Annella Carter

Annella’s advice for stroke survivors? “Don’t give up! Fight! Life is too precious!”

Annella Carter was a fairly active person before suffering a series of strokes. Annella suffered three basilar artery strokes, which are blockages in the basilar artery system. The basilar artery delivers oxygen-rich blood to some of the most important areas of the brain. This type of stroke can be particularly devastating.

Annella, however, is not one to back down. After her third stroke, Annella came to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona to regain her independence. Annella chose RHNA at the recommendation of her nurses at Flagstaff Medical Center.

“Everyone was so nice,” she recalls of the staff at RHNA. “The physical therapists were very good in helping me get better.”

There was no shortage of motivation for Annella to get better. “My husband and I have many things we need to do,” she said, “I want to be able to move freely again, and to go swimming.”

Annella is well on her way back to independence. She defines success as “being happy” and offers this advice to others recovering from a stroke: “Don’t give up! Fight! Life is too precious!”

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Diane Hoffman

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Diane Hoffman on her day of discharge from the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona

Diane Hoffman loved rowing rafts down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. She spent much of her life enjoying the outdoors and traveling the world. But recently, that all changed.

A few months after having a total hip replacement, Diane fractured her femur in a ski accident. She admitted to Flagstaff Medical Center for treatment, where she used to work as a physical therapist. As a retired physical therapist, Diane knew rehabilitation would help restore her independence. After she was stabilized, Diane transferred to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona.
 
Fiercely independent, Diane longed to return to the outdoors and her prior level of activity. Diane has big plans for the future. “In a year, I will be trekking on the North Face of Mount Everest in Tibet,” Diane said. “I need to get myself perfectly rehabbed to do that.”
 
Originally, Diane planned to scale the world’s largest mountain next month. But her injury forced her to put that plan on hold. Realizing the trip to Tibet started here in Flagstaff, Diane poured herself into her rehabilitation.
 
Helping her on that journey was her physical therapist, Leonard. “Leonard is one of the best physical therapists I have ever met,” reflected Diane. “And I’ve spent a lot of time working in rehab. Leonard helped me along with my recovery faster than I could have done without being in rehab with him.”
 
Dr. Holt, the medical director at RHNA, also played a big part in Diane’s recovery. “One of the finest doctors I’ve ever met in rehab,” Diane said of him. “He was very supportive and engaged all the time.”
 
“There were many nurses and PCTs who were very helpful to me while I was there. All of the staff were exceptional, and I can highly recommend the hospital.”
 
Looking to the future, Diane has her eyes set on October. Her goal is to be able to walk sufficiently to be in the bottom of the Grand Canyon for three weeks. This will be important prep for her trip to Mount Everest.
 
“It’s three weeks long, and we will start at 14,000 feet. We’ll go up-and-down many times, over many passes, to 19,000 feet. Camping and being in the middle-of-nowhere, with no way out, for three weeks.”
 
At RHNA, we have no doubts that Diane will be able to achieve her goals. It’s only one more mountain to climb.

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