Transcription:
Mind, Body and Spirit Approach Help Rory in his Recovery From Stroke

Caitlin Whyte (Host): Rory Woods was at home when his stroke happened just over a year ago in August of 2020.

Rory Woods (Guest): I had just started a new job and I was under a lot of pressure, you know, and stress and the hours were kind of long and whatnot. So, I had a new position and my eating habits were all over the place. My eating habits were very bad.

Host: He was trying to find the groove in a new workplace, going out to lunches with coworkers, when he would usually bring from home, taking a couple of slices from those office pizzas.

Rory: My prognosis was that I had ischematic stroke on the right hemisphere of my brain, which actually affected the left side of my body. And at that time, what caused it was the stress. And I had a high blood pressure that was abnormal.

Host: After his stroke, Rory was traveling over an hour, each way to another rehab center in the area until his neurologist found him a new one closer, Good Shepherd. He says the physical and occupational therapists here get to know you. They come to understand your body and what you're capable of tolerating. Rory says he never really experienced a lot of pain like some stroke patients do.

Rory: Dr. Ayanna Kersey-McMullen, she was my TMNR, actually my neurologist also recommended her to me as well. And she's been fantastic. She actually helped me with my diet and get back on track and whatever she tells you to do, basically do it because she's excellent in what she does. She's very informative. She's very easy to understand. She doesn't use a lot of big terminology or words that you don't understand. Everything is basically simple. And she's helped keep me on track to basically I'm kind of vegan now, just being with her.

Host: Now, Rory does still eat fish or chicken sometimes, but his diet was something that he changed drastically after his stroke. Fruits and vegetables take up way more of his plate than before. It's all part of his recovery process.

Rory: But I no longer eat anywhere near or consume the same types of foods or the amounts of foods, you know, like pizza, Chinese food, you go out to these Chinese buffets and you eat Kentucky fried chicken and pizza and potato chips and all of that stuff. Man, please, my diet was all over the place. And I no longer eat the same way that I once did and that's helped my body feel a whole lot better. And that's attributed to Dr. Ayanna.

Host: Now, mindfulness has also been a big part of Rory's post-stroke journey. Stress was a big factor that caused his stroke. So, getting that under control was crucial. And then also dealing with the emotional stress that comes after an event like this.

Rory: Anybody that's experienced a stroke episode like I have, depression will hit you. You're going to get down on yourself when you're wondering, why, what did I do wrong? Why do I deserve this? And that's a part of it, I guess that's just the normal phase that you go through, but then you suddenly come to realize that, listen, if God wanted you gone, he could have taken you. So, and you're still here. So you have a purpose and your purpose is to find out why you're still here.

Host: Trusting the process, Rory says that has gotten him to where he is over a year after his stroke now. Trusting the doctors, their plan, and the team at Good Shepherd to get him where he wants to be. Slow and steady.

Rory: And I'm feeling myself stronger and stronger all the time and it will progress. But this thing isn't a race. It's not a race, it's a journey. And it's how you actually approach this journey and how they say slow and steady, wins the race. And that's what it is. It's slow and steady and take it one step at a time.

Host: Good Shepherd is a destination for transforming lives and inspiring hope. Call 1-888-44R-EHAB or visit goodshepherdrehab.org.