Fifty-seven year old Tom Liubakka of Crown Point had a stroke in August, 2015. He credits his recovery to the swift actions of St. Mary Medical Center’s stroke team and one therapist in particular.
“I was sleeping and when I woke up in the morning, I realized that my right side was numb. So I waited for a few minutes and it remained numb and tingling so I went to stand up and I couldn’t walk on my right leg. I told my wife ‘there’s something wrong’ and she took me right to St. Mary Medical Center. She knew St. Mary’s is known for excellence in stroke care and treatment would be immediate – as soon as I arrived,” Liubakka says.
“For two weeks, I recovered in rehabilitation at St. Mary Medical Center,” he says. “I am an artist and I am right handed. I could not use my right hand. I worked with Carmen VanKley, certified occupational therapy assistant, to not only regain use of my right hand, but learn to use my left hand so I could continue to draw through my recovery. Now I use my right hand and my left hand to draw.”
“Recovering from a stroke can mean a long and challenging rehabilitation,” says April Schutter, RN, BSN, stroke coordinator at St. Mary Medical Center. “The stress associated with developing new skills, relearning previous skills and making lifelong adjustments can be very difficult for patients. Support from family and friends is vital to a successful recovery. That is why it is important to choose a rehabilitation center that is convenient and close to home.”
For more information about how the hospitals of Community Healthcare System help people through stroke and recovery, click here.
