Diane, Madison WI

Below is just one of the many special people I have had the opportunity to take care of and be part of their journey. Diane had a stroke in the spring of 2020. The stroke affected her ability to talk and adequately control the use of her right arm and leg. Initially, she could speak a few words and broken sentences and walk but did not know where her arm and leg were unless she looked directly at them. Diane was with us at Capitol Lakes for about eight weeks and was incredibly hard-working with anything OT, PT, and SLP gave her to do. Eventually, she was safe to walk around on her own, make her needs known, take care of herself, including using her phone, and get around the kitchen safely, so we did a home visit, and she was able to go home with the right services and support in place.

I thought of Diane often, and on 1/31/24, almost four years later, I saw her walking on Sherman Avenue. I immediately recognized Diane and had to pull around and park the car to say hello, hug her, and thank her. Diane is one of the many who gave me the courage to start Thrive At Home. I love to help clients and families get the resources and support they need and provide the strategies and interventions so they can age safely and successfully at home. We met again on the 7th of February to share stories of the last several years. Diane’s ability to talk and tell stories has improved tremendously; it was a joy to listen to her stream of consciousness and take notes as she recapped our time together. Below is Diane’s story.

“Very caring, funny, and ready to help people in many ways.”

“When I think of Gabriel, I think, no, okay, Gabriel was not just my OT; I felt like she was head of my care. I felt like she was coordinating my care. Gabriel was with me all along the way. She was helping me with everything. I remember lying in bed and not feeling anything along the side of my body. She was with me every step of the way as I was getting better. She checked in on me all the time. She showed me how to get around the kitchen again and use my phone. I still use the chair in my tub; in fact, a good friend of mine has been through a lot of therapy and remembers Gabriel and all she helped me with.

I love to swim, and no one could use the pool in the middle of Covid. The first day, she got me in the pool. She gave me the courage to get in, walk around, and even take some strokes. It’s the love of my life as leisure time.

When my daughter Amanda (married with two children of her own) couldn’t visit because of COVID-19, Gabriel figured out how family could come to the sidewalk and stand outside as I stood on the balcony so I could see my family. I could see my two grandkids in person, and Gabriel made it possible to do that.

When it was possibly time for me to go home, Gabriel went with me and my daughter for a home visit. Gabriel showed Amanda what we needed to do to go up the stairs, get into the house, and get all the equipment to make it easy and safe to move around. My daughter was hesitant for me to come home, but she went with me in our car to the home visit, and we figured out how to do things. She felt okay with me going home to my home, and I still live there now.”

Diane finishes her story with a big smile, like in the picture we took on the 31st.

Diane, Madison WI