--- title: "A stroke patient’s inspiring recovery | Sutter Health" description: "Physical, occupational and speech therapy helped Bee get back to the people and activities she loves." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/a-stroke-patients-inspiring-recovery-1042868386" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Patient Stories](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) / 3. A stroke patient’s inspiring recovery # A stroke patient’s inspiring recovery Sutter Medical Foundation * * * 2023 Bee, an active mother and wife, avid gardener and retired nurse from the military and VA with over 40 years of service, was preparing to teach a nursing class one morning. Her husband of 46 years, Richard, heard a noise and came to check on Bee, and he found her down on the ground. After calling 911, Bee was taken to the emergency room where she was found to have had a stroke. She could barely move her right arm and leg and had great difficulty talking. After spending several days in the hospital, Bee was admitted to the Sutter Rehabilitation Institute where she received intensive physical, occupational and speech therapies to help regain her ability to walk, speak clearly, and complete her own self-care. After just 11 days, Bee was able to walk safely using just a cane and was able to go up and down a flight of stairs without assistance. She was also able to shower and dress herself without any help. While she still struggles a bit with finding the right words, she and her husband have learned various strategies to retrieve the words she is looking for. Bee was able to return home with her husband just in time to celebrate her son’s birthday. She has decided to retire from her long and distinguished nursing career, but she is looking forward to getting back out in the garden with her roses. ## Discover similar stories Choose a service topic below to read more stories like this one. [Physical therapy and rehabilitation](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Physical+therapy+and+rehabilitation%22%5D%7D%5D)[Stroke and neurovascular care](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories?verticalKey=patient_story&facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_services.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Stroke+and+neurovascular+care%22%5D%7D%5D) ## Let us ease your mind Our neuroscience teams provide specialized, patient-centered care using the most advanced treatments. [Request a referral](https://www.sutterhealth.org/referrals) ## Related articles [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) - Patient story ### [Taking a Step Forward with Ekso NR™](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/taking-a-step-forward-with-ekso-nr-1042868356) When Robert’s legs began to feel weak due to Miller Fisher syndrome, he turned to the Sutter Rehabilitation Institute. - Patient story ### [Stroke Nearly Silences DJ Shortkut](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/stroke-nearly-silences-dj-shortkut-2029692373) Jonathan Cruz, better known to fans around the world as DJ Shortkut, returned to spinning after extensive rehabilitation after a stroke. - Patient story ### [A hero's recovery](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/a-heros-recovery-1042868370) Travis went from fisherman to hero after he shielded his friends from an assailant with a gun. [View all articles](https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories) ## Disclaimer _Each individual’s treatment and/or results may vary based upon circumstances and the healthcare provider’s medical judgment. Testimonials or statements made by any person(s) within this site are not intended to guarantee outcomes or substitute for medical advice._ ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/a-stroke-patients-inspiring-recovery-1042868386#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Patient Stories","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"A stroke patient’s inspiring recovery"}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/a-stroke-patients-inspiring-recovery-1042868386#article","name":"A stroke patient’s inspiring recovery","headline":"A stroke patient’s inspiring recovery","abstract":"Physical, occupational and speech therapy helped Bee get back to the people and activities she loves.","description":"Physical, occupational and speech therapy helped Bee get back to the people and activities she loves.","keywords":["Physical therapy and rehabilitation","Stroke and neurovascular care"],"datePublished":"2023-01-01","dateModified":"2026-10-14","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/a-stroke-patients-inspiring-recovery-1042868386","inLanguage":"en-US","isAccessibleForFree":true,"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/a-stroke-patients-inspiring-recovery-1042868386","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/a-stroke-patients-inspiring-recovery-1042868386#breadcrumblist"}},"author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://dyn.mktgcdn.com/p/JP0HM9W3RxV7lrY0j0pSV18DhbzX891kcLfRY36cXo4/fit=crop,gravity=auto,width=1200,height=630","width":"600","height":"300"},"articleBody":"Bee, an active mother and wife, avid gardener and retired nurse from the military and VA with over 40 years of service, was preparing to teach a nursing class one morning. Her husband of 46 years, Richard, heard a noise and came to check on Bee, and he found her down on the ground. After calling 911, Bee was taken to the emergency room where she was found to have had a stroke. She could barely move her right arm and leg and had great difficulty talking. After spending several days in the hospital, Bee was admitted to the Sutter Rehabilitation Institute where she received intensive physical, occupational and speech therapies to help regain her ability to walk, speak clearly, and complete her own self-care. After just 11 days, Bee was able to walk safely using just a cane and was able to go up and down a flight of stairs without assistance. She was also able to shower and dress herself without any help. While she still struggles a bit with finding the right words, she and her husband have learned various strategies to retrieve the words she is looking for. Bee was able to return home with her husband just in time to celebrate her son’s birthday. She has decided to retire from her long and distinguished nursing career, but she is looking forward to getting back out in the garden with her roses."} ```