacle those who saw him run at state wouldn’t guess. During his sophomore year Sam was in a car wreck that left him with a serious brain injury. Running competitively again is just another example of Sam refusing to let his setback dictate his path forward.
We first introduced you to Sam in Issue 09 (WINTER, 2023), telling his story of recovery and determination as he healed from his Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Sam worked relentlessly through a long period of recovery with a motto of “I can. I will. Watch me.”
Now, Sam is graduating high school and is excited for what is ahead. He has also been announced as Monument Health’s Children’s Miracle Network Champion for 2025. From an accident that temporarily reframed his life and left him with an uncertain future to a quietly confident young man transitioning into adulthood, Sam has grown and progressed in numerous ways since he was first featured in these pages.
“I feel like the accident is all the way behind me now, but at the same time I still kind of carry it with me,” Sam said. “Everyone I meet now; they don’t know what happened to me. I will tell people that I had a bad car wreck and had a TBI, but they can’t necessarily tell that just by meeting me and speaking to me. I’m thankful for how far I’ve come.”
Three years removed from the accident, Sam is largely the same as he was first described in our pages. He is the kind of guy with whom you want to be friends. He’s smart, cheerful and fun to be around. He’s an athlete (black belt in Tae Kwon Do), a good student (National Honor Society) and just an all-around good dude known for wearing fun, silly socks.
Now, though, the 17-year-old is beginning to see a future on the horizon where his injury and its lingering effects are left behind for good. His health care journey has even inspired him to pursue a career in physical therapy. He took multiple dual-credit classes in high school to earn college credits and job shadowed with physical therapists at Monument Health Orthopedics and Specialty Hospital (MHOSH). Sam has been accepted into an accelerated PT program at Clarke University in Dubuque, IA and has also signed to run track and cross country in college, as well.
“There were some physical trainers who really made an impact on me, and I’m interested in helping others in that way,” Sam said. “It’s been awesome shadowing at MHOSH and getting a closer look at what a PT does for patients. I’m interested in neurologic physical therapy as well, because of what I’ve been through.”
The Accident
Sam, who doesn’t remember getting in the car that morning of March 2022, had to be extricated from the vehicle by firefighters and was rushed to the Rapid City Hospital Emergency Department (ED). The ED and surgical team met with Stacey and Terry Biberdorf, Sam’s mother and father, and CAT scans and MRIs revealed what Sam’s care team suspected—his unconsciousness was the result of a traumatic brain injury.
“We didn’t know what to make of anything,” explained Terry. “There’s the fear of the unknown, and you worry if he’s going to wake up.”
Stacey added, “We had fantastic doctors and nurses who helped try to work through everything.”
Once Sam had opened his eyes and EEGs verified that he was experiencing brain activity, he was transferred to the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital Lincoln Campus in Lincoln, Nebraska, where Sam began occupational, physical and speech therapy.
Sam had to relearn everything: how to speak, eat, walk and talk. Everything he knew was still in his mind, but he had to learn how to access the information and coordination all over again. That would be an intimidating task for anyone, but Sam was relentless, coming up with his motto that served him for every step of his rehabilitation.
Big Things Ahead
From his initial 11-day stay at Rapid City Hospital through today, Sam has continued to receive care and build relationships at Monument Health. After they received travel assistance through Monument Health’s Children’s Miracle Network Program for their stint in Nebraska, the Biberdorfs were grateful and wanted to give back. Thus, Sam has often been a presence at Monument Health Foundation events for the past few years.
“The more I can share my story and put it out there, it really shows what CMN does,” Sam said. “I’m proof of what those donations can help do, and that a lot of people can benefit from it.”
As a local Monument Health CMN champion, Sam will continue to advocate for charitable needs of Monument Health’s pediatric patients, representing and raising awareness throughout the next year. Although he is not necessarily one who enjoys the spotlight, Sam knows his role with CMN is part of his healing journey. He hopes he can encourage others to persevere through the challenges of their lives; whether medical or otherwise.
Beyond that, he’s a young man with a gift for connecting with people; someone with a bright future ahead who can do anything he sets his mind to.
He can. He will. Just watch.
Story and photos: Bob Slocum