The Power of Perspective: “Just Keep Going, Keep Trying”

Before his stroke in October 2025, Adam S. enjoyed an active life with his wife, Megan, and their son. He worked for a home health care company and loved hiking, traveling, woodworking, gardening, caring for the family’s chickens, and taking their dog on walks.

After experiencing a stroke on the final day of a vacation, Adam underwent a thrombectomy and began inpatient rehabilitation, and later, outpatient therapy. In April 2026, he transitioned to Rehab Without Walls to continue working toward greater independence. At the time, he still relied on a foot brace and cane, had limited use of his left hand, and experienced word-finding difficulties that made everyday activities, including meal preparation, challenging.

Adam and Megan wanted to continue therapy and build the skills needed to navigate daily life more independently. Our team at Rehab Without Walls provided the flexibility to practice meaningful activities in the home and community, allowing Adam to work toward goals that mattered most to him and his family.

Through individualized therapy, Adam practiced navigating stairs, gardening, walking on uneven surfaces, and participating in community outings to the grocery store, mall, Curtis Arboretum, and Briar Bush. One of his biggest milestones was relearning to climb stairs using a step-over-step pattern. He accomplished most of his therapy goals and is especially proud of being able to spend time unsupervised. His wife, Megan, also noticed a significant shift in his confidence – from saying, “I can’t do that,” to approaching challenges with a new mindset: “I can do that, it will just be a little slower.”

For Adam, practicing meaningful activities in his own home and community made a lasting difference. “It has been fantastic. You have helped me so very much in all aspects. Just being in the home and community, you have given me the confidence to do things that are actually relevant to day-to-day living,” he shared. Adam also praised his entire therapy team, including Gretchen, Tricia, and Marci, for their support and collaboration throughout his recovery.

Although Adam is still working toward returning to his favorite hobbies and eventually to work, he continues to make progress toward his goals of hiking and spending time outdoors. His wife
and son remain his greatest motivation. “I’m quite young, and I have a lot of life left,” Adam shared.

When asked what advice he would give to others navigating a similar recovery, Adam offered a simple but powerful message: “Just keep going, keep trying. You can do it, and it will get better.”

 

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