Shirley's story
At 86, Shirley Shand still moved through the New Jersey farm she shared with her son and grandson with purpose — helping with daily chores, staying close to her five children and 11 grandchildren and enjoying quiet moments near her horses. It was a life that grounded her and kept her feeling young.
Then, two falls in one week changed everything.
The first didn’t worry her much, but when she fell again two days later and couldn’t move her right leg, she knew something was wrong. Still, ever‑resilient, Shirley tried to shake it off. She called her grandson for help and went to bed hoping things would improve by morning. They didn’t.
Her daughter Katrina drove her to Inspira Hospital, where a CT scan revealed she’d had a stroke. Shirley was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital, where doctors diagnosed an acute intraparenchymal hemorrhage, a brain bleed responsible for the sudden weakness in her leg. Though it didn’t require surgery, Shirley spent several days being stabilized and closely monitored before she could take the next step: rehabilitation.
Her care team at Cooper suggested Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Marlton. Katrina researched options online and felt confident Kessler offered the specialized care her mother needed.
When Shirley arrived, she was unable to stand or walk and required significant assistance for nearly every task. Her goal was simple: she wanted to walk again.
A physician-led interdisciplinary team built a plan to help her regain independence and rebuild strength step by step. The stroke left Shirley with significant weakness and balance issues making standing and walking nearly impossible. Physical therapy’s focus was to help rebuild strength, mobility and balance. She began by using a cycling device that moved her arms and legs for her. The gentle movements began to increase Shirley’s strength and endurance and she progressed to using her own strength to cycle. She practiced posture and core strengthening on a specialized therapy table, learning to trust her body again.
A turning point came when she was introduced to a walker designed for patients with limited leg and trunk control. With her forearms and knees supported, Shirley stood upright, something she hadn’t done since her stroke. She practiced shifting her weight, and after a week, the therapy gym filled with cheers as she advanced her right leg and took a step. It was one small step physically, but emotionally it was enormous; the week before, she wasn’t sure she would ever walk again.
Occupational therapy brought new layers of progress. Shirley relearned daily activities like dressing, managing clothing and using the bathroom, and each regained task helped her feel more like herself. To improve her awareness of her right side, the team incorporated KFPAT prism adaptation treatment, which gently retrains the brain to better recognize the affected space. Shirley embraced the challenge, and over time she grew more connected to her environment.
Therapists also used pressure‑mapping technology to make sure she was positioned safely and comfortably throughout therapy. With better support and alignment, Shirley found self‑care tasks less tiring and more achievable. Mat‑based exercises strengthened her core and improved her standing tolerance, helping her prepare for the moments she’d return to at home, such as standing at the sink, putting on clothing and walking with a walker.
Katrina watched her mother’s progress unfold. “It’s a miracle, just to see the beauty of [different therapies] work in harmony … to achieve this holistic recovery, it’s been very eye‑opening for me.”
Even the facility dog, Crowley, played a part in her progress. Reaching to pet him helped her practice coordination, balance, visual scanning and endurance — all wrapped in the comfort of a friendly presence.
After three weeks, Shirley made the progress she needed to return home. She went from needing two people to help her sit up and stand to walking short household distances with supervision. Shirley showed much stronger control in her right arm and leg and no longer leaned heavily to one side. She could pull herself upright and reposition herself with far greater safety and confidence. With this improved control, she started doing more of her daily tasks on her own. Shirley could manage lower body dressing and toileting with close supervision and could put on a shirt and eat with just a little setup help.
Throughout it all, her family was never far from her side. “They were great; they came in every day; I wouldn’t have made it without them,” Shirley said. During her interview, she and Katrina cried and embraced, recalling the determination, support, strength and love that went into Shirley’s recovery.
Shirley continued her therapy at home with her family’s support and resumed her daily activities of bookkeeping for the family farm. Her hospitalization gave her a new perspective. Her hospitalization gave her and her family a new perspective on people who rely on care during difficult times. As Katrina put it, “It’s amazing to see what strangers can do to help strangers. You’re performing miracles every day.”