Story of Hope and Possibility: Mary (Lefty!)

Mary is a member of the Myrtle Beach YMCA community. Mary suffered from a Transient Ischemic Attack and two Ischemic Strokes in April of 2022. She spent a month in rehab, setting goals and slowly regaining functions through various therapies. Mary looked to the YMCA for extra help getting her back on her feet. She practiced water aerobics and weightlifting with Dylan, a trainer for the YMCA. Mary continues to make impressive progress and says that “Every time I’m with Personal Training, Golf Therapy, staff or the many classes offered, I walk away with a new tool to help my continued journey to getting better!”

Mary’s Story

On Thursday evening, April 14^th, 2022, I had a TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack), which passed by 2 a.m. and I was sent home believing everything was OK. On Friday morning around 8 a.m. I knew things were happening, so we went back to Waccamaw Hospital and that morning had two Ischemic Strokes on my left side, leaving me paralyzed (hence why I am called Lefty).

I was transferred to Rehab on Tuesday for 1 month and released on May 11^th, 2022.  While there I did Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, or Speech Therapy 3 times a day. Once released from Rehab, I started Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy at Tidelands Neuro Therapy from May 23^rd through December 30^th, 2022.

No matter where I did my rehab, I established goals for myself.  

1) I never stopped exercising.  Whatever the therapist taught me I wrote down and continued to work on (until today).

2) In rehab they asked what my goal was . . . I wanted to get out of the hospital; on May 11^th, I walked out with my walker.

3) By July 15^th, I was able to walk without my walker.

4) While still doing Neuro Rehab, around August 1^st, I knew I needed to find more ways to help improve my recovery.  I started Water aerobics at Healthpoint (which is now YMCA).  NOTE: Around that same time, I traveled to New Jersey for 6 weeks and continued water aerobics at the YMCA in New Jersey.

Healthpoint/YMCA

Upon my return in October, I returned to the YMCA’s water aerobics.

Following my release from Tideland (Neuro) Therapy in December, in January 2023 I started Personal Training with Dylan focusing on exercises, weight training and various machines. I continued with Dylan through May.  

I also did and continue to do online exercise programs. A major one was Jamber.com (hand yoga) and Motion Coach, which helps with all of the areas I continue to need help with (shoulder, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle and balance).  

In June, another goal was to get back to playing golf, so I started Golf Therapy with Richard Morris (which I’m still taking).  A note to mention about this program is that I thought I was taking “golf lessons”, which turned out to be more therapy related exercises. 

Interestingly, there is a saying in golf that no matter how you play, “you only need to hit one good shot during your game and that is enough to keep bringing you back to play another round.  That is exactly how I feel about the YMCA.  Every time I’m with Personal Training, Golf Therapy, staff or the many classes offered, I walk away with a new tool to help my continued journey to getting better.

Thank you for inviting me to hear my story.