4 minute read
Mark's Younker Rehabilitation Story: Fall 2023
Dear friend,
“Something is very wrong.”
The words Mark slurred to his wife, Carolyn, when she found him grading papers for his Mobile Apps class on a bitter November morning.
Carolyn immediately called 9-1-1 and soon Mark was in an ambulance heading to Iowa Methodist Medical Center. After a series of tests and scans, Mark was told he had a stroke.
“I was completely devastated,” says Mark. “I thought my life as an independent person was over.”
Life can change in an instant. That’s why your gift today is so important. Your support provides the most advanced, comprehensive care for patients like Mark when they need it most.
Our physicians and medical team at Younker Rehabilitation see first-hand the impact an injury and illness has on a patients’ ability to function.
After an initial assessment, Mark sustained minor physical affects from the stroke yet he struggled with communicating, like forming words and writing out what he wanted to say. Mark immediately began working with a team of physical, speech and occupational therapists.
At Younker Rehabilitation, our goal is to help patients get back to living their best life. From relearning how to walk, talk and eat, to returning to work or driving, our team of physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers and technicians develop individualized treatment plans based on their level of function, support systems and activity tolerance.
For Mark, he attributes his outstanding care to three reasons
His therapists gave him ownership in his own treatment.
There was excellent communication between his care teams.
He was provided with state-of-the-art technology and equipment.
Every day, Mark made a goal to learn a few words like “book” and “nurse.” His therapists understood these words were important to him and took the time to help him slowly relearn.
“My care team was so caring and willing to help when I truly needed it,” says Mark. “They gave me hope to see a way forward in my recovery.”
This type of comprehensive rehabilitation requires highly trained therapists and the best in technology and equipment. With your help, our teams can continue to do even more.
Can we count on you for support?
“I shudder to think what my life might have been like without having the help of Younker Rehab,” says Mark. “Even the smallest gift means the world to someone who has suffered a dramatic change in their life.”
Today, Mark is back to teaching Computer Science at Simpson College. He is using his renewed time and specialized skills researching unique ways to assist stroke survivors and people with speech aphasia through computer technologies.
You can help patients like Mark during their most challenging times in life by providing hope and healing through the specialized care they deserve. I hope you make a gift and help patients get back to living their lives.
Thank you,
David Stark
President & CEO | UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
P.S. It takes investment from donors like you to advance the rehabilitation care provided to patients going through hard times. I hope you make a gift and help patients like Mark get back to living an independent life. Use the link below to make a donation today. Thank you!
Donate online: bit.ly/YOUNKERREHAB
