Tatay Cirilo: From Stroke Back to Steering Wheel

The SSHJM PT/OT Rehab and Wellness Center is comprised of physical therapists, occupational therapists and caregivers and has been catering to patients of all ages with various neurologic, orthopedic and pediatric conditions.

With all these years of physical and occupational therapy, we have one patient who benefited the most from the PT/OT services: Tatay Cirilo Sambilad.

Tatay Cirilo was born on March 1956 in Moalboal, Cebu. He is a father of 5 children. Tatay Cirilo has been a taxi and public utility jeepney (PUJ) driver for around 49 years. According to him, his stroke occurred in 2018 when one of his colleagues noticed that his eyes were very red and he had difficulty speaking. Tatay Cirilo went to the doctor and underwent MRI and it was there that he was diagnosed with stroke. After the attack, he was bedridden for around 2 years because of the severe muscle weakness and the additional fear of contacting the COVID Virus as this happened during the pandemic. Even his wife told him that there would be no chance that he would be able to drive again. Tatay Cirilo became very depressed and lost all hope of recovery until he heard about the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary PT/OT Rehabilitation and Wellness Center from his daughter. With the support of his family, he was brought to SSHJM Rehab and Wellness Center and was treated and handled with care by the therapists. Using the exercise bike was his most enjoyable experience along with the exercises given to him by Sir Lino Gumboc, his physical therapist.

Thanks to the combined efforts of SSHJM and the PT/OT Rehab Team, Tatay Cirilo is now able to provide for his family by driving his taxicab around Metro Cebu without any signs of his previous disability. Because of his experience with physical therapy, he has been coming back to the rehab center at least once a week or during his free time to ask for advice from our therapists and to exercise on his own. His consistency with exercise just goes to show how important SSHJM PT/OT Rehab Center is for him.

His journey and determination serves as a reminder to everyone that no matter how hopeless and difficult the current situation may seem, there are people out there who can help and guide you as long as you persevere and never lose faith.

The SSHJM team asked Tatay Cirilo if he had any message to the donors, benefactors and to others with the same situation he was in, he said: “I thank SSHJM, Sister Anne, Sir Lino and the staff because they made a huge impact in my life for me to recover. Without them, I would not be able to be where I am today. To the others who have the same condition as me, always strive to work hard and never lose hope because foundations like SSHJM are sent by God to help all of us.”