Fay
Monday, October 31, 2011
By: Julie Dominik

Survivor

Fay had a stroke some 17 years ago at the age of 49, which affected her left side of her body. At that time, she was an LPN at an area nursing home and loved her job. Unfortunately she was unable to return to work as it was just prior to the enactment of the ADA law. She had to retire very early, and it broke Fay's heart. She had been an inpatient for her rehabilitation at our hospital, and then came to outpatient therapy for several months following that. During that time, she got to know some of us therapists very well, but also some of the other stroke survivors that also came to therapy. 

She and another woman were integral in starting a community support group for survivors which is still going strong today. Fay also became a volunteer in our therapy departments after completing therapy and has continued to come weekly to this day. She is involved also in our stroke education and peer visitor program for stroke survivors that we offer at our facility, while providing consistent encouragement and inspiration to countless survivors and their families. 

She is a remarkable person who has never let her stroke define her, but rather used that experience to help so many others. My coworkers and I are so very fortunate to know her and be inspired by her consistent positive mood and smile.

We wish we could bottle her spirit and share it with others!