Stacy's Story
Stroke
Stacy Sell, a beloved special education teacher and devoted football fan, took a vacation with her husband in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. After a day of relaxation and lying by the pool, she returned to her room and suddenly experienced an excruciating headache.
“The pain was unbearable and I knew something was wrong,” recalled Stacy. “I told my husband to get emergency help... when he arrived back to the room with paramedics, I was unconscious.”
Stacy had experienced a stroke.
Stacy was rushed to the hospital where she was intubated and sent into surgery. She was diagnosed with an arteriovenous fistula, which is a congenital malformation in the artery in the brain that ruptured.
“The surgeon was able to stop the bleed during a craniotomy, but significant damage was done to my cerebellum,” she said. “I was in a coma for 11 days and my outcome was bleak.”
Upon waking from her coma, the 53-year-old faced significant challenges, including impaired vision, balance issues and higher-level cognitive deficits. “Doctors were amazed that I was awake,” Stacy recalled. “The focus now was to get me stable and back to the United States.”
Able to acquire an air ambulance, Stacy was transported to Medical City Plano. She was admitted to the ICU where she stayed for several more weeks and underwent surgery for hydrocephalus (water on the brain).
Once she was medically stable, her physicians recommended an intensive inpatient rehabilitation program to help her regain mobility and independence. Stacy’s husband did a lot of research and chose Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation (BSWIR) - Frisco, where she began a remarkable journey to recovery that continued with BSWIR’s Day Neuro Rehabilitation Program.
When Stacy arrived at BSWIR - Frisco, she was unable to walk and required assistance to do daily activities. “I was unable to swallow and required pureed food, which I was resistant to,” she said. “I also had a catheter which made it difficult to move and participate in physical activities.”
Her physician-led rehabilitation team worked with Stacy to put a tailored treatment plan in place geared toward her goals.
“I wanted to be able to walk without a walker, drive my car and return to teaching,” she said. “These things seemed impossible at the time, but my therapists were encouraging and eager to get me started towards recovery.”
Her physical therapists utilized innovative techniques such as blaze pods, an activity that encourages reflex time and strength, and vestibular rehabilitation to improve her balance and core stabilization.
“[My therapists] worked with me physically and got me able to walk without the walker,” she exclaimed. “We worked on balance and strength and they both poured in love and encouragement, which motivated me to ditch the walker.”
Her occupational therapy team introduced vision exercises, including convergence and divergence exercises to help her focus, while speech therapy aided in simulated return-to-work tasks and attention training. Additionally, Stacy participated in modified yoga sessions to enhance her overall well-being.
“We worked every day on my vision and because of [their] diligence and creativity, my vision has improved,” she said. “[My therapists] were always finding fun ways to work on my eye strength.”
When Stacy began therapy at BSWIR - Frisco’s Day Neuro Program, just days after she was discharged from inpatient rehabilitation, she was still working on balance and strength with a goal of walking independently. Over time, she achieved significant milestones, including walking without assistance. In fact, a pivotal moment came when Stacy and her husband completed a 5K walk in downtown Dallas, signifying a turning point in her recovery journey.
Throughout her rehabilitation, Stacy's family played a vital role in her recovery, providing support and encouragement. Her husband, children and friends rallied around her, offering love and positivity every step of the way. Stacy also found a new support system within the Day Neuro Program, forging strong bonds with fellow patients undergoing similar journeys.
As Stacy looked toward the future, she became eager to embrace life's adventures once again. When recalling her recovery journey, Stacy had this to say:
“I cannot say enough good things about my rehab team. They changed my life and I am where I am today because of their care, encouragement and motivation... [my therapists were] so sweet and took such care in finding challenging and entertaining activities to keep me uplifted.”
While her journey to recovery continues, Stacy remains determined to build upon her progress and pursue new goals, including participating in more 5K events.
“I am back to work, driving and am starting to be more social with my circle of friends,” she concluded. “I know it will take time, but I can finally say that I see a light at the end of the tunnel.”