Stroke Patient Looks Forward to the Holidays and New Year

Last year at this time, Jacksonville’s Nancy Bork was recovering from an August stroke, faithfully attending her physical therapy appointments and planning a quiet Christmas.

“You learn to appreciate the moments and the time together even when you are in the middle of difficult issues,” she said. “I know to be grateful for the time you have to be together to do things.”

This year, the 73-year-old is fully recovered and looking forward to entertaining, resuming a normal holiday schedule and scheduling travel for 2025 with her husband Larry. She also plans to work on her memoir. She already wrote a six-page poem about her experience in August 2023, praising the stroke care she received at Springfield Memorial Hospital.

SMH is designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center by The Joint Commission because of its highly qualified physicians in key medical specialties, its ability to provide expert, round-the-clock care for the most complex stroke patients and community stroke education.

It was a Saturday afternoon in August 2023 when Nancy suffered a stroke in her kitchen while preparing for company that night. Her mother had suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage when she was 48 that required two brain surgeries and left her paralyzed on one side with a limited vocabulary. Nancy had always suspected she, too, would experience a stroke as she aged. She is grateful for a more positive outcome.

“I know how lucky I am to be able to leave after a very short stay and great care,” she wrote. “With thanks and gratitude to the doctors, nurses, techs, therapists, dietary, housekeeping and social service. I just hope I haven’t left anyone out.”

At SMH, Nancy worked with physical therapists four times a day for more than a week before being discharged. Her goal was to become steadier on her feet when walking and going up and down stairs. As she improved, the therapists created an obstacle course for her to maneuver, placing large wooden blocks on her path to step over while maintaining her balance.

She and Larry celebrated their wedding anniversary at SMH with an orange juice toast and cake that they shared with the nursing unit.

More than a year later, her follow-up checkups are good. She’s doing a lot of holiday baking and all the things she loves to do this time of year.

“I’m back to normal,” she said. “I’m so happy to feel like I’m able to do things again.”

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Identify a Stroke with B.E. F.A.S.T.

MH Nurse Suffers Stroke and Receives Lifesaving Care from Her Colleagues