Kenneth Merritts didn’t know he was having a stroke until it was almost too late.
“I was out with my brother-in-law when my right leg just felt a little weird,” Kenneth said. “It was just a little funny. A few hours later it was my arm, too, but I still didn’t think too much about it.”
The retired auto mechanic, who’s 62, went home that night and tried to sleep, but by 3 a.m., he called his brother-in-law saying that he needed to go to the hospital.
Kenneth was experiencing one of the signs of having a stroke — arm and leg weakness — although he did not realize it at the time. Other symptoms include feeling off-balance, having blurry vision, a drooping face and/or smile, or slurred speech.
“By that time, it was getting hard to get around and I knew something was wrong,” he said.
When they got to the hospital, Kenneth could still move his hand and legs, albeit very slowly. The next day, though, he said he couldn’t move his limbs at all.
This is where timing meant all of the difference.
Rachel Farnham, a physical therapist at Cape Fear Valley Physical Rehabilitation Services, said according to the Mayo Clinic, “time is brain,” a commonly used phrase meaning time is ticking to get the blood flow restored to the brain. The longer it takes, the higher the risk of complications and danger. Therefore, blood flow must be restored to the brain as quickly as possible.
“The faster treatment is received, the better the outcome,” she said.
In many cases, stroke victims can receive a Thrombolytic drug, often called a clot buster or tPa, to help minimize the long-term effects of a stroke, according to the Cape Fear Valley Health staff.
Kenneth had missed the window by not recognizing that he was having a stroke.
“I was not aware of what a stroke is,” he said. “I don’t smoke and my tests were only slightly elevated. First they tried to get my numbers in normal range with diet and blood pressure meds.”
Doctors soon confirmed he had a blockage to his brain causing his stroke.
According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two types of strokes, including ischemic when a blood vessel that carries blood to the brain is blocked, which is most common. Another type is a hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by blood leaking into the brain or the bursting of an artery leading to the brain.
As soon as he could, Kenneth said he was working with therapists to get his function back.
Kevin Kohler is a doctor of physical therapy and the physical and occupational therapy acute care supervisor of rehab services at Cape Fear Valley Health. Kohler said stroke rehabilitation begins the moment a patient with a potential stroke has been identified.
A stroke can be thought of as a brain attack.
“Oftentimes, EMS will alert the hospital that they have a stroke patient on the way so the neurologist can be present as soon as the patient arrives,” Kohler said.
He said as the patient is triaged, the neurologist conducts a baseline exam called the NIH Stroke Scale, which helps determine the severity of the stroke. The rehab team uses this scale to get a picture of what kind of help the patient will need.
“We have physical therapists that will see the patient wherever they are in the hospital, even in the ICU,” Kohler said. “While in the hospital, we are trying to help maximize independence while determining what kind of rehab the patient may need when they are medically ready to discharge.”
In Kenneth’s case, he was in the hospital from Jan. 16 to Feb. 16 working with physical therapists.
“When I was able to stand the first week [after his stroke], I realized I could get back on my feet, but could not move my leg,” Kenneth said. “I would try to move small things and everything was a victory.”
He began with inpatient therapy until staff determined he had developed enough function to go home and continue on an outpatient basis.
Kohler said rehab therapists will work with patients and their families to prepare the patients to return home with as much functional independence as possible.
“If a patient is ready to return home, or has already completed their inpatient rehab stay, we also have outpatient PT [physical therapy] services for those patients that just need a little more fine-tuning to get back to 100%,” Kohler said.
Kenneth graduated from Douglas Byrd High School in 1979 and from Fayetteville Technical Community College, then Fayetteville Technical Institute, a couple of years later. He worked for more than 40 years in the automobile industry before retiring last year at the end of July.
“I made a good life out of it,” Kenneth said.
After his stroke, he had a slower recovery with his dominant right hand. However, re-learning how to do things — like brushing his teeth, getting dressed, and making a meal — with his left hand was easier for him since he played baseball his whole life, especially as a child in Little League.
“I’m right-handed, but I could also use my left hand,” he said. “I felt more confident than I think most would.”
Kenneth said that part of his recovery includes walking, working on balance, strengthening limbs, and stretching muscles.
“Some of the equipment they use will allow a patient to walk without the risk of falling by supporting their body weight in a sling, allowing them to focus on their legs in a safe manner,” he said. “They will also use electrical stimulation to help ‘wake up’ affected muscles that are having difficulty communicating with the brain.”
Kenneth said the equipment they have is “really cool stuff.”
“They put pads on a sitting bike to shock the muscles so they can see which muscle is working harder than the other,” he said.
He’s come a long way from where he started, and credits the staff, as well as his friends and family, for their support.
“I’ve gone from not being able to do nothing for myself to being able to live on my own again,” Kenneth said. “It is important to get as much therapy as early on as possible after a stroke. Not everyone who has had a stroke will recover to 100%, but most patients can see at least some improvement is possible with hard work.”
Farnham says that in rehab, the staff really get to know the patients, including learning what activities are meaningful to them like dancing, cooking, or gardening, which she can incorporate into their rehab sessions.
Kohler said that understanding what is important in the patients’ lives and helping them get back to that is his favorite part of his job. He said it drives patients to do more.
“Hearing stories of helping patients getting back to walking their dog, or being able to go to church again without needing a wheelchair are extremely rewarding,” Kohler said. “Therapy needs to be personalized to each individual in order for it to be meaningful and successful.”
Kenneth said he is looking forward to getting back on the golf course where he used to spend every weekend. He is working on getting his arm over his head so he can make a complete backswing.
“One thing I’ve learned is that gravity is my friend,” Kenneth said. “Raising my arm goes against gravity so it might be a while, but I’m working on it.”
He loves going to rehab because even the little victories are celebrated as he works to get back as close to normal as he can. He said he feels cared for with every single therapy session.
“The staff in rehab really care about you,” Kenneth said. “They are cheery and it’s almost like it’s not a job for them. It’s like their reward is your progress.”
Vicky Parker, a senior certified occupational therapy assistant at Cape Fear Valley Health, said her favorite part of her job is seeing people be able to do things for themselves again and be able to face their new normal with hope and courage.
She also hosts a monthly stroke support group called “Life After Stroke,” which she encourages stroke survivors to attend for shared information and encouragement.
“I’m working hard at this,” Kenneth said. “On days that I’m not in rehab, I’m doing everything from home. You have to stay motivated and celebrate the small victories.”
Kenneth said he is looking forward to making as complete a recovery as he can and gives credit to the Cape Fear Valley staff for helping him in his journey.
The Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center provides comprehensive physical, occupational, and speech therapy services for a variety of ailments including rehabilitation after a stroke. Stroke survivors and caregivers of stroke survivors can get more information about the Life After Stroke Team from Meghan Dornan, R.N., stroke program coordinator at 910-615-7077. For more information, visit capefearvalley.com/rehab.
