Tinton Falls - Oscar Baker of Lakewood is a family man, a loving husband, and proud father of three daughters and grandfather of three, who worked hard each day, to provide for his family. His normal day consisted of working for the State of New Jersey and then rushing off to a part-time job as a pharmacy technician. Suddenly, life for Oscar changed rapidly when he suffered a stroke at home on April 26, 2009.
His wife Margaret and son-in-law Ryan were home when Oscar became confused, unsteady as he walked, had difficulty communicating and had a blank look in his eyes. He collapsed onto the floor unable to move his right side and his face drooped. Margaret thought that Oscar might be having a stroke.
A 911 call brought paramedics to their home. Oscar was taken to Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood where he was stabilized and then transferred to Monmouth Medical Center, where it was confirmed that he had suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. Hemorrhagic strokes, which account for about 17 percent of all stroke cases, result from a weakened vessel that bursts and bleeds into the surrounding brain.
Stroke can be devastating, robbing one of their ability to do the things they once loved. Oscar was paralyzed on the right side of his body, unable to sit up on his own, walk, and worse, unable to speak or swallow. Once stabilized, Oscar was transferred to a local sub acute rehabilitation facility where he began his recovery. As time passed, Oscar's family began to research inpatient rehabilitation hospitals where a more intensive stroke program could be offered. Research shows that stroke survivors who receive comprehensive rehabilitation in hospitals such as HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals of New Jersey are more likely to return to their home, work, school or active retirement.
HealthSouth's stroke specialty team of physicians, nurses, therapists and staff began the aggressive yet individualized rehabilitation program tailored around Oscar's age and individual needs. Working with specialists seven days a week would ultimately give the Baker Family hope that life after stroke was possible.
Edgardo Baerga, M.D., and a physiatrist who specializes in physical and rehabilitative medicine led Oscar's therapy team. Under his leadership, a comprehensive stroke rehabilitation program was developed to match Oscar's abilities and needs and was progressed as he improved. HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals in Tinton Falls and Toms River are certified by the Joint Commission for Stroke Rehabilitation and designated by HealthSouth as Stroke Centers of Excellence offering stroke survivors distinct advantages and differences in the level of care as compared to sub-acute units in nursing homes and assisted living centers. Stroke does not have to be a permanent, life-ending event. Rehabilitation teaches stroke survivors how to improve, relearn or redefine the way they live.
"The nursing care provided at HealthSouth was wonderful. My father needs were completely taken care of each day," remarked Melissa Baker. Oscar was cared for by Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurses (CRRN) who specialize in rehabilitation and who work as part of the continuum of care to solve problems and promote overall patient care and recovery.
Oscar's physical therapist, Deandrea Acciani, MPT worked daily on his motor deficits. Initially, because of considerable weakness, Oscar required the use of a Hoyer Lift to get out of bed. This is a device that uses a large sling to transfer a person from the bed into a wheelchair. Oscar worked with Deandrea utilizing the parallel bars in the gym at first just to stand. In the beginning, he was unable to take even one step. Oscar was highly motivated to get his life back and each day he progressed. Joe Filler, case manager recalls the day she called Oscar's wife Margaret to let her know that he had walked. "There was silence on the other end of the phone, finally Margaret said, "I am shocked, I am so happy, I never thought this day would come." Today Oscar uses a hemi-walker with minimal supervision to move around his home.
Oscar's treatment plan included occupational therapy that involves activities of daily living. As Oscar was completely dependent for all self-care tasks and transfers, David Arredondo, MSOTR/L worked on skills to help him become more independent and build self-esteem. These activities strengthened Oscar's balance and improved his endurance level to where he was able to dress, groom and feed him self. David also focused on neuromuscular re-education of Oscar's right hemiparetic arm.
Speech therapy is a vital component of the rehabilitation plan for most stroke patients. Lara Alfone, MA; CCC/SLP worked with Oscar on language skills and swallowing. Oscar presented with severe receptive and expressive aphasia, the difficulty in understanding and expressing words; verbal apraxia, the inability to form and create words using the mouth and facial muscles; and dysphagia which is a swallowing disorder. Lara trained Oscar in using a multi-modality approach to communicate, primarily using gestures, facial expressions and variation in vocal intonations.
Today Oscar Baker is home surrounded by his loving wife and family. His daily routine focuses on his recovery with ongoing therapy. His wife Margaret stated, "We are so pleased with the care we received at HealthSouth. When my husband first had his stroke, I never thought I would see him sit up on his own, walk or be able to eat and drink. Everyone from the excellent nursing staff to the therapists worked daily with my husband and my entire family on his recovery". The Bakers were looking forward to retirement and moving down south before Oscar's stroke. Today they are hopeful that with Oscar's full recovery they will fulfill their dream.
HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospitals of Tinton Falls is accredited by the Joint Commission and has been awarded disease-specific accreditation for stroke rehabilitation. HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital provides a higher level of rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from stroke and other neurological disorders, brain and spinal cord injury, amputations, orthopedic, cardiac and pulmonary conditions. For more information regarding the variety of programs and services offered at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Tinton Falls, please rehabnj.com or call (732) 460-5320.
