Jody Cody - Stroke

As a physical therapist assistant for 20 years, I’ve worked with many stroke patients in multiple settings, seeing the ups and downs of recovery and the toll a stroke can take on someone’s body.

Since having my own stroke, my personal and professional life has been forever changed. I never thought I would be the one going through recovery and can now say firsthand that
knowing the BE FAST acronym can change your life. It changed mine.

 B – balance
 E – eye
 F – face
 A – arm
 S – speech
 T – time

I’m thankful every day that my husband knew something was wrong with me and acted fast. He and my children saw that I was very confused, not making sense, then began mumbling. He had to help me to the bathroom because my balance was off. Then my daughter noticed my eyes were bouncing back and forth.

The “5 Ds” were another assessment to see how important it was that my family acted fast:
 Dizziness
 Drowsiness
 Diplopia (double vision)
 Dysarthria (difficulty with speech, word finding or inability to talk or confusion)
 Dysphagia (unable to swallow)

When I arrived at the hospital, emergency medical staff scanned me and placed me on an IV to decrease the inflammation. My husband and children were told that I would not make it through the night. But five years later, here I am.

I can’t recall most of what happened, but some memories that were profound to me. The first memory I have was another physical therapist assistant (PTA) introducing herself to me and I told her I was a PTA, too.

Not knowing anything about what was wrong with me, she said, “Okay, can you get up and walk with me?” And I did exactly what she said, however when I stood up, I fell right back on the bed. And I can’t tell you anything else, other than thinking, “What just happened to me?” She told me that I had had a stroke, but that still didn’t make any sense to me. I can say I don’t remember anything after that moment.

Then, I started my journey with home health, physical and occupational therapy. I started in bed. I couldn’t move without the bedroom spinning, as I would become so sick.

I knew I needed a physical therapist or occupational therapist who had knowledge in vestibular rehabilitation, because I could not turn my head or eyes.

So, I maintained a fixed straight gaze until I had help. I told them what I needed, and the new physical therapist had another therapist who was versed with this to come for treatment. He was able to advance me from rolling and moving in my bedroom to walking up and down steps and walking to the stop sign down the road.

I advanced to outpatient physical therapy at the YMCA where I continued my journey. There I had to pass a driver simulator test before driving again. I also took the necessary steps to learn how to exercise on my own again.

Without exercise, my brain becomes slow and foggy. With consistent exercise, my mind is clear every day.
I have always loved what I do. I have so much enjoyment watching people get better, and now I am even more passionate about my patients’ recovery.

Some of the best care I can offer is consistently reminding them of their daily progress.

You can and will recover, just BE FAST!