Until October 2010, Allison O’Reilly seemed to have it all: good health, a loving husband, and amazing friends. Little did she know that her life was about to change. After a stressful day of tending to her mother and stepfather, she noticed a severe pain in her left arm, and later felt nauseous and dizzy. She called her neighbors and they rushed her to the hospital. However, she was discharged that night with only a diagnosis of dehydration and vertigo. But the next morning she did in fact suffer a stroke.
After the stroke, O’Reilly was unable to speak or move. The doctors suggested that she be moved to a nursing home, bur her friends and husband deemed that “not acceptable,” a phrase that they drew inspiration from. She was then advised to be transferred to NRH, where her true progression began.
O’Reilly was cared for in every respect; she had someone to bathe her, change her contact lenses, and not to mention, great doctors and therapists. She was on a rigorous schedule on her road to recovery, with intense speech and physical therapy sessions each day. Although hard at times, O’Reilly stayed determined to beat the odds.
And that’s exactly what she did.
She left doctors astonished with her recovery, learning how to speak again and developing movement in her arms. With time, she was able to dress herself again, speak and eat on her own. This was truly a liberating feeling for her, as she was no longer completely dependent on others for her daily routine. She attributes this second chance to NRH, and their dedication to her. However, it was her will power and motivation that allowed her to overcome all odds and beat the nasty effects of her stroke. O’Reilly explains, “Things can change in a minute, so my message is simple: enjoy your life each and every day to the fullest. I thank all at NRH; they are gifts to me.”
By Amber Pandya, NRH Marketing Intern
|