Mark's Story
Stroke
Dr. Mark Castor, a 70-year-old dentist from Austin, kept busy and active. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed playing golf, bike riding and spending time with family.
However, one morning, Mark awakened and discovered that he could not move his left leg, nor could he even wiggle his toes. Thinking his leg might be "asleep," he carefully tried to stand up at the side of the bed. When he tried to put his weight on his legs, the left leg buckled and he fell to the floor. The right leg did not seem to be affected and he was able to make his way back on to bed and he called for his wife, Lucy. She called for an ambulance right away. The day before, he had worked a normal full day at his dental practice and felt fine.
Mark had experienced a spinal stroke.
Spinal strokes are rare and dangerous. A spinal stroke can occur when a blood clot or bleeding interrupts blood flow in the spinal cord.
After being transported by ambulance, Mark spent five days in the hospital but was too weak to return home. Once he stabilized, he was unable to walk or stand and couldn’t care for himself. A family friend suggested that he consider Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation (BSWIR) - Lakeway to begin his recovery.
Upon arrival at BSWIR - Lakeway, his physician-led team of therapists met with Mark to create a plan to get him back to his busy life. The stroke had left him with no strength in his legs and he required the assistance of two people to transfer from one place to another. Mark’s primary goals were to regain mobility, rebuild his strength and enjoy a life fulfilled.
Mark worked daily with physical and occupational therapists who introduced a range of exercises to help reestablish his strength. His physical therapist team utilized tools like a supported ambulation device (for seated-to-seated transfers and sit-to-stand assistance) to improve his leg strength and confidence while walking. Determined, Mark also took to a recumbent bike to strengthen his legs. Light-response training pods also were introduced to help him improve his coordination, which was critical for restoring his ability to walk.
A pivotal moment in Mark’s rehabilitation came when he was able to stand without assistance in the parallel bars. "It gave me the confidence that [I] will move on."
Occupational therapy focused on helping Mark regain the mobility, upper body strength and coordination to perform everyday tasks like dressing, grooming and bathing. The supported ambulation device helped to improve his functional mobility, as he would practice object retrieval while standing and walking. Light-response training devices were also used during occupational therapy to facilitate trunk control and coordination to make dressing and transferring from one place to another easier.
Mark’s recovery and confidence progressed steadily. In just 20 days, he transitioned from needing assistance with every transfer to walking with a walker. His hard work was paying off, as he got back his strength and independence, managing daily activities such as bathing, dressing and going to the bathroom on his own.
Reflecting back on his struggles and triumphs during rehabilitation, Mark remembered the emotional support he received from the staff. When he first walked with the walker, “everyone in the hallway clapped for me ... I felt like I was in the fifth grade graduating again," he recalled.
Now prepared for discharge to a skilled nursing facility, Mark looked forward to his eventual return home, being outdoors and spending time with his family.
He’s grateful for the dedication and encouragement of his care team at BSWIR - Lakeway.
“Everybody that helped was informative and instructive in every step of therapy,” he said. “Everyone was very well trained, [and I] would definitely recommend this place.”
For others who find themselves in a similar situation, Mark advised: “Do therapy with determination. The staff here will be right behind you the whole way.”