Former Norwalk Common Council member defies odds after spinal cord injury
In July 2025, George Tsiranides woke from emergency surgery paralyzed and was told he'd never walk again.
More Stories
Three to four times a week, George Tsiranides is at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare's outpatient services in Fairfield for physical and occupational therapy - work that's paid off.
"When I first got here, I was confined to a wheelchair," the 52-year-old shared as he used a walker.
Doctors had said he'd never walk again, but that prospect was unthinkable to Tsiranides, whose life changed more than a year ago with a spinal cord injury.
Tsiranides was born and raised in Norwalk, and served on the Norwalk Common Council for several years. He told News 12 that athletics and outdoor activities always filled his time from when he was a kid to when he had kids of his own.
"I was very active, big on sports--recreational and extreme sports," Tsiranides said. "Weightlifting, boating, surfing, motorcycling, parachuting a couple times."
That meant Tsiranides had his share of injuries in the past, which is what he assumed was behind the numbness he began getting in his right leg and later his right arm.
"I would sit down, shake it around for a little, and it would come back," Tsiranides explained. "Instead of having it properly checked out, I just kind of Googled information and assumed it was this or that."
Tsiranides said it went on for a few years until July 17, 2025. At the time, he was living in South Carolina for work.
"One day, I just, as I was trying to walk, collapsed," he recalled.
Tsiranides was rushed to the hospital, where he learned he had a large cyst on his spinal cord and needed emergency surgery.
"That's all I remember, then waking up completely paralyzed. I couldn't even move my fingers and my hands, and I couldn't feel anything below my stomach," he told News 12. "As soon as he told me I was never going to walk again, I was like, 'No, that's not going to work for me.'"
Tsiranides moved back home to Connecticut one month later and continued his recovery at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in Westchester County.
When Gaylord Specialty Healthcare opened a clinic in Fairfield County late last year, Tsiranides signed up. He's been going there for about ten months.
"When I got here, we started pushing more for the walker. With their help and with the support harness machine, I got stronger with the walker to the point now where I don't even use the wheelchair," Tsiranides explained.
He said the staff has played a big role in his success.
"Everyone I've met here has been great. They've been a real big part of my recovery. They're very supportive, and they deal with my stubbornness," Tsiranides said with a laugh.
"George has been a lot of fun to work with and really rewarding," said physical therapist Jadean Hoff. "I remember the first time he walked into therapy with no wheelchair. I just had a big smile on my face. It was amazing. Just watching his journey has been incredible."
Hoff credits Tsiranides' mindset of never giving up.
"He will give 110%, and he just won't take no for an answer, and I think that has definitely played into how far he's come," Hoff told News 12. "We know that individuals after a spinal cord injury can take years to continue healing, and they can still get a lot of function back, so I'm really looking forward to seeing his continued journey."
