Reprinted from The Daily News
By April Feagley
Daily News Staff Writer

The Greek philosopher Aristotle once said “Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies”. Harold Cutshall and Ronald Brown are a wonderful example of that type of friendship. Cutshall, of Three Springs, and Brown, of Hill Valley, first met approximately 20 years ago at the park in Three Springs. Both had experienced health set backs, Cutshall, a brain aneurism and Brown, polio as a child and a stroke as an adult, that left them with a lot of time on their hands. The two hit it off immediately and soon were meeting daily for coffee at the Three Springs Pizza Star and accompanying one another to medical appointments.

It was on the way home from one of those appointments, on March 29, 2011, that the two men were seriously injured in an automobile accident near Cowen’s Gap. Both suffered multiple fractures and trauma injuries. As a result, Cutshall was taken to Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center, and Brown was taken to Hershey Medical Center. Although the two underwent multiple surgeries while hospitalized, they claim one of the most difficult things about the hospitalization was the difficulty in communicating with one another. They each kept tabs on the other’s progress through family and friends.

On April 22, Cutshall was brought to the Woodland Retirement Community, Orbisonia for rehabilitation. He then returned to the hospital to have his leg amputated due to complications. He was able to return to Woodland on May 20, and even though he did not know until the day before, Brown arrived at Woodland on May 26.

The staff at Woodland relate that both men, in spite of the difficulties they had experienced, arrived with a smile and ready for the hard work of rehabilitation. Leslie Winnick, Director of Marketing and Admissions, remembers, “When I learned of the accident and of the extent of both their injuries, I expected to see two very defeated men come into Woodland. Harold and Ronald came to Woodland glad to be closer to home, to each other and eager to start their rehabilitation journey”. However, Cutshall and Brown had just begun to amaze the staff at Woodland.

During the week of August 22, one day before Cutshall was to be released to return home, he was found to have infection in his remaining leg, resulting in a second surgery that would leave him a double amputee. In September, Brown suffered a mini stroke at Woodland. Reflecting on this incident, Brown jokes that he was surprised at how many people could fit into his room, “Everyone came to help”, he says. Returning to Woodland, the two men continued to exemplify astounding resilience and positive attitude. Cutshall and Brown acted as each other’s cheerleader throughout the arduous rehabilitation process. The two men, inseparable on their motorized scooters, became a common sight at Woodland. Carrie Garcia, Director of Rehabilitation at Woodland states, “These are two extraordinary men whose sheer determination for independence and common bond of friendship has made their recovery a great success.&rdquo

Overcoming many obstacles, Cutshall returned home on Sept. 30. Brown will soon follow, planning to return home on Oct. 7. Cutshall stated that he is looking forward to spending time with his family and friends, and getting back to the Pizza Star. Brown especially looks forward to being back home in the country so that he can watch the turkey and deer that come into his yard. Of the pair, Winnick says, “It was amazing to watch them come to Woodland with such devastating injuries, work so hard and gradually improve over time without complaint. Harold and Ronald are truly an inspiration to us all.” Both men have the same advice for anyone else going through tough times, “Keep your head up and keep your sense of humor, without that we would not have gotten this far.”