In June 2023, Brent Paprocki, a soon-to-be new father, farmer and electromechanical technician, experienced a series of strokes that landed him in the ICU at Columbus Community Hospital. Determined to reclaim his life, the 43-year-old arrived at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals’ CARF-accredited stroke program with a daunting road to recovery ahead of him.
“I could not sit up without assistance, my balance was gone, walking was impossible, and my face felt numb,” Brent recalled. “Vision issues, twitching and impaired speech added to the challenges.”
Choosing Madonna for his rehabilitation journey proved pivotal.
“Madonna is more specialized, offering better opportunities for recovery,” Brent said. “We heard great things about the program and decided to give it a try; [it’s] a decision we’re grateful for.”
Thanks to Madonna’s clinical expertise in stroke recovery and specialized technology, Brent made quick progress. Using intense, evidence-based practices, his team got him up and moving, pushing him from day one to maximize his recovery. Eager to resume his passions—work, farming, family and anticipating fatherhood—Brent embraced each new challenge. Madonna’s Work Re-Entry Program, a simulated work environment, also played a role in his success.
“It was really important that Brent got the therapy he got here because he was such a young stroke survivor,” Emily Kouma, OTR/L, a Madonna occupational therapist, said. “Given his age, it was crucial for him to continue improving skills beyond therapy. He had a lot of things to go back to, including work and family.”
In anticipation of becoming a new father, Brent’s care team also incorporated parental tasks into his occupational therapy sessions.
“They brought in a car seat and a baby doll and some clothes,” Brent said. “I got to practice putting it in and out of the car, changing clothes and diapers on the baby doll and just getting some more life skills. It was more ‘let’s prepare you for your life ahead going forward after this and try to make you the best you can be.’”
Brent returned home earlier this fall. He and his wife CoLynn also recently welcomed their newborn son, Slade Paprocki. Brent loves his new role as dad. He is also back to work and stayed busy this fall assisting with harvest on his family farm.
