Tag Archive for: Stroke

Shirley trusted NCRH to help her get back to her family after a stroke

Originally from Dayton, Ohio, Shirley Surface moved to Colorado in 1989. Shirley, 82, now lives in Loveland with her oldest daughter, husband, and two other daughters. She loves caring for her family and spends her free time walking, crocheting, and knitting.

One day, Shirley lost her balance at home and fell. Her daughter took her to the hospital, where Shirley was diagnosed with a stroke. After researching facilities for her recovery, Shirley’s family chose Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital.

“The rehab program has been very good!” Shirley stated. “I am pleased with the nurses. They help me right away and never leave my side. Tanner Mendel, PTA, has been so helpful in helping me to strengthen my legs for transfers. And Dr. Witek and Nancy, PA, have been so helpful in providing me with stroke education. Plus, the food has been good, with lots of choices!”

Thanks to her hard work and the clinical expertise of the staff at NCRH, Shirley made significant progress in her recovery and returned home to her family right before Christmas, much to everyone’s delight.

Bob and his wife are thrilled they chose NCRH for his stroke rehabilitation

Robert (Bob) Mogus has lived in Sterling, Colorado, his entire life. Bob, 73, is retired and loves playing golf. He also loves being with his wife, with whom he is about to celebrate 50 years of marriage. Bob is a father of three, grandfather of five, and great-grandfather of three. He loves doing yard work and, above all, spending time with his spouse.

One day, Bob woke up from sleeping to find his right leg and arm were numb. They wouldn’t move. Further concerning, Bob’s speech was slurred. He was taken to the acute care hospital and diagnosed with a stroke.

Bob’s case manager at the acute care hospital recommended Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital (NCRH). NCRH had a good reputation, and Bob and his wife liked the location. So they decided to go along with the case manager’s recommendation and transfer to NCRH.

“What a fantastic place!” Bob stated about NCRH. “The therapists were great! They really worked me hard so I can go home.”

“Dr. Witek and Dr. Asadi are great physicians and took outstanding care of me,” Bob continued. “The nursing staff was beyond fantastic. The food was good! My case manager, Celeste Coraggio, really helped me with all the paperwork and kept me informed all the time of what was going on with my discharge plan.”

“There’s not a single bad thing I can say about NCRH!”

Bob was filled with excitement as he prepared to discharge home from NCRH. He looks forward to getting home with his wife and family. Bob is now walking with a cane and has full movement of his right arm. Bob also looks forward to seeing his golden retriever, Duke.

Janet is reunited with Daisey after recovering from a stroke at NCRH

Janet Smith, 79, moved to Windsor, Colorado in 2018 to be closer to her three daughters and five grandchildren. Before the move, Janet lived in Idaho with her husband, who passed away. She loves living in her retirement community where she attends church, exercise classes, and does water aerobics. Janet also walks two miles a day with her dog, Daisey, and enjoys making chocolate chip cookies and eating ice cream, and the company of her many friends.

During one of her exercise classes, Janet began to feel unwell. Thankfully, a retired nurse in the class made sure Janet got medical attention. Brought to the acute care hospital, Janet was diagnosed with a stroke and left-sided weakness.

Upon discharge from the acute care hospital, Janet chose Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital for her recovery. The rehab hospital is close both to Janet’s home and her family.

“Every employee was so nice and happy!” Janet said about her time and NCRH. She sang the praises of every department. “The food was great! The kitchen staff was so happy and always more than willing to accommodate my diet preferences! The therapy was so fun! Everyone was always smiling. And the nurses were wonderful, attentive, and happy. They would always make me feel like more than just a patient, but a friend!”

“I just loved how every one of the staff members always cared about my experience and asked questions to ensure I was doing well my entire stay.”

Having made significant improvements, Janet excitedly discharged home to Daisey. To continue advancing her recovery, Janet completed outpatient therapy at NCRH. She keeps her exercises on the fridge at her apartment, has resumed walking two miles per day, and is enjoying life with her friends and family.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better place to go. I recommend NCRH for the positive atmosphere!”

Doug looks forward to walking his daughter down the aisle without an assistive device

Doug Harsha had big plans. His daughter was getting married, and the father of the bride looked forward to walking her down the aisle.

But as Doug looked forward to that special day, his plans were interrupted. On February 1st, Doug had a stroke at his home in Loveland, Colorado.

Before his stroke, Doug lived an active and independent life, working as a network engineer contractor for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 70-year-old loves following SpaceX, reading, having coffee with friends, and going to church. Doug and his wife, Jonni, have been married for 37 years and have two daughters.

While in the acute care hospital, it became clear Doug wouldn’t be able to resume his active lifestyle without intensive rehabilitation. A physician friend recommended Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital, a Stroke Center of Excellence.

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Linda Flores appreciated the hard work and encouragement from her care team while she recovered from a stroke.

Linda Flores and her husband Steven have lived in Loveland, Colorado for the past eight years. Married for 49 years, Linda and Steven love to spend time with their three children and three grandchildren. In her retirement, Linda enjoys gardening, being a homemaker, and camping in her motorhome.

Linda suffered a right posterior cerebral artery stroke and chose to recover at Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital. She heard great things about their care and knew it would be easier for her family to recover closer to home.

Immediately impressed with her team of therapists, Linda felt motivated to work hard every day. She stated, “The therapists are very dedicated. They kept encouraging me and they are all so patient and very positive! The nurses, PCTs, and doctors were excellent. They are available at all times showing incredible teamwork.”

Linda is thankful to everyone at NCRH for their hard work, determination, and emotional support. As she continues her recovery at home, Linda looks forward to picking up old hobbies like gardening. She’s also excited to be around her family and dogs once again.

Norma Prince chose the certified stroke program at NCRH for her post-stroke recovery

A full-time mechanical engineer, Norma Prince leads teams that design medical devices. The 57-year-old has always been very active. Norma has been married for 33 years and has a 25-year-old son. Beyond her family and work, Norma’s hobbies include reading, hiking, and biking.

One day at home, Norma began experiencing headaches, followed by weakness on her left side. Concerned, she sought medical evaluation. Tests provided a diagnosis. Norma suffered a right frontal-parietal intracranial hemorrhage, a type of brain bleed.

Once stabilized, Norma needed rehabilitation before she could safely return home. A friend who participated in outpatient therapy at Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital (NCRH) recommended the facility. Additionally, the stroke specialty program at NCRH is certified by The Joint Commission. Norma decided that NCRH was the right choice for the next stage of her recovery.

Norma’s experience at NCRH has been even better than she expected.

“The care has been excellent!” Norma shared. “They have the most updated rehab equipment, which has helped with my recovery. The food is exceptional!”

The staff at NCRH also stood out to Norma.

“Dr. Arrogante listens well and cares about my recovery. The physical and occupational therapists have been outstanding, and all have very positive attitudes. They are always cheering me on! Every one of the staff members has been great and really have genuinely taken an interest in my recovery. Even the cafeteria and housekeeping staff make you feel welcome and take an interest in your recovery. And since my mother was a PCT, I really appreciate everything the PCTs do here at NCRH. They are all very dedicated to their job.”

Norma looks forward to getting back to working and hiking. After discharging from NCRH, she returned for outpatient physical and occupational therapies. “I was able to walk with a walker after a short time thanks to the guidance and expertise of the inpatient physical and occupational therapists. I’m now working with the outpatient therapists to walk on my own. I highly recommend Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital for stroke recovery,” she shared with a smile.