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James M. is one of those special people that endeared
himself to our staff. He
came to Northeast Center for Special Care after
hospitalization for a Tonic-clonic Seizure that occurred as
result of a fall against a brick wall.
James became unresponsive and was placed on a mechanical
ventilator in
the hospital for a brief time.
James tells us his story in his own words:
For me this started in 2004. I was living in Troy, New York.
I was in the hospital for four months and when I woke
up I didn’t know nobody.
After awhile I started remembering people like my
daughters. Then
I came here to Northeast Center in September of 2004.
I was born in North Carolina in 1953.
My family moved to Brooklyn, New York in 1960, when I
was seven. About
1980 I moved to upstate, New York because my sister lived
there. I have
been a cook all my life.
I went to culinary school in New York City a long
time ago. It
was a school where you learned how to cook during the day
and cooked at their restaurant at night.
When I graduated I got a certificate.
I’ve cooked in a lot of restaurants.
My favorite food to cook is fast food – chicken,
hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza! I had a good life. I
liked to shoot pool, go bowling and watch wrestling.
When
I came to Northeast Center I had to learn how to walk and
talk again. I
had to therapist here Hannah (a Physical Therapy Assistant)
and Laura (An Occupational Therapist).
Hannah taught me how to walk.
One day she said I’m running out of things for you
to do! So we went over and over what I did before and I got
better. Laura
taught me how to wash and take care of myself.
Laura asked me what I wanted and I told her to
over-load me and she gave me more and more to do. She has
been teaching me how to write checks and pay my bills.
Every Friday I would cook in the apartment (the
independent living apartment at Northeast Center) and I
would cook chicken, spaghetti, and salad. I met a Speech
Therapist here, Tara, and she worked me hard and helped me
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“They
really took care of me.”-
James M.
James M. with Kathy Russ, RN and Maryann
Stokes, LPN |
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Now
I’m going back upstate on the TBI Waiver.
I have an apartment where I am going to live and I am
going to see my family and friends including my
grandchildren. I
really want to go back to work.
I also like landscaping and I may try that.
Laura, Tara, Michelle (Community Reentry Specialist) and
Cecilia (Social Worker) helped me a lot here.
Maryann, Adessa and Betsy are my nurses. I met Betsy first back when I couldn’t walk.
Betsy always reminded me to get my head up after
awhile she didn’t have to remind me.
They really took care of me.
If
you get sick like I did and don’t know what to do ask
about the Northeast Center – they are very good, they have
very good people and you’ll get the special help.
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James
with Cecelia Sarda, Social Worker
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Laura
Basdekis, Occupational Therapist commented on James:
When
James first came to us we weren’t quite sure what
his potential was going to be and in the beginning,
like a lot of brain injury survivors he was kind of
hesitant to participate in therapy activities.
As the weeks went on it became quite clear that
he was going to make quite a lot of progress.
As it is today, James is one of the people that I’ve
worked with in my two years at Northeast Center for
Special Care who have worked the hardest. He is consistently motivated which makes meeting his goals a
lot easier because he is dedicated to his recovery. Things that we would suggest to him that he do.
James would go ahead and implement those on his
own right away. He
quickly became independent with dressing, doing his
laundry, going to activities.
He even began to paint and he displays all of
his artwork in his room.
On many days he would spend his mornings in the
gym working out and getting stronger.
James really pushed himself and pushed me as a
therapist to give the best treatment sessions.
James is also a phenomenal cook.
Even though that was a skill he already had
from his work, it had become difficult for him
physically. James
is also very precise about what spices and techniques
he wants to use. He made chicken, cakes, and casseroles – substantial meals.
People would come by the hallway of the
independent living apartment and say “James, it
smells so good!
Personally, I am happy to see James leaving us and
going back into the community.
Because of his motivation and hard work he will
be successful – this will carry on out in the
community. |
James
is a very special person to the nurses, therapists and staff
who have had the privilege of working with him. James is one of the hundreds of people Northeast Center for
Special Care has helped to rehabilitate their lives and
return to the community and like so many his hard work and
recovery is an inspiration to those professionals who cared
for and about him.
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"James
really pushed himself and pushed me as a therapist to give
the best treatment sessions. - Laura Basdekis," OT |
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Northeast
Center for Special Care
QUICK FACTS:
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- Tonic-clonic
seizure: A convulsion; a newer term for grand mal or
major motor seizure; characterized by a loss of
consciousness, falling, stiffening, and jerking;
electrical discharge that involves all or most of the
brain.
- TBI
Waiver program: New
York State Department of Health Home and Community Based
Services Medicaid waiver for Individuals with Traumatic
Brain Injury.
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