Cass Regional Medical Center | Wellness Matters | Summer 2020

Fall 2020 Judy Walton, of Harrisonville, Missouri, experienced a life- changing stroke in July 2019. She was treated at a hospital in Kansas —Continued on page 5 City and, upon returning home, she started outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy at Cass Regional. At that time, she was having a lot of difficulty using her right hand, which is her dominant hand, and had trouble walking and speaking. “I wasn’t able to cook because of my right arm, so my husband had to take over. He isn’t near as good a cook as I am,” joked Walton. Walton underwent a rigorous therapy program at Cass Regional for several months, including physical, occupational and speech therapy, two to three times a week. She eventually graduated from physical therapy but was still undergoing occupational and speech therapy when she came in for a session in March of this year. Occupational therapist Dee Leman, OTR/L, went to the waiting room to greet her. “I instantly knew something was wrong with Judy,” said Leman. “She couldn’t stand up well, so I rushed her down to the Emergency Department, and she was later admitted.” Tests revealed that Walton had had a second stroke, which thankfully was not as severe as the first. “The second stroke set me back a little,” she said. “I was depressed and frustrated, but I pushed through and kept working.” Walton had difficulty walking and had to use a walker for safety, which required her to undergo Twice as determined Patient overcomes two strokes within one year, thanks to help from Cass Regional’s rehab team Judy Walton, backed by her care team (from left): Dee Leman, OTR/L; Donnie MacLeod, PT, DPT; and Cherah Higgs, MS, CCC-SLP wellness Here for Your Health