One Step at a Time
Joseph Reller, 69, and his wife, Jackie, started their day like they’d done many times before by going out for breakfast near their home in O’Fallon, Missouri. But halfway through the meal, something unexpected happened. Joe reached for an object and realized his hand wasn’t working normally. When Jackie asked him to smile, one side of his face didn’t move. Recognizing something was wrong, they acted quickly to get Joe to SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital – Lake St. Louis.
When Joe arrived at the hospital showing sudden changes in his movement and speech, doctors quickly confirmed he had suffered a stroke. His care team focused first on stabilizing him and treating the effects of the stroke, including slurred speech and severe weakness on the left side of his body. At first, Joe could not move his arm or walk. Additional blood work, fluids and close monitoring continued to move Joe in the right direction. Five days later, his condition had stabilized, and the team shifted focus to preparing Joe for inpatient rehabilitation.
Wanting to choose a location close to home, Joe and Jackie decided he would transfer to SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Lake St. Louis. Uncertain what recovery would look like or how much function he would get back, Joe worked with his physician-led multidisciplinary team to create a plan centered on regaining independence.
Speech therapy focused on helping Joe regain clear speech and swallow safely after his stroke. His speech-language pathologist taught him strategies to slow and steady his speech, practicing first with single words, then sentences and eventually everyday conversation to improve clarity and confidence. Therapy also supported a safe return to eating and drinking by having Joe practice drinking through a straw using small, controlled sips to reduce the risk of food or liquid going down the wrong way, causing aspiration.
As Joe’s speech and swallowing improved, physical therapists prioritized helping him to move safely. With no active control of his left leg, he couldn’t stand or walk. Work started with supported standing in parallel bars to stabilize his knee and practice putting weight on his leg. Within days, Joe progressed to stepping with a one-handed walker that supported him while he relied on his stronger side.
Because Joe and Jackie lived in a two-story home, stairs quickly became a main goal. If he wanted to return home safely, he needed to be able to reach the second floor. Nearly every therapy day included stair practice, building strength, balance and confidence one step at a time.
Occupational therapy helped Joe relearn how to use his left arm safely in everyday tasks. He practiced weight-bearing exercises and used visual cues to improve control of his shoulder and keep it stable during movement. Therapists also taught Joe how to protect his shoulder during transfers, such as moving from sitting to standing.
Joe also practiced picking up and using everyday objects, slowly rebuilding fine motor control. Early on, he had to concentrate hard just to keep a grip. By the end of his stay, he could practice kitchen tasks using simple workarounds that helped him stay independent while his strength continued to improve.
Milestones started to add up. One day, Joe climbed the full set of stairs for the first time and told therapists he was ready to try whatever could help him get home. Another day, he crossed both arms over his chest at the same time, pausing so his care team could see.
“Achieving these milestones made me feel like I was progressing,” he said. “I could see the gains, but I knew there was still work ahead.”
By discharge, Joe could walk with a walker and looked forward to progressing to a cane. He could manage all self-care tasks independently, including getting to and using the bathroom – something that had felt impossible only weeks earlier.
Four weeks after Joe arrived, he had met his goals and was ready to return home. He planned to continue outpatient therapy at the SSM Health Rehabilitation – Lake St. Louis Day Institute, building on the progress he made with walking, speech and hand use.
As Joe prepared for discharge, he shared: “The staff were very good. Their coaching and support made a real difference. I also felt supported by my family and friends who visited often.”
Home again, Joe is looking ahead – building strength, spending time with his wife and working toward golf and fishing, one step at a time.