Brad Boor is taking big steps at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals. The father of two came to Madonna’s Lincoln Campus after surviving a stroke just days after his daughter, Brynlee, was born. Brad and his wife Lexie also have a 2-year-old son.
Since arriving at Madonna in April, Brad’s days have been filled with hours of intense physical, occupational and speech therapy sessions. But evenings are opportunities to play an active role as husband and father, even if it’s virtually. Thanks to technology, he’s reading books and tucking both kids into bed via Face Time.
“Just being able to see my kids and have those moments is pretty special,” Brad said.
The 37-year-old from Hutchinson, Kansas, was admitted to the ER after experiencing a headache and symptoms that “didn’t seem right” to his wife and mother-in-law.
“I left the Hutchinson ER thinking things were going to be ok. Then, when I walked into the neuro-ICU, a nurse told me that my husband had been intubated to help him breath and reduce swelling from a brain bleed. It was like the whole world stopped,” Lexie recalls.
Brad spent two weeks at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, before arriving at Madonna with a long road of recovery in front of him.
“Early on, I couldn’t move my right leg or right arm. I could hardly talk. I couldn’t do anything,” Brad remembers. “From what I remember coming in that day, to now, it’s unbelievable. This place is truly amazing. It’s awesome.”
A positive attitude and use of Madonna’s specialized technology paid off for Brad. Determined to find his voice again, he excelled at speech therapy. In physical therapy, Brad worked extensively with the Lokomat and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) bike, which helped him regain use of his arm and leg.
“We’ve used lots of specialty equipment, including the FES bike, to reconnect the pathways between Brad’s brain and muscles, and work on his muscle coordination. He has made great improvements,” said Emily Adams, one of Brad’s occupational therapists at Madonna.
Now just in time for Father’s Day, he’ll mark the date by walking out the doors of Madonna just in time to celebrate with his wife and kids.
Kansas stroke survivor returns home just in time for Father’s Day
