Back to playing beautiful music.
I was only 51 when I had my stroke and it was completely unexpected. I’m a very active person – I like to play golf and tennis and work out frequently – and something like a stroke was the farthest thing from mind! The day of my stroke, I had actually just completed a Bar Method workout. I remember my leg giving out and all of a sudden I couldn’t move anything on my right side. I was still conscious, but couldn’t talk at that point. Luckily a nurse was in my class and understood what had happened, and she helped get me to the hospital quickly.
While my stroke could have been much worse, it still left me with many problems to overcome, including weakness on the right side of my body and a lot of problems with my speech. I was already familiar with Raleigh Court Health & Rehabilitation Center from other family members who had been patients there, and I knew that was my best choice for recovery, too. In addition to seeing how well the staff at Raleigh Court had cared for my grandmother, they were also very convenient and close to home; that was a big factor in my decision, too.
I required physical, occupational, and speech therapy, and all my therapists were absolutely top-notch. They were not only highly skilled and knowledgeable, but they were also kind, caring, and compassionate. They were very friendly people, and fun to be around – their personalities made the hard work of recovery so much easier.
I was in therapy twice a day, seven days a week and it was intensive to say the least. My LifeWorks Rehab therapists really pushed me to do my best. They did a great job in preparing me to be back home on my own, and were very meticulous in making sure I would be able to do everything I needed to do.
With the help of LifeWorks Rehab, I have regained almost all my strength on my right side. Regaining everything my stroke took away is an ongoing process, but LifeWorks Rehab gave me an amazing start and all the tools I need to continue getting healthier and stronger on my own every day.
Now that I’m back home, I’m feeling great. I’m back to my Bar Method workouts and playing golf frequently. I also play bells in two bell choirs; I missed that terribly and I’m so glad that I’m able to resume playing music again. Thanks to the care I received at Raleigh Court Health & Rehabilitation Center, I’ve been able to get back to doing so many things that I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to do again after my stroke. The care I received was wonderful.
