Jack's story
Jacob “Jack” Weiss, 54, hailing from Brooklyn, was enjoying a bike ride with a friend when suddenly he began losing control.
The married father of five explained: “I started feeling unstable on the bike, and thought there was something wrong with the bike. I continued riding for another mile and started feeling very strange. I stopped the bike and tried to get off, but my leg buckled and I fell. Then I realized something was very wrong. My friend called an ambulance and I was taken to the local hospital. I was alert and cognizant the entire time.”
Jack was taken to Garnet Health Medical Center. A CT scan revealed a brain hemorrhage and Jack was transferred by helicopter to West Chester Medical Center for further care. Luckily, the brain bleed did not get worse, but Jack couldn’t feel the entire right side of his body.
“I couldn’t use my right arm or leg,” Jack said. This left him unable to walk or perform everyday tasks. He required total assistance with mobility. When he was medically stable, he and his family began searching for rehabilitation options.
Through the recommendation of Bina, a Jewish stroke and brain injury referral organization, Jack chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR) - Saddle Brook for his recovery. “My goal was to get back to my active self,” Jack exclaimed.
At KIR - Saddle Brook, Jack began a physician-led rehabilitation journey that included physical and occupational therapies so that he could get his life back.
Physical therapy (PT) sessions included balance exercises and high-intensity gait training. He also performed body weight-supported treadmill training and used advanced technologies like functional electrical stimulation (or e-stim), low-level electric current used to activate weak or paralyzed muscles. In short, with electrodes taped to his arms and legs delivered charges, Jack performed physical therapy exercises. Jack also used a walking harness for balance improvement. Jack embraced the work and appreciated the tools that were helping him find his mobility again.
Occupational therapy (OT) sessions focused on helping Jack regain strength and movement in his arm. Functional electrical stimulation was helpful in occupational therapy too. Jack used a stationary bike that created electrical impulses while pedaling to facilitate movement in the arms. A second, portable e-stim unit was another modality to help his muscles contract. It helped him with large movements, pushing and pulling, but also fine-motor movements like pinching and grasping.
Jack worked diligently through his sessions, saying, “I was really determined and pushed myself to do everything they suggested to the best of my ability.”
Jack is an executive with a medical device company. “I spend my professional career in therapy gyms selling therapy equipment and was blown away by the energy and teamwork of all the therapists,” he said of his care team at KIR - Saddle Brook.
“I was assigned an OT and PT to work with me and they have not only helped give me my life back but have shown true compassion during the recovery process,” he marveled. “They gave me the motivation to push as hard as I can.”
His therapists also worked with Jack’s wife to teach her ways to help Jack once he returned home, including exercises that would help him continue his momentum.
A key turning point in his recovery came when Jack regained control over his arm and leg. “When I was able to use my right hand to take my sock off without sweating and when I took my first steps on my own without … a cane was when I realized that I am on a real road to recovery,” he said.
As he approached discharge, Jack had made momentous progress.
Now he could walk independently at home without any assistance, requiring only supervision for community ambulation and was fully independent with daily tasks.
Reflecting on his unexpected journey, Jack said, “My experience at Kessler rehab was really excellent. Every staff member we had interactions with was very professional, friendly and compassionate.”
With outpatient therapy planned, Jack is beginning to enjoy some of the activities that he did before his stroke, including jogging and cycling.
The married father of five explained: “I started feeling unstable on the bike, and thought there was something wrong with the bike. I continued riding for another mile and started feeling very strange. I stopped the bike and tried to get off, but my leg buckled and I fell. Then I realized something was very wrong. My friend called an ambulance and I was taken to the local hospital. I was alert and cognizant the entire time.”
Jack was taken to Garnet Health Medical Center. A CT scan revealed a brain hemorrhage and Jack was transferred by helicopter to West Chester Medical Center for further care. Luckily, the brain bleed did not get worse, but Jack couldn’t feel the entire right side of his body.
“I couldn’t use my right arm or leg,” Jack said. This left him unable to walk or perform everyday tasks. He required total assistance with mobility. When he was medically stable, he and his family began searching for rehabilitation options.
Through the recommendation of Bina, a Jewish stroke and brain injury referral organization, Jack chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR) - Saddle Brook for his recovery. “My goal was to get back to my active self,” Jack exclaimed.
At KIR - Saddle Brook, Jack began a physician-led rehabilitation journey that included physical and occupational therapies so that he could get his life back.
Physical therapy (PT) sessions included balance exercises and high-intensity gait training. He also performed body weight-supported treadmill training and used advanced technologies like functional electrical stimulation (or e-stim), low-level electric current used to activate weak or paralyzed muscles. In short, with electrodes taped to his arms and legs delivered charges, Jack performed physical therapy exercises. Jack also used a walking harness for balance improvement. Jack embraced the work and appreciated the tools that were helping him find his mobility again.
Occupational therapy (OT) sessions focused on helping Jack regain strength and movement in his arm. Functional electrical stimulation was helpful in occupational therapy too. Jack used a stationary bike that created electrical impulses while pedaling to facilitate movement in the arms. A second, portable e-stim unit was another modality to help his muscles contract. It helped him with large movements, pushing and pulling, but also fine-motor movements like pinching and grasping.
Jack worked diligently through his sessions, saying, “I was really determined and pushed myself to do everything they suggested to the best of my ability.”
Jack is an executive with a medical device company. “I spend my professional career in therapy gyms selling therapy equipment and was blown away by the energy and teamwork of all the therapists,” he said of his care team at KIR - Saddle Brook.
“I was assigned an OT and PT to work with me and they have not only helped give me my life back but have shown true compassion during the recovery process,” he marveled. “They gave me the motivation to push as hard as I can.”
His therapists also worked with Jack’s wife to teach her ways to help Jack once he returned home, including exercises that would help him continue his momentum.
A key turning point in his recovery came when Jack regained control over his arm and leg. “When I was able to use my right hand to take my sock off without sweating and when I took my first steps on my own without … a cane was when I realized that I am on a real road to recovery,” he said.
As he approached discharge, Jack had made momentous progress.
Now he could walk independently at home without any assistance, requiring only supervision for community ambulation and was fully independent with daily tasks.
Reflecting on his unexpected journey, Jack said, “My experience at Kessler rehab was really excellent. Every staff member we had interactions with was very professional, friendly and compassionate.”
With outpatient therapy planned, Jack is beginning to enjoy some of the activities that he did before his stroke, including jogging and cycling.