[jtheory]

It's easy to be confused about the time scale on this kind of work; it's hidden from public view until there's an appropriately newsworthy milestone.

As you point out, this is not a "Eureka!" moment at all; it's a waypoint on an arduous path that has taken decades of work, and will continue on (largely equally slowly) for a long time to come.

The operation discussed in the article was two years ago; it's taken that much time (with intense physical therapy the entire time!) before he has gotten the mobility he has now.