Stronger After Stroke

After 50 years as a licensed practical nurse, 72-year-old Joyce Robinson of Eupora is accustomed to caring for others. 

But after two strokes left her weak on her right side, she leaned on the rehabilitation team at North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora to help her rebuild strength, sharpen her thinking and return to the life she loves.

On April 8, Joyce was working at Maben Medical Clinic when a headache began with pain above her right temple. “I couldn’t see well out of my right eye,” she says.

After consulting with Dr. Craig Moffett, the clinic team sent Joyce to the Emergency Department at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo. She was admitted and diagnosed with a small vessel stroke, which occurs when a tiny artery deep in the brain becomes blocked.

The next day, while still in the hospital, Joyce experienced a second, more damaging stroke. “I had numbness and tingling down my entire right side,” she says. “My leg felt like it weighed a ton.” The stroke left her weak on her right side and affected her vision.

Rebuilding Strength & Confidence

Once Joyce returned home, she focused on recovery. Three days each week for six weeks, she had physical, occupational and speech therapy at North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora. 

Her therapists coordinated a plan to help her regain as much independence as possible. Physical therapy focused on her strength, movement and balance. Occupational therapy helped her improve visual perception and coordination to safely manage everyday activities. Speech therapy challenged the cognitive skills she needed to think, communicate and function more independently.

The work was demanding, but Joyce’s therapists paired compassion with persistence. “They were kind and sympathetic, but they’re adamant about getting you through it. I left there sweating most days,” she says. “They’ll put you through the paces to get you where you need to be.”

Moving Forward

Joyce’s drive to recover is closely tied to her life’s calling. “I tried to go back to work immediately. I thought I was superwoman,” she says. “I was back at work June 4 going full speed as I did before the strokes. I don’t want to retire. I love my patients.”

Joyce is grateful to the staff at NMMC-Tupelo for their care, to her teammates for their prayers, and to the rehabilitation team in Eupora for helping her regain both skills and confidence.

“I feel like a new person,” she says. “I love them all—they’re my family now.”