Maria's story
Maria Meeks, a 62-year-old retired first grade teacher, enjoyed walking, gardening, crafts and spending time with her family.
But life changed in an instant when she had a stroke while getting ready for the day.
“That morning… when I stepped out of the shower, my left leg did not hold me up,” Maria recalled. “I had no pain, but I knew I was having a stroke.”
Maria suffered an intraparenchymal hemorrhage, a brain bleed that occurs in the functional tissue of the brain. As a result, she experienced paralysis on the left side of her body and was unable to walk or move her arm.
For several years, Maria said that she had been feeling stressed. “In the few weeks prior to my stroke, the stress level was higher than ever,” she explained.
Maria’s husband called 911 immediately. She was taken by ambulance to Englewood Hospital where she was given a CT scan and MRI, which confirmed a stroke. She was admitted to the ICU.
After Maria was medically stable, she and her family knew she would need intensive rehabilitation to regain her strength and relearn to use the left side of her body. She was aware of Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation’s reputation as the “best” and selected the Saddle Brook campus.
Upon admission, Maria faced many challenges and set a broad goal for herself: to recover and get back to life.
Under the care of the physician-led rehabilitation team at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Saddle Brook, Maria began her journey. A customized treatment plan was put into place for Maria.
Physical therapy activities aimed to strengthen her body and increase her endurance and activity tolerance. Occupational therapy focused on refining Maria’s fine motor skills and completing household tasks, including gardening.
"The dedication, devotion and true empathy of the team were unmatched," Maria remarked.
The turning point in Maria's recovery came when she regained the use of her left arm. "I realized I can have a quality of life," she reflected. “When my foot took a step on its own, I realized that I would gain my mobility back.” These moments were tremendously emotional to her.
Maria said that her therapists gave her more than just activities to perform, they gave her confidence and courage. “As promised, things that were hard became easier,” she said. “Walking with the walker has been my favorite activity. Both the stairs and treadmill have been very beneficial but not my favorite.”
Maria’s therapists said that her progress was incredible. When she came to KIR - Saddle Brook she has zero movement on her left side, yet she walked out independently with a walker.
Throughout her rehabilitation, Maria's family played an integral role, providing support and encouragement. "My husband never missed a beat," she acknowledged. “Aside from his encouragement, he organized so many things behind the scenes so that I would be comfortable and continue to focus on the healing. My children and extended family all contributed to do whatever they could to make my return home possible.”
Reflecting on her rehabilitation experience, Maria described it as "all-encompassing and comprehensive." She is taking with her valuable lessons in patience and understanding of how her body works. “I’m going to live the rest of my life being more mindful,” she vowed.
Looking ahead to discharge, Maria anticipated the simple joys of being home. “I’m excited to sit on my deck and look at my plants,” she said. “I can’t wait to enjoy being in my favorite place with my favorite people, home.”
Maria is continuing her recovery in outpatient therapy. To anyone who may be facing similar challenges, she said, "Trust the process."
Since being discharged, Maria is able to walk and navigate stairs independently with a cane and has returned to driving.