An avid world traveler visiting 51 countries, 73-year-old retired Principal, Debora Jones, had her life turn upside down when she had a sudden stroke in February 2024 while cleaning her condo. It would be more than 12 hours before she was found on the floor by her youngest son. She was rushed to Kingston General Hospital and eventually transferred to Providence Care Hospital in March to begin her rehabilitation journey.

“The last thing I remember is cleaning my bathroom. I had a half inch left to go. When I came to Providence Care Hospital, I didn’t know how bad I was. But as my son said, when he saw me, he didn’t think I was going to make it through the week. He told me I couldn’t even lift my head or speak very well. I was totally independent before this and would not ask anybody for help unless I was in dire need,” explains Debora.

According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, almost one million Canadians are living with the effects of stroke.  At Providence Care, skilled and dedicated teams provide high-intensity inpatient rehabilitation for over 180 people each year who have experienced a stroke or related neurovascular event. Over 80% of these individuals regain independence in activities of daily living and return to home-based settings within the community.

Debora’s stroke caused left side paralysis and she relies exclusively on a wheelchair now to get around. Like in Debora’s case, a stroke can profoundly alter the course of a person’s life, reshape daily routines, relationships and sense of self. The aftermath of Debora’s stroke is marked by both physical and emotional challenges but she says she’s staying committed to making the most of her new life, pushing through the difficult and emotional days with the support of family, friends and a variety of therapists at Providence Care.

“When they asked me what kind of goals I had and to participate in therapy, I said ‘bring it on, I will take whatever you have to offer’. You can’t sit back and think someone else is going to do it for you. You have to put in the hard work. Then you can be thankful for where you were and now where you are. There are people here to help you, so you have to pick yourself up. This is reality.”

Through the support and guidance of her inter-professional team at Providence Care Hospital, Debora is learning to come to terms with what her new life will look like outside of the hospital walls. It’s a reality that will require her to move to a location where she can receive constant nursing support and care, but it’s a journey she’s facing with humility and her sense of humour still intact.

“When it rains it pours. I didn’t sign up for this. Nor did I expect it. My sons have been able to pick up the pieces for me. My granddaughter has been here to paint my nails and my grandson has been down for visits. The family has had to step up. They have been a really big support to me.”

For now, Debora continues to push herself each day in therapy and is enjoying social and recreational activities during her inpatient stay. Looking to the near future, Debora is hopeful that she can get an electric wheelchair, which will allow for more independence.

“Don’t look back and don’t ever regret anything. The thing I would suggest to readers is to get your life in line, but don’t make it so tight that you can’t diverge from it. Follow your heart. I know it’s a terrible cliché but enjoy every moment. I used to hate that line so much, but seriously!”

While her journey has been unexpected and life-altering, Debora remains inspirational and hopeful. With the unwavering support from her family and friends, her dedication towards therapy and gaining more independence will continue over the coming months.

A gift through the Honour Your Caregiver Program is a wonderful way to say “Thank You” to health-care professionals and provide much needed funding for equipment, education, research, facilities and more. Visit uhkf.ca for more information.