Medical Reports: Real Life Rehab

WSVN -- At first, Everton Knight thought he was just feeling under the weather when he started experiencing some strange symptoms.

Everton Knight: "Like I'd get up and my head would feel woosie."

But, it didn't get any better.

Everton Knight: "I'm not feeling good, I'm starting to sweat and I'm thinking I'm having some stroke symptoms."

Everton suffered a stroke that left the right side of his body paralyzed.

Everton Knight: "My fingers, my legs, my toes, nothing moved. My right side was totally dead."

Before he could go home Everton need to learn how to perform everyday tasks most of us take for granted.

Dr. Alan Novick, Rehabilitation Med. Dir. for Memorial Healthcare System: "The best way for a patient to feel comfortable returning and not have that fear is to be shown for themselves that they can do it."

That's why Memorial Regional Hospital South created determination drive. It's a center designed to teach everything from driving to doing dishes and uses real life settings including a car, a grocery store, even an ATM machine!

Dr. Alan Novick: "This room actually allows us to work with the patient in a realistic setting, so they can master those activities and return home."

For many patients something as simple as picking groceries off a store shelf can be a difficult task.

Dr. Alan Novick: "Well if we've had a stroke and we don't have balance and you go to reach for it we might fall over."

Getting in an out of a car can seem impossible.

Nurse: "If you have a handle you can use the handle, if not use the dashboard."

Even getting money out of an ATM can be difficult, but through the center they learn to take each task one step at a time until they have the skill down.

Dr. Alan Novick: "Can they go through the multiple steps it takes to process and get the correct amount of money they ask for."

The room also has several types of flooring from tile to carpet, so patients can practice walking on different surfaces. It not only helps them achieve independence, but is a huge confidence booster, so eventually they will be ready to go back home, something Everton is looking forward to.

Everton Knight: "I am making good progress, very good. I'm surprising myself."

The center also has a full-sized apartment, so patients can learn how to use kitchen appliances and get in and out of bed.

Memorial Healthcare System
www.mhs.net