Fredtart South
Tom Comforty of Kenosha, a successful insurance husband and father of four, said: “Mentally, I sometimes have trouble remembering things or finding the words to describe myself.”
Rick Madeja of Pleasant Prairie said, “I had a very good life. Husband and father of three, he had a successful event rental business as a salesman and worked professionally in his spare time. I was working as a bass fisherman, and then two summers ago, everything changed.
Pleasant Prairie’s Bill Hans recalls: “When I heard a woman’s voice say ‘Hello,’ I felt like I was walking to the door. I heard you were in trouble. I thought she was someone I would meet on my way to Heaven.” ‘I knew you were coming,’ I said to her. Instead, I found myself talking to someone in the hospital’s spiritual care department.”
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These three people, all from the Kenosha County community, experienced a dramatic, unexpected, and life-changing change in their health. And all three benefit from the region’s only neurological rehabilitation program in Froedtert South.
“All Treatments in the Same Place”
Tom Comforty, pictured with his family, was just 44 when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Neurorehabilitation at Froedtert South Thanks to his clinic, he can get all treatments within two miles of his home.
In 2010, Tom Conforti was diagnosed at the age of 44. He has Parkinson’s disease, a progressive brain disorder. There is no cure yet, but there are ways to slow its progression. “My neurologist said it’s important to stay active,” said Tom. Froedtert South’s Neurologic Rehabilitation Clinic is where Tom does it.
Froedtert South’s Director of Rehabilitation Services, Tami Carr, said:
One of those experts is physical therapist Ceilia Boyce. “We are helping patients with Parkinson’s disease, spinal cord injuries or brain tumors, as well as those who have suffered strokes, concussions or spinal cord injuries,” she said. “Now all three of her therapeutic areas – occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy – are her practice in one clinic,” she says. “More and more patients are coming to us for rehabilitation who may have had their initial treatment elsewhere. Because people know that they get special care here that they don’t get,” Ceilia said.
“My therapy program at Froedtert South is meant to make things a little easier for me,” said Tom. “It’s great to have all the treatments in the same place that he’s less than two miles from home. The therapists are all very nice people and very caring,” said Tom. “They challenge me, but not more than I can handle. Everyone is genuinely concerned about me and what I’m going through.”
“For patients with progressive diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, we are asking caregivers and families how to manage, how to care, how to train and implement what we do. We do a lot of education about ,” said Ceilia. she said.
“Ease of scheduling is another big advantage,” says Tami. “Many patients need family members to get them to and from their treatment appointments. Having all the services they need in one place for her makes a huge difference for many patients and their families. ”
“It’s the best thing anyone can do to deal with Parkinson’s disease,” Tom said.
“One day I will be able to stand and walk”
Rick Madeja, pictured with his family, no longer needs to travel for 45 minutes to receive neurological rehab from his spinal cord injury.
“My wife and I were boating on a local lake when I jumped into the water,” said Rick Madeja. “Just after I got in the water, I noticed that I couldn’t feel anything down my armpits.” Rick later learned that he had bone spurs on his spine that pointed toward his spinal column. “When he jumped in, the water pushed his head back, pushing the spur into his spinal cord.”
“My wife threw a float at me and jumped into the water to help me get to shore. I called,” said Rick. At the hospital, he underwent emergency surgery to prevent further damage. “
“I did inpatient rehab at Froedtert in Milwaukee and the Medical College of Wisconsin, but we live in Pleasant Prairie, so I started neurorehabilitation therapy at Froedtert South,” Rick said. “If you have a stroke, spinal cord injury, or progressive neurological disease, driving 45 minutes to an hour to get neurological rehab is a lot of unnecessary time and effort that we eliminate. It’s possible,” said Tami.
“We help stabilize patients so that they can safely move around their homes and communities and achieve their goals, whether they are related to work, family, daily life or even sports.” said Ceilia. “We help them feel proud that they can continue to do what they want, even if they do it differently.”
“They’ve been helping me rebuild my strength and confidence. I’m definitely getting better,” Rick said. I am gaining more and more movement and control and now I can feel it all the way down to my toes. I think it will be,” Rick said.
“Everyone at Froedtert South is very friendly and very interested in what’s going on with me,” said Rick. “World Famous Shirley Ryan Rehab in Chicago He was accepted into the clinic’s day program, but I think the therapist at Froedtert South is much better.”
“They are the reason I am here today”
After suffering a major stroke, Kenosha’s Bill Hans began a therapeutic session with neurorehabilitation specialists at Froedtert South.
After suffering a severe stroke, Bill Hans was hospitalized and relied on a walker to get around, unable to work and requiring round-the-clock supervision. After spending several weeks in hospitals and rehab facilities, Bill began treatment sessions with his neurorehabilitation specialists at Froedtert South.
“With patients like Bill, we have regular team meetings to discuss care planning, progress, and how other treatments can help with care,” says Ceilia. “This collaborative approach helps patients reach their goals and get where we want to be.”
“The Froedtert South Neuro-Rehabilitation Clinic is right down the road from my house,” Bill said. “I love having all my treatments at the same place. They schedule consecutive sessions for me, which was especially helpful when I had to use the shuttle service to and from the clinic .”
“I have three great therapists, they’re just great,” Bill said. “I consider them my best friends. ”
“I am now back to driving without restrictions. I was. “Many of our patients want to return to driving after they recover,” he says. “Mostly, our occupational therapist will assist them here, but they also have her Froedtert in Milwaukee and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin Medical School involved to get behind the wheel and do a driving assessment. can do.”
“The neuro-rehabilitation therapists at Froedtert South are all incredibly friendly people. From top to bottom, everyone is very professional. Great organization,” said Bill. “They are the reason I am here today.”
“Bill has learned how to manage and still participate in all the fun activities and things he wants to do,” Celia said. So seeing his progress makes everyone here feel really good.”
“Other therapists on our team are also interested in obtaining neurorehab certification, which will help us scale to meet the growing need for the services we currently offer to the community,” says Tami. says Mr. “And we are constantly expanding our knowledge so that we can provide our patients with the latest and best care possible.”
