Aileen's Story
Aileen “Allie” Redmond loves music. Whether listening to her favorite artist, Gospel performer CeCe Winans, or strumming her acoustic guitar, Allie always has a tune in her head.
One night as she slept, Allie, 60, felt as if her record skipped a beat.
“I was sleeping in bed and I lost myself,” Allie described. “When I got out of bed, I tripped and fell on the floor. My daughter came and helped me.”
Allie’s daughter quickly called 911 and when paramedics arrived, Allie’s blood pressure was over 200. She was immediately taken by ambulance to SSM Health DePaul Hospital. Through a CT scan and further testing, doctors determined Allie had suffered an intracranial hemorrhage. This type of stroke, often referred to as a brain bleed, causes blood to pool between the brain and skull which prevents oxygen from reaching the brain.
Allie’s stroke left her unable to perform most daily functions. Once she stabilized, her doctors recommended a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program to rebuild her strength, mobility and speech, so she could return to her work in information technology, her music and life at home with her daughter and granddaughter.
Allie chose SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Bridgeton for the next level of care. There, a physician-led rehabilitation team worked with her to develop an individualized treatment plan.
Upon admission, Allie’s team conducted a full assessment. Her right arm and leg were completely paralyzed and she needed total assistance to get out of bed. She required a Hoyer lift for transfers, an apparatus that assisted staff with safely moving a patient from surface to surface. Allie also needed moderate assistance to sit up straight and was completely dependent on others for activities of daily living, including using the bathroom, showering and dressing. Additionally, she had difficulty speaking and swallowing, forcing her to have altered diet of pureed solids and mildly-thick liquids.
Despite her symptoms, Allie was determined to improve from day one. The goals she set for herself during her rehabilitation were clear and significant.
“I want to be able to walk and be self-sufficient,” Allie explained. “I want my life back. I want everything to go back to normal.”
Allie’s plan included physical, occupational and speech therapy with a focus on improving strength and balance, as well as speech and ability to swallow foods and return to a normal diet. Rather than let her stroke define her, Allie was determined to improve and gain back her independence. Her therapists noticed Allie’s can-do attitude immediately, remarking how she was always willing to try new things, tackle a new challenge and perform extra strengthening exercises outside of her scheduled therapy sessions.
The focus of Allie’s physical therapy was to improve her functioning to the point where she could return home safely with her daughter and granddaughter. To achieve this, Allie used several different types of equipment in physical therapy, including a walking aid support system that allowed her weight to be supported while she regained strength and trained her legs to walk again. She also used a hemi walker, which enabled her to improve her balance while she walked.
It was during these walking sessions where Allie gained an appreciation for how much she was improving, as well as the care she was receiving.
“The team was wonderful,” Allie said. “I learned how to stand on my own and pivot. The therapists helped get in my head and motivate me. I liked that the therapists did a variety of things.”
Some of Allie’s largest improvements came in occupational therapy. Through determination and hard work, she made steady progress with her balance and strength. She gained movement back in her right arm and even began using it to help with daily tasks.
Allie’s therapists made a lasting impression when they went to her residence and conducted a home evaluation to ensure a safe return home. The team showed Allie’s daughter how to move her around the house and in and out of bed, as well as toileting and showering.
“I liked that the therapists did a home evaluation,” Allie recalled. “It was important to see and it told me the therapists cared.”
As her balance and endurance improved, so too did Allie’s speech and swallowing. Following several speech therapy sessions, she demonstrated significant improvement in her ability to swallow and was upgraded to thin liquids, before returning to eating solids with regular consistency towards the end of her stay.
Throughout her recovery, Allie’s support system of friends and family was key.
“My daughter came in and went to therapy with me,” Allie explained. “My daughter was very motivating to me. It was good to see my daughter and granddaughter. The company and managers I work for were supportive too. I can go back to work feeling better about everything.”
After 35 days at SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Bridgeton, Allie’s hard work was rewarded and she was discharged and returned home. As she prepared to continue her rehabilitation to continue rebuilding strength and function at the SSM Health Day Institute, she reflected on her journey.
“I had to accept what happened and do what I had to do,” Allie said. “I had to have a positive attitude. I learned that I am more resilient and positive. It is humbling, I could not have done it by myself.”
With her family behind her, Allie’s recovery journey will continue. As she looks forward to further improvement, she can also get back to having a tune in her head and playing her beloved guitar.