James' Story
James Lowery loves his job driving the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders to football games. He typically spends the day at the stadium enjoying the excitement. When he started feeling off, a concerned bystander dialed 911 and James was whisked to Texas Health in Arlington. Doctors heard speech issues and a CAT scan showed a stroke on the left side of his brain with numerous small brain bleeds. Over the next two weeks, his medical team used medication to treat his stroke and high blood pressure.
Following the successful treatment, James was stable but wasn’t past his challenges. The stroke affected the left side of his brain, which is responsible for language skills and caused limitations in movement. His most significant issues included thinking clearly, speaking and weakness to his right side. As a result, James struggled with ordinary tasks -- dressing, moving from sitting to standing and walking.
Physicians recommended inpatient rehabilitation and for that, James chose Select Rehabilitation Hospital of Denton.
Upon admission, James’ physician-led multidisciplinary team – a speech-language pathologist (SLP), physical (PT) and occupational therapists (OT) – assessed and developed a personalized treatment plan that would help James tackle his communication challenges, weakness and difficulties in accomplishing everyday tasks.
Since James had expressive aphasia – trouble naming common items, finding words and speaking in long conversations – his SLP mapped out exercises to help him overcome his challenges. Together they worked on simple go-to sentences to help him express his needs. They also engaged in simple to complex expressive tasks such as labeling common household items and labeling things related to his work. James eventually named his co-workers and the Cowboys players which also helped to reengage the affected area in his brain. In just a few days, he went from naming familiar things such as his favorite foods to making strides in conversation.
PT got to work as well. James was unsteady on his feet, so PT began with balance exercises. James progressed a bit more each day through regular exercises such as standing on foam and using resistance bands to increase balance and build strength. He practiced walking over different surfaces supported by a walker—that helped boost his confidence. He also took the stationary therapy bike for a ride every time he was in the gym. The reclined seat supported his back while he worked his legs, and the regular pedaling action helped build leg strength in the muscles used to sit, stand and walk.
Occupational therapists worked on endurance and educated James on how to handle daily life tasks more easily, especially since he mentioned feeling tired and in need of a break between tasks. They had him work on upper body exercises using resistance bands to build strength and endurance. To ease the strain on accomplishing simple tasks, like grabbing a coffee cup from a high shelf or an item on the floor, they gave James a reacher. The tool includes a telescoping arm with a grabber mechanism on the end that allowed him to grab the item without risk of overextending or falling.
James pushed himself during therapy. Back in his room, he received the motivation he needed to keep going—a visit from the team of young women who mean so much to him. Members of the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders dropped in to boost the spirits of their favorite bus driver. James was so touched by the visit.
Buoyed by his personal cheering squad and progress in therapy, James’ drive accelerated. He began standing during some therapy sessions where he would do sorting and organizing activities. His endurance and balance were improving and his fine motor skills were advancing which helped with toileting, grooming, dressing and eating.
Two weeks into therapy, James could engage in conversation, walk 300 feet with the support of a rolling walker and independently manage his medications and daily activities with the help of a reacher. James was ready to discharge.
Reflecting on his inpatient rehabilitation experience, James shared: “Y’all have been great… everything I’ve done, it all helped me.”
Excited to return home, James will continue gaining strength and refining his speech with outpatient therapy. He cannot wait to return to driving for the team he loves -- the Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders -- who gave him so much support during his rehabilitation.