Life Care Center of Collegedale bus driver rehabs at facility after stroke

David Brooks, bus driver at Life Care Center of Collegedale, Tennessee, was used to taking patients to medical appointments. He never expected he would be a patient himself.

When David had a stroke on March 30, 2021, he knew he could count on his facility family to help him recover function.

David admitted as a patient on April 5. He needed help with walking, getting in and out of bed and balance.

“The reason I came here was because I expected good service,” said David. “I know everyone in the rehab department. I have carried the patients on the bus and have heard them talking about the therapists. It was exactly as I expected.”

Physical and occupational therapists worked with David five days a week, using therapeutic exercises, gait training and therapeutic activities. They also taught him a home exercise program to keep up after his stay so he could maintain his gains and make further progress.

            “Therapy helped me with strength and coordination,” said David. “They taught me a lot of little things to get me back on my feet that I would never have thought of.”

Mark Kochanski, physical therapist, shared, “Mr. Brooks was very motivated and participated with maximum effort to recover so well. He was very happy to regain his independence and return to the community.”

David went home with his family on April 13, able to take care of himself and walking more than 500 feet at a time without an assistive device. He hopes to return to work in the future.