St. James Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center (May 2017)

Mrs. Therese Spengler arrived to St. James for Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center on March 14, 2017 from being hospitalized at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital on Long Island, New York. Mrs. Spengler arrived to St. James due to weakness of the knees caused by arthritis, from which she was diagnosed in 2015. After her routine visit with her primary care physician, it was also revealed that Mrs. Spengler developed Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, where she was recommended to attend rehabilitation.

Mrs. Spengler was a homebody; she was fully aware that her lifestyle was going to change for the best when coming to St. James Rehabilitation. First, she found it very difficult adjusting; however, that all changed when the nurses, therapist, and her husband were her biggest advocates. Mrs. Spengler’s initial perception of St. James was she felt as if she was in a “very welcoming place.” The first person she met back in 2015 was a nurse named Jason who left such an amazing impression that she remembered him and saw him again during her second stay in 2017. Within Mrs. Spengler’s 48 hour stay, she did not believe that she was going to be able to walk again.

Mrs. Spengler’s goal was to try the best she could to help herself walk and was not to worry about every single thing other than gaining her strength so she could return home with her husband. Mrs. Spengler shared, “I had to learn the basics with taking steps all over again. At the end of my rehab I noticed I was able to move a lot further than when I first came in. I couldn’t believe how much I accomplished within the three months here at St. James.”

Not only did she receive too much joy in being able to accomplish her goal, she also got to meet many wonderful people here at St. James in the staff and other residents.
On June 1, 2017 Mrs. Spengler was discharged home, where she reunited with her loved ones. Upon discharge, Mrs. Spengler shared, “ I want to give well wishes for the staff, nurses, and therapist here at St. James. They were all very good, and always put the patients first.” She was able to lift herself and transfer from her chair towards a standing position and place herself into her husband’s vehicle when discharging. The social services team at St. James also arranged for Theresa to continue her clinical routines while transitioning back at home. We wish her nothing but the best and a continued happy and healthy 2017!