Transformative Stroke Care: Sherry’s Story Of Resilience And Recovery

It wasn't long ago Sherry needed rehabilitation care at Franciscan Health. In 2017, she woke up not feeling well, but as an early riser, she started her day. Sherry started some laundry but then began to feel dizzy and fainted. She woke up but quickly passed out again. Sherry had suffered a stroke and stayed in critical care for five days. She was paralyzed on her right side.

Sherry and her husband Michael, 50-year residents of Martinsville, knew they faced a long road ahead. But Michael is Sherry's rock; he takes her where she needs to go and helps make things happen. And they have three daughters, three wonderful sons-in-law, and four amazing grandchildren, who all encouraged her recovery, Sherry said.

When Sherry needed inpatient rehabilitation, she chose Franciscan Health, where her husband had previously received heart care. The inpatient rehab team at Franciscan Health Indianapolis is caring and loving, Sherry said.

"For two weeks, I stayed in the hospital, receiving inpatient rehab until I was ready to transition to the outpatient program," she said.

Stroke recovery can be a slow process. Sherry continued in outpatient rehab for a little over a year.

"It teaches patience," she said. "I used a walker during rehab, and after months of physical and occupational therapy, I eventually relearned how to walk without it."

Sherry reflects on those days in inpatient rehabilitation - exercises with her hands, playing games, squeezing balls, working on puzzles, folding clothes and even using the rehab kitchen. And speech therapy was especially challenging.

"I had to train my tongue to move around my mouth, up, sideways and down. It's as if my tongue didn’t know how to operate,"

Today, six years after the stroke, Sherry said she can do most things on her own but needs some help with certain tasks. When she compares where she was in 2017 to where she is today, Sherry feels "so blessed to have had the support and love of family and the doctors and nurses at Franciscan Health."

And her faith kept her going, too. These supportive experiences - the power of a compassionate team committed to helping her on her health journey - motivated Sherry to give hope, compassion and inspiration, through volunteering, to others going through what she went through.

"When I was in rehab, the team at Franciscan was fantastic," Sherry said. "The staff makes you smile and laugh; laughter is good medicine. I had to learn to walk, talk, eat and swallow, and they helped make it possible. Today, I want to be a part of helping others."

Sherry began volunteering at Franciscan Health Indianapolis just a year after her stroke.

"Dr. Sachin Mehta, my physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, helped me each week. He encouraged me to tell my story by volunteering," Sherry said. "He's an excellent doctor; to this day, he remembers my name."

When COVID-19 hit, the volunteer program paused, and it wasn't until January 2022 Sherry could volunteer again.

"It's important patients see what's possible," she said. "It's another reason why I volunteer."

Sherry comforts those struggling, and patients know she understands how they feel. She's been on the same journey.

"I remind them we can get frustrated, but it's important to keep trying," she said.

Her experiences help others going through their recovery and rehabilitation.

"I'm so grateful to those at Franciscan Health who helped me every step of the way - the doctors, nurses, therapists, people who serve food, those who clean the facilities, everyone - I'm here because of them," she said.

Today, Sherry said she was one person going into the stroke and a different person coming out. She is an inspiration to others going through stroke rehabilitation.

"Thanks to the team at Franciscan Health, I am happy with the new me and this great opportunity to support others."