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Reclaiming My Life With Physiotherapy – Submitted By Dorothy Borovich
My name is Taras, and I am a 54 year old male, who was generally always in good health, until the Summer of 2006, when I starting feeling out of sorts. My history was severe Pancreatitis, which led to a gall bladder removal, a heart attack that led to a triple by-pass surgery, complicated by CLL (leukemia) and 3 weeks after my by-pass surgery, I suffered a stroke/virus which put me into a coma like state for a month in ICU. I lost approx. 110 pounds in the hospital and lost most of my muscle mass with my weight. I lost the use of my left arm and left leg and had no control of my right side.
Through my extensive rehab, and with the help of my physiotherapists, I went from a wheelchair to a rollator, and now with limited use of a cane I can walk, drive, and be more independent. It is through physiotherapy, that I was able to succeed, even with the dismal outlook of my medical specialists. In fact, the specialists told my wife that “at best” I would be institutionalized assuming I even survived. With my physiotherapy, there was no talk of “you can’t”, only encouragement and a compassionate ear that made me work even harder.
My physiotherapists created reasonable and attainable goals to make sure I was progressing positively and safely. Along with the independence of being allowed to do my program without (after many months) constant monitoring or supervision, I am trusted to do my program as if my physiotherapists were standing right there with me.
I started with a routine of weights for strengthening, which my physiotherapists increased accordingly, along with the treadmill, which started at 1 minute and has now reached a milestone goal of 30 minutes. Along with my regular program of warm ups, I also do machine work that is monitored regularly by my physiotherapists.
I understand that my results are not typical: however, due to perseverance, hard work sweat and the help of my physiotherapists, I was able to get my life back on the road to recovery. They have allowed me to get on with my life and feel “normal” again.
In conclusion, I cannot begin to thank my physiotherapists for all that they have done for me. I will always keep them close to my heart. They are my guardian angels.
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