HEALTH BEAT
Former patients share stories at CHRISTUS St. Michael’s annual rehab reunion
The road to rehabilitation isn’t an easy one. CHRISTUS St. Michael Rehabilitation Hospital recently celebrated some rehab success stories at its Annual Rehab Reunion. “We do this to really thank our patients and invite them back for fun activities and entertainment,” said Cookie Gender, rehab hospital administrator and chief nursing officer.
“The other thing is when the inspiration patients tell their stories, it’s inspiring to the staff and patients who are currently going through rehab.”
The theme of this year’s reunion was “There’s no place like Rehab,” playing off the Wizard of Oz. There was singing, a skit and other musical entertainment, but the heart of the event are the stories told by the inspiration patients.
Trudie Spencer, who suffered a stroke at the age of 28 and amputation of her left leg because of complications of diabetes, spoke at the reunion.
“First, I’d like to give honor to God for allowing me to be here so speak to you,” said Spencer who was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 9.
Spencer talked about the skills rehab staff helped her learn during her stay including living skills, speech therapy, how to go up steps and to transfer herself from her bed to a wheelchair and in and out of the car.
“My therapist worked hard with me until I felt comfortable and had confidence in myself,” Spencer said. “Due to a professional and dedicated staff with their encouragement, help and concern and with the help of my mother, I wanted to make a difference in my community.”
In spite of her challenges, Spencer has done just that. She speaks to groups about stroke and amputation, volunteers for a local hospice and much more.
John Bodie, a former rehab patient, also had to learn to deal with an amputation.
“I learned all my training here,” Bodie told the crowd of current and former patients at the reunion. “My goal was to be able to get home, be functional and regain my independence. I was trained in this facility to do everything I needed to do to get home.”
Bodie said being in physical therapy was like going back to school.
“You’re tested daily on your accomplishments. How to get in bed, how to shower. Do you know they gave me a test before I could leave here,” Bodie said. “It helped me get home and back to my life. I just want you to know with everyone in this facility, my wife never
had a problem getting me the care I needed.”
Joey Lawrence also shared her experience in hopes of encouraging others. Lawrence was injured in an accident and had joint replacement surgery because of it. She struggled with doubt that she would ever be able to walk again or get better. “I remember opening my eyes and seeing a nurse and thinking ‘What’s going to happen?’ When they told me I was going to get out of bed I though ‘Nuh uh. That’s not going to happen.’ After awhile, little by little, I got to the side of the bed and stood up. It’s amazing to me that I did,” Lawrence said. Before long Lawrence was able to walk short distances, then longer ones. “Everyone here just came together and helped me along,” Lawrence said. Stories like those told at the reunion are happening daily at the rehab hospital. It’s the reason Gender decided on a career in rehabilitation. “I fell in love with rehab as a career 35-plus years ago. The reason I love it is because you always see patients improving dayto-day, week-to-week,” Gender said. Patients need rehab for a variety of reasons including stroke, traumatic injury, joint replacement surgeries and more.
The goal of the staff at the rehab hospital is to help patients overcome their disability and regain quality of life.
“We want to get patients to the highest level of function and for them to be active in the community and doing the things they did before their disability,” Gender said.
The average stay at the 50-bed rehab hospital is from 10 to 12 days.
“The important thing to remember is all of us, if we live long enough, will have some kind of disability. Rehab helps you see you can still have a life with a disability,” Gender said.