Michael's story
Michael “Mike” Thompson, 59, was living the beach life in Brigantine, New Jersey spending time with his wife Barbara, four children, five grandchildren and his beloved dog Walter. When he wasn’t at work, you could find him on the beach enjoying one of his greatest passions—fishing.
Mike was admitted to Southern Ocean Community Hospital for an elective left carotid endarterectomy to remove plaque from the carotid artery. While in post-op recovery, Mike suddenly developed right-sided weakness, left-eye gaze preference and had difficulty communicating. He was immediately transferred to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for a thrombectomy to remove a blood clot and restore blood flow to his brain.
He’d had a stroke. Medically speaking, Mike was diagnosed with a left-sided cerebral vascular accident affecting mostly the frontal and parietal lobes of his brain. He now had physical and cognitive issues including limited mobility on his right side, decreased head and neck control and difficulty speaking.
It was a challenging time for Mike and his family, filled with uncertainty about the future. Fortunately, Mike’s daughter-in-law is an occupational therapist at Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR) - Marlton; therefore, Mike knew exactly where to go for the rehabilitation he needed to get back to his family, dog and the beach.
Upon admission to Kessler, Mike required assistance from two people to move while in bed and to transfer from one place to another. He had decreased trunk control and sitting balance, poor head and neck control and limited standing tolerance. He was unable to walk or propel his wheelchair. He required total assistance for toileting, bathing and dressing. Along with Mike’s right-side mobility limits, he was challenged by motor control and planning impairments and significant right visual inattention, meaning that he couldn’t process things on the left side of his visual field. His speech was marked with frequent word blocks, which led to significant frustration for him.
At KIR - Marlton, a physician-led team of therapists created a care plan to help Mike meet his goals. He participated in numerous treatments and modalities in physical therapy to address his needs, including high-intensity gait training over ground and on the treadmill. An Andago harness system was deployed to help him support his weight while standing and walking, and an EKSO exoskeleton supported him and helped recreate the neural pathways that would help him regain the ability to walk. Electrical stimulation was also used to activate his muscles and nerves.
But getting into the pool was a game changer for Mike. Through aquatic therapy, Mike and his therapists were able to work on walking, steps and standing without a device. In addition, it provided Mike with increased confidence, and it was extraordinary for his therapists to see his improvements even after just one session in the pool.
Occupational therapy focused on Mike’s sitting balance, trunk control, weight bearing, neuro re-education for his right arm and his transfers. In addition to targeting his strength and mobility so Mike could do everyday activities like dressing and grooming, his therapists focused on his severe right-side neglect using prism therapy. Prism adaptation requires an individual to wear prism lenses while making arm-reaching movements toward visual targets. Lenses are used to facilitate stimulation, modification, and even long-term changes of brain connectivity among the cerebellum, parietal cortex, temporal cortex and frontal cortex.
Speech and language therapy focused on Mike’s ability to express himself. Therapy sessions maximized his strengths to support his language recovery. His strengths included auditory comprehension, oral reading at word level and simple phrase level, repetition of words and simple phrasing.
Beyond the physical aspects, Mike’s emotional and mental resilience played a pivotal role in his progress. He remained focused, drawing strength and support from his family and health care team. Mike's wife, Barbara, was extremely supportive during his stay and here every day. Indeed, she played an integral role in Mike’s recovery. Even through facing and overcoming her own adversities that included surviving cancer, Barbara was there for Mike. (A feat that Mike supported her through just months prior.)
At the time of discharge, Mike had progressed to a supervision level for transfer and walking with a rolling walker. He had moved to contact guard assistance and cueing to negotiate 12 steps. Barbara performed training at KIR - Marlton multiple times to practice the steps with Mike so that he could safely get into their house.
Mike was discharged home in just under six weeks. Following discharge, he continued treatment at the outpatient program in KIR - Marlton for continued occupational, physical and speech therapies.
At the conclusion of his outpatient therapy, Mike was able to stand unassisted for long periods, could better assist with household chores and was able to walk short distances in the community without any assistance or device.
Mike completed his recommended home exercises including a program repetitive movements to rebuild his right arm and hand strength and coordination. He also participated in two research studies, one for driving and one for upper extremity management.
Mike has resumed driving, is fixing things around the house, walking on the beach with his wife and dog and is fishing. In fact, he recently caught his first flounder independently. Though his family said it wasn’t a keeper, it was a huge moment in Mike’s recovery and a moment to reflect back on how far he has come.
