Mary Wiese

Mary Wiese has enjoyed her retirement years, living in the Morman Lake area in her A-frame cabin with her husband. Mary loves crafting, which filled most of her days. Mary likes to cross-stitch, crochet, and knit and is an avid gardener.

Then one day, Mary became dizzy. Her hand and leg went numb. She recalled seeing the warning signs of stroke on the TV. Connecting her symptoms, Mary called 911 immediately.

“I saved my own life,” Mary recalled.

An ambulance transported Mary to Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC), where she was diagnosed with a stroke. Doctors administered tPA, a medication that dissolves blood clots that block blood flow to the brain. The tPA worked, and Mary was doing well until she had another stroke while at FMC. This second stroke left Mary with left-sided hemiplegia (paralysis on one side of the body) and expressive aphasia (the loss of ability to express speech due to brain damage).

Upon completing her stay at FMC, Mary transferred to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in Oklahoma, where her daughter, Kate, lives. After the SNF, Mary moved in with Kate and her son-in-law, Matt. A home health agency came to the home to provide additional therapy.

Unfortunately, Mary plateaued in her progress and felt she needed more concentrated therapies to achieve independence. “I wanted to return to Flagstaff to be closer to my husband, my home, and my friends that are family,” Mary noted. Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Arizona (RHNA), located in Flagstaff, was Mary’s choice to provide these services.

RHNA has the capability to admit patients directly from a home environment. Mary’s supportive family reached out to RHNA on her behalf. With the help of a clinical liaison, Mary was accepted to admit to RHNA and transferred from Oklahoma to Flagstaff for rehabilitation.

Several factors influenced Mary on her road to recovery. Mary relayed, “I wanted to be able to do as much for myself as I could and have as much independence as possible. I was scared and still am at times. I’m scared of something happening while I am by myself and not being found.” These factors motivated Mary to push through her physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy sessions.

Reflecting on her stay at RHNA, Mary expressed her appreciation for the staff for “continually pushing me to keep going.” She specifically wanted to thank Harriett, her physical therapist, and Savannah, her speech therapist. “They kept me motivated.” Mary also noted how helpful the occupational therapists were at providing tools and tips on how to get dressed while continuing to experience left-sided weakness and hemiparesis.

Even after discharging from RHNA, Mary continues to practice her exercises each day and uses the tools and tips, such as using words and numbers, to help improve her speech communication. “Consistency is key,” Mary wants others experiencing a stroke to know.

When Mary completed her stay at RHNA, she transitioned to Highgate Assisted Living. Unfortunately, Mary’s A-frame home doesn’t accommodate her current physical needs. However, she is grateful to have this type of facility available to remain in Flagstaff near her husband and friends. Each day, Mary continues to improve using what she learned at RHNA.

Mary is most excited to get back to her crafts. “I have learned new ways to do my crafts,” she shared. Unfortunately, due to the left hemiplegia, Mary is unable to cross-stitch, crochet, and knit at this time. But she has taken on new craft projects, such as adult coloring books and painting. And she has found new ways to paint birdhouses using one hand and a sticky sheet to keep the birdhouse in place.

Looking to the future, Mary would like to be able to walk again. She also hopes to be able to cook and clean as she did before the stroke. With a little help, Mary has been able to make her homemade chocolate cake with chocolate frosting at the assisted living facility. “This is the cake I used to bake for my kids for their birthdays,” she explained fondly.

“There are times you can feel lonely during the recovery process,” Mary added. “But don’t give up. Try, try again!”