Miguel, a 51-year-old husband and father of 5, went to the hospital in March 2022 with slurred speech and weakness on the left side of his body. The medical team determined that Miguel had a brain bleed in the area that helps initiate movement on the body’s left side.
Upon discharge from the hospital, Miguel was referred to Atrium Health’s Carolinas Rehabilitation NorthEast for inpatient care, including physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Rehabilitation goals
When Miguel started his rehabilitation journey, he was unable to put weight on his left leg, making walking difficult, and he needed help with a variety of everyday tasks, like bathing, dressing and moving from his bed to his wheelchair.
Miguel’s rehabilitation team set out specific goals for them to accomplish, together. First, they wanted Miguel to be able to stand, sit and transfer his weight with as little lifting and steading assistance as possible. Once meeting those objectives, the team would help Miguel perform everyday tasks, like bathing, with as little assistance as possible. The last part of the plan was for Miguel to continue his recovery at home with his wife’s help.
As for Miguel, he wanted to “get out of the wheelchair, start walking and conquer going up and down the stairs.”
Finding strength
Miguel’s medical and rehabilitation journey wasn’t always easy for him. He battled feelings of depression at times, but ultimately found strength and peace in his faith – and the unwavering support from his family and church helped a great deal too.
Little by little adds up to a lot
After a lot of hard work and determination, Miguel was able to walk up and down stairs using a railing to steady himself; walk with a little steadying assistance and a rolling walker; and bath and dress the upper portion of his body. Miguel still relied on his wheelchair as his primary means of mobility and required some assistance when bathing and dressing the lower portion of his body. But, only 4 weeks after arriving at Carolinas Rehabilitation, Miguel was able to go home!
“When you go through a life-changing event like this, you feel like your manhood is gone,” says Miguel. “But the way everyone treated me (at rehab) showed me that I will always be who I am.”
To accelerate Miguel’s recovery of function at home, his wife received training on how to assist him while allowing him to do as much as possible on his own. And a physical therapist, occupational therapist and nurse provided additional care during at-home visits.
Learn more about Carolinas Rehabilitation.
