Stroke survivors celebrate at reunion

POST FALLS — In a hallway lined with health care professionals, stroke survivors were given a warm welcome back to the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest on Thursday.

For many, that walk might have seemed impossible at one time. 

No matter how they crossed it, whether it was standing, using a mobility aid or rolling in a wheelchair, the joy radiating from the two lines of medical professionals and from the survivors and their families was palpable.

Billie Tribitt’s smile couldn’t be contained as she went down the line. 

“You guys saved my life,” Tribitt said, exchanging hugs as she passed staff in the hallway.  

After experiencing a hemorrhagic stroke, small milestones are now much more meaningful: hooking her own belt, tying her shoes. 

Correctly identifying left and right is sometimes difficult, but the fact that she is able to enjoy her life and relearn skills keeps her happy. 

“I didn’t think I'd ever walk again or talk again,” Tribitt said. 

During the annual Stroke Survivors reunion, past patients, families and care teams shared stories and a meal together in the therapy gym at Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest. 

Former patients shared their tears and admiration for staff and their families for their kindness and strength through the obstacle of recovery.    

Director of Nursing Operations Anna-Liisa Pjesky said everyone in the room shared one special characteristic: sisu. 

“In that Finnish tradition I was taught a very important word called sisu. Sisu is a Finnish word for which there is no English translation and refers to the extraordinary inner strength that’s almost magical or supernatural to overcome extreme adversity when everything is going wrong,” Pjesky said. 

To show up to do therapy even when they didn’t want to or felt hopeless, Pjesky said that resilience was magical in a way. 

“They were exhausted, discouraged, distracted, they were grieving the loss of independence and the life that they knew,” Pjesky said. 

Doug Wagner’s health journey was only beginning when he experienced his stroke.

“You guys are all my family,” Wagner said. “I was here for two weeks three years ago.” 

Now that he’s going through prostate cancer and undergone surgery and recovery, he looks upon the bonds he formed after his stroke. 

“It’s a struggle, but I feel like I’ve got my family here after I went through the stroke,” Wagner said. 

    Jerry Huston and Angela Norman make their way down the hallway to applause from health care workers during the annual Stroke Reunion Celebration at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest.
  

    Nancy exclaims as she recognizes a health care worker during the Stroke Reunion Celebration at Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest.
  

    Todd and Shirley Little cross to the therapy gym to applause during their welcome to the Stroke Reunion Celebration at the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest.
  

    Director of Nursing Operations Anna-Liisa Pjesky addresses stroke survivors, their families and health care workers during a Stroke Reunion Celebration at Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest.