Sixty-nine-year-old retiree Lena Judy, who is a member of the Navajo Nation, has always enjoyed walking, dancing, traveling, attending concerts, and visiting family and friends. Unfortunately, after knee surgery five years ago, Lena says that “everything started going downhill.” A year after knee replacement surgery, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.

Disheartened and unable walk, she missed out on activities such as barbecues, family parties, and church. She chose Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona (RHNA) for rehabilitation because her sister and a friend also had received care there. “I longed for and prayed to be admitted to this facility as an attempt to heal,” she says. Her goal was to gain her independence back so she could drive, cook, and enjoy her retirement.

When Lena arrived at RHNA, she was weak, downtrodden, and dependent on others. Her activities were restricted due to being a fall risk. At first, Lena didn’t want to socialize with other patients for fear of not being able to handle their pain while processing her own. Lena worked hard, however, and a few days prior to discharge, she had a “boxing session” during therapy and traveled 55 steps with a walker. Her new confidence opened her up to others, and she began sitting at the “party table” during meals. She made new friends who are accomplished women of varied cultures, and she’s looking forward to developing a group chat to stay connected to them.

After 21 days at RHNA, Lena went home. She says she will miss her therapists. “They were some of the most caring, eager-to-assist, smiling, loving, gentle, happy, light, energetic, powerful, knowledgeable, humble, adopting, adapting, creative professionals,” she says.

Lena now looks forward to taking walks, seeing friends and family, and shopping while using the skills and tools gained at RHNA to continue to get stronger. And snuggles with her cat, Patches, are a must.

“I’m solidly happy,” she says. “I rejoice at my progress even though I’m not walking without a walker yet.

I’ve gained so much: friends, connections, knowledge, tools, hope, comfort, happiness…even weight. (The food was great too!) I’m going home having arrived at a new plateau of growth. I am content.”