Our Tuesday featured patient is Jeff! 

Jeff has been training with VIP for over 5 years after suffering from multiple strokes. He works hard at VIP every week and is known for his belief that being a stroke survivor is his superpower!

He has made incredible gains with respect to his balance, functional strength, gait pattern and range of motion. Jeff leads by example and inspires all of us to train hard and never give up!

Jeff is as tough as they come and inspires us all to find our own superpower to fight through life's challenges.

We also featured Jeff's story, in his own words, back in 2016 and it is definitely worth a read: 

On December 15th 2013, life as I knew it, changed forever. It started as a normal enough day, once I got to work, I started to feel tired and sick. I thought I was coming down with the flu, right before the holidays no less. I grabbed my things, told my boss I was going home sick, and I'd be back in a few days. I then proceeded to drive 20 miles home on the freeway. To this day, I don't remember much of the drive.

Once I arrived home, a quick thinking family member realized the truth --- I was having a stroke. 911 was called, EMS arrived & I was taken to Grossmont Hospital. After running a series of tests, I was admitted to the ICU. My prognosis was not good. I had lost everything, toes to nose, on my right side. I couldn't even swallow. After 7 days, I'd improved enough to be transferred to the neuro unit.

After 5 days, on Christmas Day, I was sent to inpatient rehab. That started 6 weeks of intense therapy, speech, PT, OT, etc. Finally, on February 7th, I was discharged home. In a wheel chair. Months later, I would learn that I actually had 4 bilateral strokes. The cause has never been determined, despite extensive testing and numerous doctor visits.

I started outpatient therapy a few days later. Three days a week, 3 hours a day. I continued to improve. I was able to trade the wheelchair for a cane and leg brace. On November 11th, 2014, I returned to work part time. I'm very lucky to have such a great employer.  Fast forward, to today, I'm working about 20 hours a week and still in therapy. I'm blessed to be able to go to VIP Neuro rehab.

It would have been easy to give up and focus on what I'd lost. Instead, I used what I did have left to improve. Remarkably, my cognitive skills weren't damaged -- I couldn't speak, but I was texting away in the neuro unit. It's been a battle and the improvements have at time been slow in coming. Luckily, I'm rather stubborn. A cousin told me that you don't really miss things until they're gone. How true! Learning to function as a one handed lefty has been a real challenge. So has the near constant fatigue.

​My outlook on life has changed dramatically. I'm more grateful than ever now.  One day at a time, one step at a time.

VIP's New Lokomat Nanos has arrived!
We are truly grateful for the huge fundraising push in 2019 that made this possible! Our main supporters were the Cushman Foundation: Making a Difference Grant 2019 and Beyond the Teams.  Schedule a tour today!

Big Things are coming in 2020 at VIP!

Due to many generous donations, the Cushman Foundation and the Beyond the Teams Ride, VIP has achieved our largest goal to date – purchasing a 2nd Lokomat for VIP!

The Lokomat Nanos, by Hocoma, is an assisted treadmill which allows patients to walk upright, with the support of a harness and robotic leg controls. Our technician is able to adjust the system to each patient’s specific needs, such as, walking speed, weight bearing, and gait pattern.  Almost all our patients can benefit from this technology and it is one of the most advanced therapies available for gait training and neurological re-training today.

VIP is currently the only public facility in Southern California to offer this technology and thus has seen a high volume of patients desiring to utilize this machine.  The ability to have multiple Lokomats at our facility will ensure that all patients are able to access the Lokomat without delay!

The Lokomat Nanos, by Hocoma, is over $200,000 and due to all the generous support in 2019, VIP will be able to purchase this machine outright.  We are amazed at this support and look forward to early 2020 when this machine will be delivered to our facility!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

Beyond the Teams is getting recognition as they prepare for their 2019 Bike Ride Fundraiser and they are sharing VIP as well! Check out this article just published by WND about Beyond the Teams and their upcoming mission for VIP!

VIP's patient, Elliot, was featured in the Cincinnati Enquirer this week! 

Our patients have the most inspiring stories and we are so proud of the hard work put in to recovery.

Check out the article here!