From Struggle to Triumph: The Journey of Nancy Towards Success

When people experience unfortunate medical conditions such as stroke, life gets pretty difficult for the person affected and the family as well especially in dealing with the financial, physical, emotional and even spiritual burden this may entail. However, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary PT/OT Rehabilitation and Wellness Program paved the way for these patients to feel hope and to improve their quality of life despite their condition.

Such is the case of Nancy Surigao, a 51-year-old from Cebu City who was diagnosed with stroke She started her physical therapy last December 2023 as a patient from the home-based program as she was bedridden, ungroomed and not be able show any sign of movement. The Home Based staff treated her for 2 months in her own home with only make-shift physical therapy equipment yet they were able to strengthen her trunk enough to allow her to be transferred to a wheelchair and thus the home-based staff endorsed her to the SSHJM PT/OT Rehabilitation Center.

During the first few weeks of center-based physical therapy, it was quite unnatural for her as she had to endure travelling from her home to the center in a wheelchair. She had to adjust to a new environment as she was not treated at her own home anymore. Because she was treated in the rehabilitation center as there were more equipment and tools to use, her exercises became harder and more challenging as the months went by. The staff and interns at SSHJM PT/OT Rehabilitation Center gave her a plethora of exercises in order to improve her mobility on her arms and legs, increase her trunk and limb strength along with patient education such as proper posture, proper exercise form and education about her current condition. With the help of the SSHJM sisters, Nancy was also able to join spiritual formations such as the First Friday Recollection and Mass held every month together with the company of other patients whom she treats as friends and a support group.

With the help of the PT/OT Rehabilitation team and her primary therapist, Miss Krystal Bo, Nancy now already has the ability to walk without using any kind of assistive device. She can already raise her affected hand overhead and move her affected leg with ease. And most importantly, you can now clearly see the joy in her eyes as she was not able to expect that she would be able to move and walk again after her stroke attack.

There are a lot of similar stories like Nancy in our world today. They may feel that all hope is lost and that their lives will never be the same again because of their condition. The SSHJM PT/OT Rehabilitation Center acts as a conduit to help break that barrier of hopelessness and gloom as we believe that people like Nancy can still live a good, happy and fulfilling life no matter the circumstance!