Intensive inpatient rehabilitation got Linda Baker back on her feet after she suffered a stroke – an outcome she says was possible because of the outstanding care she received, her positive attitude and perseverance.
“To me, the key was I didn’t want to live the rest of my life not being able to walk or do the things I wanted to do,” says Baker, of Sunset Beach, North Carolina. “I told myself I’ve got a lot of life left. I don’t want to give up anything.”

The retired nurse spent about two weeks at Tidelands Health Rehabilitation Hospital at Little River, an affiliate of Encompass Health, after a June stroke while visiting family in New York left her with total paralysis on her left side.
“She could be the model patient for our rehabilitation hospital,” says Dr. Thirston Phillips, who led Baker’s care. “She came in with an extremely positive attitude and worked really hard.”

Baker’s treatment plan to regain her mobility, speak without slurring and restore function of her left side included three hours of rehabilitation each day. She approached the regimen with fervor and positivity.
At Tidelands Health, our region’s largest health care provider, patients benefit from nationally recognized stroke care from onset through rehabilitation to improve outcomes and quality of life.
“With the help of the greatest therapists, I improved quickly,” Baker says.

Learning to walk again was both exhausting and exhilarating.
“I loved being harnessed and suspended from the ceiling,” she says. “I wanted to spend my day just on that exercise. I felt like Peter Pan!”
One of her primary goals for rehabilitation was to be able to golf again. She credits her physical therapist for making that a reality. He provided her with a large putting mat, a safety belt for stability, a golf club and whiffle golf balls so she could practice putting.
“I could not stop smiling for days,” she says.

Baker says encouragement from her care team kept her motivated. Each member played a part in her recovery.
“Having the best staff who encouraged my ‘I can do it’ attitude made everything possible,” she says. “Every person I met was friendly and went above and beyond to help in any way I needed.”

When patients are discharged from the rehabilitation hospital, the staff plays a song on the overhead speakers. Baker chose “Simply the Best” by Tina Turner.
“It reminded me of all the wonderful people I’d met there,” she says about her song choice. “I am blessed to have people in my life who have positively affected me.”

Baker has made a near-complete recovery. She continues to rehab at home and has also returned to the golf course.
“You don’t give up even if it’s hard,” she says. “Anything that’s worth having, you’ve got to work at it.”
Dr. Phillips says Baker’s hard work paid off. Not all stroke patients are as fortunate.

“It’s exciting and rewarding to see patients make progress,” Dr. Phillips says. “She put in the effort and was motivated and for her, it made a difference.”
What caused Baker’s stroke remains unclear, but she has decided to eat more healthfully and exercise more regularly going forward to reduce her risk. The experience has made her realize how blessed she is to be alive.
“My gratitude has expanded beyond belief,” she says. “I thank God every day for providing this opportunity to recover.”