Vicki Day woke up one morning feeling limp on her left side and began having difficulty speaking. Her husband Steve was concerned and took her to an ER near their home in the Outer Banks where they determined Vicki had an ischemic stroke. The entire left side of her body was paralyzed.
After Vicki transferred to Chesapeake Memorial Hospital and was stable, the medical staff recommended intensive inpatient rehabilitation as the next step. “I told the staff that I wanted to take Vicki to the very best place because the first 90 days are the most important. Every person said, ‘Sheltering Arms Institute is where you want to go,'” recalls Steve.
“My goal was to be able to go back to my home, which is three stories off the ground, and get into it with minimal assistance.”
Vicki had a stomach full of butterflies when she first arrived at the Institute on a Friday evening. She began to question if she had the strength and energy that she needed to fully recover. Vicki said, “My goal was to be able to go back to my home, which is three stories off the ground, and get into it with minimal assistance.”
As part of Vicki’s therapy, her team utilized the Motek RYSEN, an all-directional, 3D bodyweight support system that provides adjustable vertical and horizontal forces to simulate real-life walking conditions and everyday activities. “The technology gives you the jumpstart that you need,” Vicki said. “Being hooked into a harness adds a level of security and takes off some of your weight, so you feel successful faster.”
Upper extremity therapy was also added to Vicki’s schedule, which involves intensive motor retraining through electrical stimulation and weight-bearing exercises.
The Day family was so impressed by the care that Vicki received at Sheltering Arms Institute that they chose to stay in Richmond an additional month for intensive outpatient therapy at Sheltering Arms Hanover Center, which helped prepare the couple to return home.
Fifty-five days after her stroke, Vicki accomplished her goal. With only a light grasp on the railing, she climbed the three flights of stairs leading to her front door on her own.
This story was originally published by Sheltering Arms Institute. Edits and additions have been made for clarity and style. All media are credited to SAI.