Recovering from a stroke
Photos and text by Kathy Hagood

           Jill Aker had a stroke six years ago that left the right side of her face droopy for about two weeks.

            The Melbourne-based Downtown Produce Market & More co-owner, who was 45 at the time, modified her diet and exercise habits to prevent future strokes. Like many others who experience a small stroke, she required no rehabitation, but was put on a blood thinner for a year.

            “Something caused a clot in my brain. They still don’t know where it came from,” Aker said.

By contrast Aker’s friend Denise Dabrowski Buchanan, a 42-year-old high school Melbourne High P.E. teacher, came close to death about a year and a half ago because of a clot in her brain.

Dabrowski Buchanan didn’t understand what was going on when she began having her first symptoms, headaches and fatigue. But over time her symptoms worsened to the point she had to go to the emergency room.

Unfortunately those who treated her didn’t recognize her symptoms were caused by a stroke-like condition. The clot, which was located deep in the center of her brain, didn’t cause a complete shutoff of blood and cause sudden severe symptoms. Plus both sides of her body were affected, also atypical.

Eventually Dabrowski Buchanan’s impairment progressed to the point that she had difficulty speaking or even lifting her head. Finally after an MRI was ordered, the growing clot in her brain was detected.

“No one could believe someone so young and healthy as I was could possibly have a stroke,” Dabrowski Buchanan says.

During her recovery she received speech, physical and occupational therapy at HealthSouth Sea Pines Rehabilitation Hospital and HealthFirst Pro-Health & Fitness. Although her rehabilitation was difficult and time consuming, she now has recovered almost completely.

            “I was lucky in that I was young and was physically fit. Knowing how difficult it was for me to recover, I know it’s even more difficult for those who are older, and I feel for them,” Dabrowski Buchanan says.

            Most stroke victims are older adults who suffer from various health problems. More than 70 percent of stroke victims are 65 and older, according to a study cited by the American Heart Association.

Dominick Grisanzio, 73, for example, is slowly is recovering from the stroke he had more than six months ago. Unfortunately, the stroke was his second and was much more severe than his first stroke three years ago.

The first two months following the most recent stroke the Viera retiree was on a feeding tube.

“I was reduced to jelly,” he says.

Now Grisanzio not only is able to eat but can speak with slight difficulty and walk with assistance.

After his stroke, Grisanzio was first taken to Sea Pines for rehabilitation.

Sea Pines is considered the most intensive and thorough rehabilitation facility on the Space Coast, offering about four hours of therapy per day. Therapy includes hour-long sessions with speech, physical and occupational therapists in addition to the use of mealtime for rehabilitation exercises.

Unfortunately, Grisanzio’s recovery was so slow that he did not fit within recovery parameters for Medicare reimbursement in a rehabilitation hospital, so he was transferred to a skilled nursing facility, Wuestoff Progressive Care Center in Viera, for healing and a slower-paced rehabilitation program.

A percentage of stroke patients who start out at Sea Pines are transferred to Wuestoff or another skilled nursing facility, says Dr. Stuart Miller, Sea Pines medical director.

“We encourage doctors to send their patients here first because we want to give everyone the best shot they can have at rehabilitation. You can’t generally tell how fast someone will be able to progress immediately after their stroke. We work with patients and if they aren’t ready for an intensive program, we transfer them to the appropriate facility,” Miller says.

Wuestoff assisted Grisanzio with his rehabilitation starting with him learning how to sit up in bed.

“We’re proud of our record of working with the most difficult patients to help them recover and increase their functioning,” says Imelda Ungos, rehab manager at the center.

Like Sea Pines, Wuestoff offers speech, physical and occupational therapy, but on a much more limited basis.

Many stroke patients are able to take on the rigors of Sea Pines and show progress. For example, 71-year-old Diana Scaplehorn first came to Sea Pines June 14 with little functioning but was able to walk with a walker and speak clearly after only five weeks of therapy.

“I was so bad off I thought I’d end up in a nursing home. Instead I believe I’ll be able to regain the abilities I lost. I’m going to keep working at it even after I go home,” Scaplehorn says.

The two patients illustrate just how unique each stroke patient is when it comes to recovery time and how their therapy must be approached individually, says Dr. Stuart Miller, Sea Pines medical director.

So much of a patient’s recovery depends upon the severity of the stroke and what part of the brain it affects. Individual health factors, including age and fitness, also affect recovery times.

“I’ve found you really can’t tell by looking at someone right after their stroke how fast or slowly they will recover,” Miller says.