Celebrating Our Patients' Success.
Read some of our patients' stories of their experience with the Summa Rehab team.
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Myra
“Myra is an Akron area nurse who was walking her dog at Sand Run Park when she had an accident. The dog went one way and she went the other, injuring her leg in the process. She spent several months working through the pain while trying to figure out what was wrong with her leg. It was finally discovered that she would need a hip replacement to repair her damaged femur. As an experienced nurse anticipating the rehab process, Myra said “I knew that I would get the best care at Summa Rehab Hospital that is why I chose them”. It was important to Myra that her pain be managed well so that she could get the most out of her time spent in therapy. She felt that the entire team of doctors, nurses, and therapists worked together to manage her pain and help her get back to better. Myra gives a lot of credit for her recovery to the nursing and therapy staff at Summa Rehab Hospital stating, “They treated me like a VIP, and I saw them treat everyone like VIPs through my whole stay”. Myra recalled, “The processes that therapy taught me made it much easier for me to cope with my recovery and showed me there are ways to do things that can help me have an easier time.” Myra was home in less than 10 days, and doing well using the techniques she learned at Summa Rehab Hospital. Less than 2 months after Myra’s hip replacement, she is excited that she can wear heels again. She is just waiting for her doctor to tell her she is released so that she can go out dancing again.”
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Eddie M.
“Edwin “Eddie” Miller was involved in a surreal motor vehicle accident in 2011 that left him with a brain injury, blood on the brain, broken neck, broken collar bone in two pieces, both arms broken badly, three lumbar fractures, fractured pelvis, bruised kidney and spleen, a badly broken leg, and two collapsed lungs. He was 19 years old. Eddie was in a coma for 6 months and had been to a long-term acute care hospital in Akron for his first phase of recovery. He progressed as much as he could, making stops all along the continuum of care until he got back home. Due to his overwhelming support system including his family and community Eddie began doing much better. Eddie was admitted to Summa Rehab Hospital from home. When Eddie was admitted he was walking 20 feet and required four people to help him. At the end of his stay at Summa Rehab Hospital Eddie was walking 150 feet with a walker and minimal assistance. Leroy Miller, his father, said that his stay at Summa Rehab Hospital was “excellent” and “he could not say enough good things about the therapists, the medical director Dr. Jeffrey Sanderson, and the hospitality shown to Mr. Miller and his family.” “My wife has been here everyday with my son and we never had an issue with being involved in my son’s care”, “it hasn’t been like that everywhere we have been, and we really appreciate it”, Mr. Miller said. “ My son has done so much better since coming to Summa Rehab Hospital, he can do things now that he wasn’t able to do a short time ago when we had him at home, and my wife and I have learned different ways to help our son complete things and care for his needs”, Mr. Miller said. Summa Rehab encourages family members and loved ones to participate in the therapy sessions so that the patients, as well as caregivers, are well versed in keeping the patient safe along the road to rehabilitation. When Eddie admitted to Summa Rehab it took four people to assist him in getting up out of bed or out of the chair, upon Eddie’s discharge he was able to do 98% of the transfer by himself, needing only one person to assist him. Esther Miller, Eddie’s mom, was very happy to have been a part of the therapies. She said, ”We are very thankful for the staff and the training we have received here and would recommend Summa Rehab Hospital to anyone who would ask. My son has done so much better and I have seen progress in his abilities everyday”.”
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Marie
“Marie is a member of the clergy and has visited many different facilities to visit patients. Marie has chronic pain and severe scoliosis. She has battled with this pain through multiple surgeries at differing rehab facilities. Marie had her third spinal surgery completed a few weeks ago. At that time she chose to admit to Summa Rehab Hospital for her recovery. Marie is so incredibly excited about the progress she has made since her admission. She said that she is walking better today than she has in the last few years! Marie had challenging pain issues to deal with while doing her therapy at Summa Rehab. Because the physicians were able to address her pain issues on a daily basis they were able to be controlled. Marie reports that her pain control is extremely improved! Marie said, ”I have never been to a more caring and family oriented facility in all my years of visiting patients. The staff truly works as a TEAM, you welcome and encourage the family and friends to participate in the patients care. No matter what time of the day it is the staff is always accommodating.” Marie was also impressed that there is a specific system to alert nurses of patients pain needs. She said she never had to wait to receive pain meds and they were always delivered quickly. Marie said that she appreciated the communication between physicians, nursing and therapy team members to include her family in pertinent conversations. Marie is excited about her progress, she gets to leave a week earlier than anticipated because she has progressed so quickly! She said that she has to have knee surgery next and will be looking forward to coming back for her rehab!”
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Elizabeth
“Elizabeth lives in California. She was excited to fly to Hudson, OH to attend her daughter’s wedding. She had landed safely and traveled to her daughter’s favorite restaurant in the Cleveland area. Elizabeth suffered a severe stroke shortly after entering the restaurant. Her daughter discovered her and from there she was rushed to a prominent Cleveland Hospital. There she received life sustaining care on a ventilator. She was diagnosed with an intracerebral hemorrhage caused by uncontrolled hypertension. As a result, she had right hemiparesis with Aphasia. She was hospitalized for a few weeks before being referred to Summa Rehab Hospital in Akron. Elizabeth participated in Physical, Occupational and Speech therapies to regain her lost motor skills and strength. Elizabeth was cleared to discharge 21 days after her admission to Summa Rehab Hospital, she credits that to “friends and family that visited often and the therapy team at Summa Rehab Hospital.” Elizabeth was motivated to get back home to enjoy the things that she loved. Elizabeth recommends Summa Rehab for any patient needing an acute rehab facility! “All of the staff was great; Amanda, Wendy, and Jennifer (my therapists) were especially great, I love them all”, she said. Elizabeth is now back in California cooking and enjoying the labor of tending her rose garden.”
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Bill and Karen
“Bill and Karen Wolfe live in Oregon. They bought an RV so they could enjoy their retirement and travel the country. They left from Oregon and stopped in Vegas, Denver, St. Louis, and Nashville before they arrived in Akron, OH to visit Bill’s brother. Upon arriving in Akron, Karen suffered a left hemi paralysis stroke with spinal compression fractures and was admitted to Akron City Hospital. Once she was ready to begin her rehabilitation, Summa Rehab Hospital assisted Karen in regaining function, strength and motor skills. Karen has done very well in her therapy program and loves it at Summa Rehab! Karen said that “Everyone greets her with a smile every day and they treat her very nice”. Bill said” I feel very fortunate to have had this happen here in Akron”, “I do not think that she could have made the progress she has if this would have happened at home”. The therapy department used the RV to do an assessment of Karen’s abilities. They used spaced retrieval techniques to assist her in entering/exiting the RV safely. Karen completed her therapy program in 11 days and is looking forward to going back home. Bill and Karen can now set off on their 5 day trip back home with full confidence that Karen will be able to enjoy their trip and return to their independent lifestyle.”
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Mary E.
“Mary Ellen lives in Stow and has 6 brothers and sisters. They gather at her mother’s house every Sunday for a big family meal. There are typically 36 people in attendance for that meal. Mary Ellen was admitted to Summa Rehab Hospital with a left total knee replacement. She battled with Rheumatoid Arthritis, and a previous right ankle break that was not healed completely. Mary Ellen said, “Dr. Ford was wonderful with his bedside manner and the way he accommodated my special needs.” She said that James, her therapist, showed her she could work toward her goal and he helped her achieve results from the very first therapy session. Mary Ellen’s daughter was to attend her very first homecoming dance the day after she admitted to Summa Rehab Hospital. The staff was very accommodating and helped her prepare an area in the Day room for homecoming photos. Mary Ellen was more than impressed with the staff and the facility! She said that the nurses were very patient and attentive to her needs. Mary Ellen was at Summa Rehab Hospital for 5 days before returning to what she loves doing the best; spending time with her family and tending her garden. Mary Ellen will tell you that Summa Rehab Hospital is the best place to go for a comprehensive rehabilitation program that achieves results, quickly. She said, “I am so thankful that I chose Summa Rehab Hospital, they treated me as a whole person, helped me make gains, and helped me overcome the obstacles that have been plaguing me for over a year now.””
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Bob
“Bob had quadruple bypass heart surgery in August of 2017, and the surgeons discovered an issue with his gall bladder. Due to rupture complications from the gall bladder, he had several emergent surgeries, in which he flat-lined two times, and needed numerous tubes placed. He originally chose Summa Health for his cardiac surgery. He said “Summa is my hospital. There was never a need for any choice”. He said, “If I am sick or my wife gets sick, we will come back to Summa, no question!” After 90 days in the ICU at Summa Health, Bob needed to go to Select Specialty Hospital for 14 days; then he chose to come to Summa Rehab Hospital for his intense therapy program. He said, “In my time at Summa Rehab I always felt like I was treated like family.” Bob recalled that everyone was always so nice and encouraging. He said, “the food staff, the aids, the students, PT/OT, doctors; everyone just told me to do the best I could and that would be good enough for them. They were all so encouraging every single day.” Bob spent a lot of his time in the apartment ADL suite at Summa Rehab Hospital. He practiced getting in and out of bed, using the kitchen appliances, shower transfers, and toileting. After 90 days in ICU, Bob was reconditioned and had to relearn everything so he could go home. Bob recalled, “I was worried that I would not be able to do enough; but one day I would do well and the next day maybe not as good. I just kept doing the best I could every day, and now I am going home today, almost 6 months after my first surgery!” Bob said that his advice for anyone in his situation would be, ”listen to the people caring for you. They are the experts, and just do your best everyday. “”
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Ally
“Ally was simply walking down her stairs when she had an accident. She fell from the top of the steps all the way to the bottom. She was home alone and it was ten minutes before anyone knew she was in trouble. Ally was found lying at the base of the stairs with blood coming from both of her ears. Her dear friend took her to the hospital where Ally was diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury. She was in an induced coma for about a week. When she was stable she admitted to Summa Rehab Hospital and began her recovery process. She said that Derek her therapist, and Bree her nurse, “really took great care of me and did an excellent job." She also said, “I was excited to learn to cook again and work on the skills that would help me get back to work as a waitress.” The therapy staff (Physical, Occupational & Speech Therapies) all worked on skills that would assist Ally on her return to independence at home and work. Ally has had a lot of community support through her ordeal as well. Tim’s Pizzeria and Pub held a “Rally for Ally” fundraising event and B’s Backyard BBQ also held a fundraiser for her at the Tallmadge VFW, all to help raise money for Ally’s medical expenses which she deeply appreciated and needed. Ally will return to work in full capacity in a few short weeks, and she will then take her driving test so she can be more independent and get back to her life. She feels that Summa Rehab Hospital helped set her up for success and got her back to better after her injury.”
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Tom
“Tom was a professional meat cutter, so throwing around sides of beef was a common everyday occurrence for him. But all the heavy lifting and bending for all those years took a toll on Tom’s spine. He found that things he used to do with no problems were becoming more and more difficult, so he had surgery to repair the repetitive injuries to his spine and then chose to come to Summa Rehab Hospital. Tom could not walk or stand at all when he was admitted to Summa Rehab, and now, in a very short time, he is up walking with a walker and standing by himself with very minimal assistance. He credits the therapy team with helping to get him back up on his feet. Tom said, ”it is so hard to really just say one name and single anyone out, they have all done such a wonderful job helping me, encouraging me and making sure I stay mentally focused on getting better every day." Tom states that “the therapy team was very diligent with my therapies and they would encourage me to go as far as I could go, but they did it in a way that made me want to do it, and that made me want to do more each day." Tom has had an excellent experience here at Summa Rehab Hospital and said, “Everyone is nice, they do a great job, and they are highly motivational; I would recommend Summa Rehab to anyone with intensive therapy needs." Tom was very happy to have this picture taken of him standing on his own after just a few short weeks of spinal cord rehab. Summa Rehab Hospital was able to help Tom get back to better and return home after his spinal cord injury.”
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Russell S.
“Russell woke up realizing something was definitely different than when he went to bed. Panicked and on his way to the hospital, he learned that he had suffered a stroke while he slept and lost mobility on his right side as a result. Following his acute care stay, Russell chose Summa Rehab Hospital. He chose Summa because he heard what a great job we do with stroke patients. Russell is a community business owner. He was very concerned with returning to work not only in the shortest amount of time, but in the best condition. Russell said the best thing about Summa Rehab Hospital is that “everyone helps to maintain a positive attitude." He noted, "the food is good, the nursing care is great, the therapists are incredible. They all push you to help you stay motivated but they don’t push too hard, they are very encouraging.” Russell was also impressed that he was not doing repetitive therapy sessions. He said, ‘My therapy has changed everyday and has evolved as my needs have evolved.” He added, “I am so glad I chose to come here. The therapists always treat me professionally and they really know what they are talking about, most of them have a [doctorate] in therapy. Summa Rehab has the best people and technology available in my opinion.” “People rise to the level of expectation you give them," said Russell. "The therapists set that bar high from Day One and they worked with me until I was able to achieve that level.” Russell joked that he was being treated so well at Summa Rehab that he would sell his house and move in permanently. We're proud to say he is on his way back home and getting back to better everyday!”
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Darrell S.
“Darrell is a 28-year-old, hard-working father of three small children. He had an accident on his youngest daughter’s birthday that landed him in the hospital. The accident left him with head trauma, hearing loss, inability to walk, headaches caused by bright lights, and short-term memory loss. Consequently, Darrell’s world was changed very quickly, and he was left questioning how he was going to get back to normal. Summa Rehab Hospital was the answer to that question. Darrell said that the staff helped him stay motivated to “do better.” He attributed the motivational and healing atmosphere to his quick return to being able to do the things most 28-year-olds take for granted. According to Darrell, “The therapists helped me to quickly build my strength back up and that gave me hope and inspiration to continue getting stronger.” Darrell has had a quick recovery process at Summa Rehab Hospital and states “I really like it here. Everyone is so nice to me. They take care of me and make sure I have what I need. They are all so sweet and caring.” Darrell is extremely happy to be going home to see his children whom he has not seen for almost a month. He is looking forward to continuing his recovery process, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, spending time with his kids and his fiancée, and eventually returning to work. Summa Rehab Hospital strives to help patients like Darrell get back to better every day!”
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Claudia
“In June, Claudia awoke to severe chest pain. Her doctor had previously told her that she would need to have bypass surgery in the future. She was taken to Summa Akron City Hospital where she was put under the care of Dr. Espinal. He performed a quadruple bypass surgery on Claudia. Claudia was anxious about where she would be placed for her rehabilitation and told everyone she only wanted to come to Summa Rehab Hospital. Claudia had been at Summa Rehab earlier in the year to rehab from a stroke, so her trust in the team was paramount in her desire to come back. After a few short days Claudia was given the news that she qualified to come to Summa Rehab. She wept tears of joy at the opportunity to come back and do rehab again. Claudia trusted the team at Summa Rehab Hospital to manage her recovery. Claudia said that while she was going through her rehabilitation her friends and family members came to visit and thought she was in a hotel. They would tell her, “Everyone is so nice here, they all greet you and smile at you when you walk in, or as you come off of the elevator; they are all so nice.” Claudia agrees, and she said that Derek and Karen were both excellent therapists. She said, “Karen would encourage me to do better every day, that kind of hope and support is uplifting and made me feel like I could do what was being asked of me!” As part of Claudia’s Occupational Therapy session she had to prepare a small meal. She chose to make a fruit cup and share it with the therapists. Claudia says she wants to “Live a life of purpose, so that her grandchildren and great grandchildren can follow her example if they have to face anything difficult in their lives.” After Claudia was done taking pictures with all of the therapy staff she got to go home. Summa Rehab Hospital helped her get back to better.”
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Hollis
“About 4 weeks ago Hollis was on his way home when he was in a motor vehicle accident. He was in the backseat of a friend’s car looking at his phone when the car crashed and started flipping. The car rolled seven times before it stopped with him half in the car and half under the car. Hollis suffered a broken spine and a fractured rib, to which he says that he is a lucky man. The accident left him unable to walk at all and threatened to take away his independence. Hollis had the opportunity to come to Summa Rehab Hospital for his physical rehabilitation. Hollis said, “this place is great, when I got here I could not walk at all and needed help to do everything.” “Alex and Marissa (therapists) were great and helped keep me motivated to get better each day,” Hollis recalled. Hollis learned to walk again: progressing from assistance of 3 people to walking independently on a walker. Hollis said, “the nurses were all really nice and the therapists are very good at what they do. I would recommend Summa Rehab because it is the best place to do rehab.” Hollis has 3 children: 2 daughters, ages 6 & 5, and one 4-year-old son. He is anxious to get back home to them and keep working hard until he can get rid of the walker and play in the yard with his kids again. Summa Rehab Hospital got Hollis back to better and back home.”
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Ben
“Ben is a 36-year-old father of three and husband to his loving wife, Nou. Ben suffered a stroke on 11/3 and lost the use of his right side. Nou identified the signs and symptoms of stroke right away and called an ambulance. When asked which hospital she wanted to take her husband to, Nou steadfastly proclaimed Summa Health. Ben underwent a few procedures with the Summa stroke team and experienced quick and impressive results. He could sit up in a chair by himself three days after the stroke! Ben was determined to get back to his independence as fast as possible. On 11/16, the Summa stroke team cleared Ben to begin intensive rehab at Summa Rehab Hospital. Nou has been working with the therapists during rehab, learning the ins-and-outs to help her husband along his journey to recovery. Nou, speaking for Ben, said they were thankful for the nursing staff because they do a wonderful job and the speech therapy team because they made so much progress with Ben, as well as giving them additional exercises to help Ben form more words. They are also thankful for the physical and occupational therapy teams who have given Ben extra therapy when time allowed so he could get back to better faster. Ben is all smiles, and happy to be going home, knowing he will be safe and he can finish his rehab at home with the training and support he received at Summa Rehab Hospital. Ben’s three children: Arabella, 11, Sophia, 8 and Isaac, 4 (pictured here), are all anxious to have their Dad return back home for the holidays.”
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Cassie
“Cassie is a very active, independent woman. She was at home baking a pie when she had an accident and fell while putting the pie in the oven. This resulted in her fracturing her hip. Cassie could not do anything for herself when she was admitted to Summa Rehab Hospital. Cassie says, “It wasn’t great being hurt, but it was great that I went to Summa Rehab Hospital. The staff is great, and they know what they are doing, and they will get you ready to go home.” Cassie got training from the staff at Summa Rehab on how to stay safe when she returns home so that the likelihood of having another accident is slim. Cassie had a great stay and is very appreciative of the staff at Summa Rehab Hospital.”
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Janice
“Janice has worked in healthcare for the past 20 years. The last six, she has been a dining service manager at an assisted living facility. She loves her work and takes pride in being able to serve her assisted living population good wholesome foods. She was leaving work on a Friday afternoon and Janice will tell you that, “she felt a little funny that evening," but continued past the hospital on her way home. She woke up Saturday not feeling like herself, and thinking she just didn’t sleep well the night before. So she decided to relax Saturday and take it easy. But she wasn’t feeling well all day. Sunday morning came and she says that, "a voice told me to go to the hospital right away.” And it is a good thing Janice listened and went, because she had had a stroke. Not only did she have that stroke but the doctors at UHPMC found that she had two other strokes a few months earlier. Now Janice was not able to write with her right hand or use her right side. After she was stabilized and diagnosed at UHPMC, she decided to come to Summa Rehab Hospital for intensive stroke therapy. Janice has the will and desire to get back to doing what she loves doing, and to make that happen as fast as she possibly can. "Every single person in this hospital has been very pleasant to me and they have done an excellent job," Janice says. "With me being in the healthcare field for so long I have been thoroughly impressed with the care I have received here at Summa Rehab Hospital." Janice says that she is focused on what she can do everyday, she does not focus on what she can’t do. Janice will tell you that she has loved all the extras she has received since admitting to Summa Rehab Hospital. She enjoyed the live guitar playing while she was in the therapy gym working on getting better, and she loved the WAG time therapy dogs; who actually gave her their own business cards. “The extras always seemed to come just when I needed a little pick me up," Janice says. Janice is walking, climbing steps and using her right hand to write again, and is very excited to go home and see her own dog while she continues to get better and focus on the things she can do.”
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Dillon
“Dillon was out and about one evening and found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. Dillon’s evening ended in an altercation leaving a .40 caliber bullet lodged in his neck. He was taken to Summa Health for his mortal wounds. When in the ICU, Dillon was told that he “needed to be prepared to lose his ability to walk and use his right arm.” After hours of surgery, many staples, and a lot of pain management effort, Dillon was in recovery. Dillon said that while he was in the hospital he became “sad and depressed that this had happened to him.” After a few days, Dillon began feeling his foot and his leg, which helped lift his spirits. He transferred to Summa Rehab Hospital to start an intensive therapy program and was amazed at the support he received. His night shift nurse was very attentive, his therapists were extremely encouraging, and the common theme was that no one would let him give up. Dave and Michaela in Occupational Therapy helped Dillon make great strides in the week that he was at Summa Rehab. He learned safety techniques to follow as he continued to heal. Dillon began seeing increased progress every day, and after a few days at Summa Rehab he was using a cane to walk. Dillon said that “everyone here has been very nice and very supportive,” adding, “I learned exercises specific to my injury that will help me heal safely.” The day Dillon discharged back home, he was able to move his thumb and forefinger, as well as raise his right arm a few inches off his lap. Dillon walked up and down steps in the therapy gym, and had regained use of his leg, while on his way to regaining the use of his arm. The bullet is still lodged in Dillon’s neck. A fraction of an inch either way and Dillon would not have been able to be a success story. Summa Rehab Hospital was able to help Dillon get back home and get back to better. ”
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Thomas
“Thomas and his wife Doris were living in Georgia where he owned a successful business for 40 years. He decided to sell his business, retire and move to Ohio to be near family. Thomas was excited to start enjoying some of his favorite activities such as shooting and hunting. Unfortunately, his health took a turn for the worse and altered those plans. Thomas developed congestive heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation. He received a Pacemaker and underwent an ablation for the atrial fibrillation. His CHF progressed rapidly and he found himself with less and less energy to do the things he loved. He was running out of gas quickly and needed a major intervention in order to live. His cardiologist informed him that he would not live another 5 months unless he proceeded with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery. LVAD is an electrically charged pump, which helps the left ventricle pump blood to the rest of the body and is intended for patients who have reached end-stage heart disease. He decided to proceed with the LVAD operation and then began the process of learning about his new equipment and working slowly to regain his strength. He chose Summa Rehab Hospital for his inpatient rehabilitation. At Summa Rehab Hospital Thomas not only regained his physical strength, but states that the team helped him mentally adjust to living with his LVAD. Thomas said, “The emotional baggage of being told that you can no longer do certain things took a toll on me”. He said that the staff at Summa Rehab Hospital went above and beyond to; “make him realize that there were a million other things that he still COULD do”. Thomas completed his intensive therapy and returned home to his wife Doris in just a short amount of time. Thomas is now bowling weekly with his friends, mowing his lawn, and enjoys watching his grandchildren play softball and lacrosse. Most importantly, he will be taking his bride to a celebratory dinner for their 50th wedding anniversary together in May of 2019.”
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Jeffrey
“When Jeffrey accidentally stepped into a hole, he shattered his knee cap and the lower part of his femur bone. This led to multiple surgeries including a knee replacement and partial femur replacement. Unfortunately, a couple months later an infection set in. Efforts to eradicate the infection were unsuccessful, and Jeffrey's leg was amputated above-the-knee. Two months later, Jeffrey received his prosthesis. At his follow up appointment, it was determined he was in need of therapy for gait training and to maximize function and mobility with his prosthesis. His physician recommended Summa Rehab Hospital. Jeffrey states that when he came to Summa Rehab Hospital he required crutches and could barely use his prosthesis. His therapist, Jamie, thought outside-the-box to come up with assistive devices that worked best for him. Jamie also helped Jeffrey by having him use a machine called Lite Gait. This machine reduces weight bearing to assist in walking with a prosthesis. Now Jeffrey can walk with a Loftstrand crutch with minimal assistance. His activity level and abilities have also greatly improved. Jeffrey says, “Jamie was amazing and from what I’ve seen [all the staff] are all great.” As Jamie suggested, Jeffrey will be going to outpatient therapy near his home. He hopes to walk without assistance in the near future. Jeffrey will also be attending Dr. Ford’s Amputee Clinic at Summa Rehab Hospital. The clinic supports patients with amputations in the community. Jeffrey states that “Dr. Ford is a great doctor,” and the team at Summa Rehab Hospital are “thorough, genuine, caring people.””
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Kyle
“Kyle, 23, was pursuing his lifelong passion -- auto body painting and repair. On March 15th, Kyle’s vehicle was hit head-on by a Jeep Cherokee. This tragic accident fractured his C6 vertebrae and left him paralyzed. Kyle needed extensive surgery to fuse his spine from C4 to T1 and was given a 50/50 chance of ever walking again. One week following his surgery and still unable to move, Kyle was transferred to the fabulous team at Summa Rehab Hospital. So many amazing people helped him on his journey that it is impossible to mention each one. As Kyle says, “Everyone was phenomenal.” Tuto, his nurse, and Abbey, his therapist, were very motivating for Kyle. Abbey utilized the Functional Electrical Stimulation bike and the Lite Gait treadmill to accelerate his recovery. After a few days and a lot of intensive training, the Summa Rehab Therapy team inspired him to stand up utilizing a lap belt. Kyle would also like to thank Tonia, his hospital “mom”, and Melvin who made it possible for him to rest comfortably through the night and be ready to focus on therapy the following day. The combination of personal touch, motivation and high-tech equipment enabled Kyle to leave Summa Rehab Hospital walking only with a cane. Four months later, Kyle is walking without a cane and continues his outpatient therapy to improve the residual weakness in his left arm. Kyle believes he will continue to improve so that he can return to his passion of auto body painting and repair. Kyle states, “I recommend Summa Rehab Hospital 100%. It was my home away from home.””
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Betty
“Betty June moved into the Danbury Assisted-Living facility one year ago. She decided to move into Danbury because of the frequent falls she was having while living at home independently. Still, Betty June focused on the things she loves; her passion for sewing and making quilts. Her son Chris visits often and on one occasion he noticed she looked like she did not feel well. Her son took her to the doctor who informed her she may be having a stroke and sent her to the Emergency Room. Tests revealed she did have a stroke and it affected her dominant right side, her speech and swallowing. Betty June was going to need intensive therapy to regain her independence. Betty June states she was unable to stand by herself, and her son Chris could not understand a word she said. She was referred to Summa Rehab Hospital for intensive stroke rehabilitation. Betty June credits her determination and the capable hands of her therapists for her amazing recovery. The therapists would repeatedly correct her, saying “Don’t slide your feet, pick them up.” The persistence of Betty June and her therapy team helped her walk out of Summa Rehab Hospital after only a couple of weeks practicing on and utilizing a walker. Betty June states “All the therapists were real good”. Her speech therapist, Sarah helped Betty June with dysphagia, (which is difficulty swallowing). Sarah utilized evidence based exercises which have been found to have a tremendous success rate when rehabilitating patients with dysphagia. Sarah also helped Betty June with her speech and now everyone, including her son, Chris can clearly understand her. Chris states, “Summa Rehab Hospital is an amazing place” and “they did a remarkable job for my mother”. Betty June is now back home at Danbury Assisted Living. She proudly displays her sewing machine and the new purple quilt she is working on. Since the stroke affected her dominant right hand, Betty June practices writing in a notebook and her penmanship is clearly legible. Summa Rehab Hospital strives to help patients like Betty June get back to better every day!”
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George
“George and his daugher were training for a triathlon when he started experiencing back pain that progressively worsened. It became so severe that he went to his physician to determine the casue and discovered he had a sever spinal infection. George was admitted to Summa Health to have spinal surgery to eradicate the infection. After the surgery, George was in need of expert medical care and rehabilitation and decided on Summa Rehab Hospital. Geoge spent six weeks at Summa Rehab Hospital, where therapists Erin and Derek worked closely with him. George says "they are both good and caring and always tried to figure out what would work best for me." With the therapists' instruction, George initially utilized the FES bike and progressed to the Lite Gait treadmill and parallel bars, which enabled him to stand for longer periods and improved his walking. George states, "all the therapists are very good" and considers therapy "just as much an art as a science." George is having ongoing outpatient therapy and continuing to make progress. He credits the team at Summa Rehab Hospital and his optimistic, determined attitude. He is so certain that he will continue to improve and get back on his feet walking - then running, biking and swimming - that he has already signed up for the same triathlon event next September. Summa Rehab Hospital strives to help patients like George get back to better every day!”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
John
“John and his family set out on a family ski trip to a local ski slope this past January. The day was going well and everyone was having fun until the accident happened. John had went off of a ramp towards the bottom of the hill and hit awkwardly. As he lay there trying to get up he had immense pain in his shoulder and his pelvic area when he tried to move. He was transferred to the Summa Health ER where he found out that he had shattered his pelvis and dislocated his shoulder because of that bad landing. There were 15 pelvic pieces that would need to be reconstructed, and his shoulder would need to be put back in place. This was very concerning since John, swims daily, bikes, runs and plays golf: he is a very active family man. This helped drive his determination to recover and ultimately led to his decision to come to Summa Rehab Hospital. John has nothing but great things to say about the staff at Summa Rehab and the care they took to help him get back to better. Dr. Sanderson, Summa Rehab Hospital Medical Director, remained positive and uplifting, assuring John he would again be able to ski and do the things he loved doing when his recovery was complete. John says that his short stay at Summa Rehab Hospital “was a lifesaver”, and “ all the staff were so nice and motivational, taking excellent care of me”. John was using crutches in June, and progressed to only using a cane by August. By mid-August he was not using any assistive devices and walked into his follow up doctor appointment! John has returned to swimming daily, as well as golfing, and bike riding. His goal is to return to that ski slope by January of 2021.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Kathleen B.
“Kathleen was excitedly explaining to her husband Wayne how great her pottery class was when Wayne noticed her speech was slurred, suspected a stroke and called 911. An ambulance took Kathleen to the local hospital where a stroke was confirmed and she was transferred to Summa Health Akron City Hospital where she spent the next week before going to Summa Rehab Hospital for rehabilitation. The stroke affected Kathleen’s dominant left side. She couldn’t feel her left arm, couldn’t move her left leg and needed 2 people to assist her in ambulating. She also could only consume thin liquids. Her speech was slurred and the left side of her face was drooping. Four weeks later Kathleen can stand with her cane with someone standing close by. She can control her left arm and lift her left leg. Kathleen also is speaking clearly and no longer has left side mouth droop. Kathleen and Wayne credit the team at Summa Rehab Hospital, specifically her physical, speech and occupational therapists, Michaella, Amanda, Sarah, Kimberly, and Rachel. Kathleen recalls the emotional day when she had a breakthrough, “I was able to control my hand and keep it from rolling off the ball; everyone started to cry.” Kathleen talks about the importance of many repetitions on specialty equipment such as the FES Bike, car transfer simulator and the treadmill. The focus on safety through practicing the ADL’s of showering has helped prepare her for the journey home. Wayne, who has been by her side every step of the way, looks forward to the day she can come back home with him. Kathleen also looks forward to continuing her volunteer work at Summa Health Hospice and returning to her pottery class. Summa Rehab Hospital was able to get Kathleen back to better and back home for the holidays.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Barbara
“Barbara is a devoted grandmother and cares for her grandchildren on a regular basis. However, back pain and subsequent leg numbness was making it increasingly difficult. Unable to walk without pain and experiencing frequent falls, Barbara realized it was time to have the back surgery she had been putting off. After surgery, it was recommended that she come to Summa Rehab Hospital to recover. Barbara’s preference was to go home, but she quickly realized the benefits of being at Summa Rehab Hospital, stating, “I needed to go there. They taught me how to do things better than before and to be self-sufficient.” During her stay, emphasis was placed on fall prevention strategies and learning techniques that would help Barbara stay safe once she went home. Barbara says, “My Physical Therapist Michaela was very helpful and friendly. She showed me how to use my stronger leg first before my weaker leg when using stairs.” Her Occupational Therapist Courtney showed Barbara various methods to utilize when showering, standing and picking up objects so that she would not hurt herself. Courtney also helped Barbara utilize a special gadget to assist in putting on her socks and shoes. Barbara states, “Everything they taught me is helping all the way around.” Barbara is super satisfied with the therapy and education she received at Summa Rehab Hospital. She is home now and able to go up and down her stairs alone. She also has resumed taking care of her two granddaughters and sees them almost every day. This makes Barbara very happy and she credits Summa Rehab Hospital with getting her back to better.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Bob H.
“Bob was the “King of Quick Fixes”, he ran a handyman service right here in Akron. He did any and all types of home repairs on houses and apartment complexes. One day he returned from walking his dog and fell down inside his house. Thinking he had the flu and was weak and a bit disoriented, he went upstairs and went to bed. When he failed to show up promptly to pick up his son the next morning, his family knew something had to be wrong. They drove him to Akron City Hospital where it was determined he had a stroke due to uncontrolled high blood pressure. Bob says he was very well taken care of at the Summa Health ICU and soon he was stable to start his rehab, he was referred to Summa Rehab Hospital for rehabilitation. Due to the stroke affecting his left side, Bob could not stand when he arrived at Summa Rehab Hospital. He credits his therapists James and Erica for their expertise, positive reinforcement and encouragement. They were saying, “Bob, you’re doing good.” “They both have a good sense of humor which also helped keep me positive during my recovery.” “Heather was always helpful and positive as well”, Bob said. The Functional Electrical Stimulation Bike helped Bob by moving his affected left leg and arm and keeping the muscles stimulated to reduce spasticity. He also credits Vicki and Dr. Sanderson for working together to get his blood pressure back to normal. Bob recently returned home and is now walking with a cane. He is able to get out of bed and dress himself and confidently walk up to the 2nd floor of his house. He is able to move his left arm and is receiving home therapy to further improve function so that he can return to his work as a handyman. Bob plans on attending the next session of the Stroke Support Group meeting at Summa Rehab Hospital, and maybe invite his son to come as well. The team at Summa Rehab Hospital helped Bob get back on his feet and get back home.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Brett
“Brett has always led a very active life – playing football and basketball, cross-fit training, competing in marathons and triathlons and his passion, bicycling. He noticed his limitations when certain movements, like box jumping and standing from a squatting position, became increasingly difficult. Years of gel and steroid joint injections were no longer effective, and his physician told him it was time for knee replacement surgery. Brett chose to have both knees done at once so that he could get back to his activities as soon as possible. Dr. Sanderson, Medical Director at Summa Rehab Hospital and a friend of Brett’s, suggested he rehab there to ensure the best and most efficient outcome possible. After insurance approval, Brett started his recovery at Summa Rehab Hospital. Brett states, “Dr. Sanderson and Dr. Nagy are great and very knowledgeable. Leary, an RN, is fantastic. The nurses and aides have been phenomenal as well.” “They explain medications, help me describe my pain level, and have incessantly filled my ice bag. Marissa, my OT, is helping me work through my plan, keeping me energized and motivated.” Brett states “She (Marissa) is very intentional and creative, so I am not doing the same therapies over and over.” Asia, a PT, is “super kind and organized and is keeping me moving in the right direction. Everyone has been genuine and caring.” The result of all this hard work is showing. After only five days, Brett is now able to go up and down stairs independently. Brett explains, “I want to get back to normal. I want to take care of my kids, drive and do what I want to do.” For someone at Brett’s high fitness level, that means going above and beyond. No doubt Brett will be back on his bike in no time thanks to the excellent doctors, nurses and therapists at Summa Rehab Hospital.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
“Verona is a very active mother and grandmother who takes care of her house and yard work including remodeling, putting in floors and building a desk. She was taking down her outdoor Christmas decorations on New Years Day and she fell off a ladder onto a 4x4 and was not able to move. A neighbor found her and called 911 and she was taken to the trauma unit where she was found to have 4 compound fractures of her tibia, fibula, radius and ulna. She had multiple surgeries and remained in the trauma unit for 14 days. Verona then came to Summa Rehab Hospital to further recover and learn how to get around in order to be safe at home. Verona credits her physical therapist Erin. She states Erin was fantastic and really got her moving using creative exercises that she is able to do at home now. The hand exercises helped her be able to close her fingers and now she is typing as well as she ever did. When her strength and balance improved, Verona was able to begin using a scooter to get around. The director of therapy allowed her to take the scooter home until the one Verona had on order arrived. This enabled Verona to be able to go home and be independent. Verona says, “ The occupational therapists helped with my daily showers, dressing and even knew how to take apart and put together my wound vac.” Verona returned to work from her home the following Monday after she was discharged. Verona was thankful she could get around on the scooter and just recently her home therapist gave her the green light to go upstairs by herself. She looks forward to putting out her outdoor furniture this summer and playing with her grandchildren. She feels very fortunate she was able to come to Summa Rehab Hospital and get back to better quickly.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Lou
“Lou has served his community all his life. After a decade as a police officer in Cuyahoga county, he became a business owner running his own security company. Now he is Chief of Security at a major auto plant in Northeast Ohio. In the last two years, he has beaten cardiac issues, cancer, and several strokes, with another occurring recently. Lou chose Summa Rehab Hospital for his rehab to help him get stronger and get back home. Recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic has been tough on Lou and his wife, Karen, who rarely spend time away from each other. Statewide visitor restrictions have prevented Karen from physically being at Lou’s side. They just celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary virtually. Throughout this experience, Karen said the staff at Summa Rehab Hospital have been essential as she relied on them to be her “eyes, ears and touch” to stay informed and involved in Lou’s rehab journey. Lou’s therapist, Derek, called regularly to let her know about Lou’s progress. “Dr. Ford was very kind to have spent 35 minutes on the phone with me answering all my questions and counseling me on the rehabilitation plan for Lou,” she noted. Karen said she is thankful for the good communication between herself and the staff caring for her husband. Lou is getting stronger every day and says the dayshift staff has helped tremendously − “everything they do is pointed towards my end goal of going back home to my family.” Lou will soon be discharged to recuperate at home so he can again volunteer on the Santa Team at the Portage Lakes Kiwanis, like he and his family do every year. Lou and Karen are thankful that they chose Summa Rehab Hospital to help Lou get better and get back home.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Debra D.
“Debra was driving home from work one afternoon and began to feel odd. She pulled over into an empty parking lot feeling panicked and uneasy and called 911. An ambulance arrived and transported her to the hospital. Debra had suffered a stroke. Debra lost the use of her left arm and leg as well as some cognition. She was having trouble remembering things and concentrating. Debra has worked as a loan coordinator for the past 20 years and must concentrate and focus on many things all at once to perform her job. Debra was admitted to Summa Rehab Hospital and began a well-rounded program of sessions with physical, occupational and speech therapists. To get her back to normal as quickly as possible, Debra worked on specific neuro exercises to help reconnect the synapses in her brain and improve her concentration and focus as she worked with our speech therapists. She has made large gains in cognition, as well as the use of her left arm. She will discharge home and continue her exercises to get her leg working again. Debra said that she is “focusing on what she can do and not what she can’t”. Her goal is to make progress every day and keep doing the things the team at Summa Rehab Hospital taught her. She was appreciative of the help from the entire staff but wanted to recognize a few that went above and beyond to keep her working hard and kept her motivated: Michaela, Brenda, Abby, Kate and Sarah. She wanted to say thank you and let all the staff know she would be back in a short while to show them that she did what they trained her to do and she has been successful in fully recovering from her stroke and getting back to better.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Arlin H.
“Arlin had the misfortune of being involved in a tragic motorcycle accident during the COVID pandemic. He was in bad shape and lost his ability to do much of anything. He had been to Summa Rehab Hospital in the recent past for intensive therapy, so he knew exactly where he wanted to come to get better and get back home. The accident left him with 7 broken ribs, multiple breaks in his Tibia, Fibula, and ankle, and he had lost consciousness from the head injury during the accident. Arlin said, “There was no question of where I was going! Every time I have been to Summa Rehab Hospital I have been treated excellently. The staff makes you feel comfortable, and there is never a question of what is going to happen to you next; they always tell you what to expect.” Arlin said that he appreciated so many staff members for their care and attention but a few stood out. Abby really made him feel great when he mentioned to her that the exercise she was attempting was causing him an immense amount of pain. He appreciated that Abby adjusted her plan for the day and went a different route with his exercises that day. Michela was great at recognizing his mood and did her best to keep him motivated and on track, so he could get back home as soon as possible. Arlin wanted to thank the CEO, Michelle Dudek for allowing visitors during his stay. Many rehab hospitals were not allowing visitors during that time. His mood was brightened because of the visitor policy and being able to see his family while he was recovering. Arlin says that every day he is working through his pain, and becoming more and more independent. Arlin says, “Thank you” to the Summa Rehab Hospital staff that have taken such good care of him and helped him get back up on his feet. Arlin says he is taking things “day by day, and dealing with things as they come”. Summa Rehab Hospital helped Arlin get back to better.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
John W.
“John noticed a nagging pain in his abdomen area when he was walking or after he finished landscaping work. The pain grew more intense, and more frequent. John went to the doctor, but no specific cause was found. John soldiered on, managing through the pain until one day, his legs gave out inside his home, and he could not move. He lost control over his entire body from the waist down. He was taken to the hospital and found that he had a lumbar spinal cord fragment compression, which caused him to become paraplegic. He underwent testing and then several spinal surgeries with Dr. Anton and hoped for the best. He chose to come to Summa Rehab hospital for his rehabilitation. The day he arrived he was in a dark place facing the loss of using his lower extremities. John is a very active man and this devastating affliction would cost him his independence. He had a visit with the medical director, Dr. Sanderson, who told John that he would be at Summa Rehab Hospital for about two weeks. ”Two weeks?!” thought John, “I can only wiggle my big toe, there is no way I will be able to walk and go home in two weeks!” But John trusted his therapy team and developed a great bond with them. Together, they celebrated each success John made every day. They built upon those successes and John continued to progress, and within two weeks he was walking. Now at home, John is using a cane. He has returned to his passion, landscaping, and life is getting back to normal. John said,“ I am glad I am done with rehab, but honestly, I miss the incredible support I received in the rehab gym.” John is looking forward to continuing his progress and is thankful he came to Summa Rehab Hospital so he could get back to his life.”
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Summa Rehab Hospital
Aita
“Aita was in her house and had taken a fall. She was unconscious for an undetermined amount of time. Her family called 9-1-1 and she was taken to the emergency room. From there, she transferred to Select Specialty Hospital in Akron for about 25 days. When she stabilized and was ready to begin her physical therapy program, Aita was referred to Summa Rehab Hospital. Aita could not use her legs very well when she arrived at Summa Rehab. She worked hard with the therapy team every day to get stronger and stronger. Aita had 15-20 steps she need to be able to manage to get to her bedroom when she got home, so she had a lot of work to do. She said that she felt “safe and well cared for” while at Summa Rehab Hospital, and that “everyone treated her nice.” She worked very hard with the therapy staff to meet her goal and return back home with her wonderful, supportive family. She now gets around well in her home and is much stronger than she was.”
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