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Meet CNI's Stroke HeroesBelow are just a sample of the success stories at CNI's Stroke Center. Kyle Severson, 2006 Hope Award Recipient
Last summer, Kyle suffered a massive aneurism and stroke that nearly took his life, and severely affected his entire left side. After a difficult journey back to health that required him to relearn everything from swallowing to speaking, Kyle required substantial rehabilitation. Faced with the challenge of minimal insurance coverage that fell far short of Kyle’s needs, his parents turned to the CNI NeuroHealth Center to take advantage of a special program that covers the cost of rehabilitation services for under-insured and uninsured post-stroke patients. Kyle became the Center’s youngest stroke patient. “When I first came to CNI, I was in a wheelchair,” Kyle recalls. “I couldn’t walk or even stand for more than a minute. And I wasn’t able to move my left arm at all.” After weeks of hard work and support from his entire family, Kyle’s first breakthrough came in the form of a very simple task—he picked up a single Cheetoh with his left hand. “He’d been practicing with lots of small objects,“ his mom explains with a smile,“but I had this idea that the snack would be a little more motivating.” Attending therapy sessions four days a week, Kyle has continued to make steady—and remarkable—progress. Today, he is able to walk and even climb stairs and has regained full range of motion in both arms, although he continues to work toward restoring full use of his left wrist and fingers. He also started attending 7th grade full time in January, earning A’s and B’s in all of his classes despite certain learning difficulties that have resulted from his stroke. And if that weren’t enough, he’s also studying for his upcoming Bar Mitzvah and hopes to begin playing his saxaphone again soon. Over the course of his therapy, Kyle has proved to be a real inspiration to everyone he meets, including patients and staff at the Center. His therapists explain that Kyle brings a unique optimism and energy that are as contagious as his smile. These days, Kyle’s biggest goal is to start riding his bike again so he can participate in either the Courage Classic or MS 150 ride, both of which benefit individuals with neurological disorders. And like any typical kid, he also has big plans for his future. “I might want to be a physical or occupational therapist,” he explains. “I think I could be good at it because of what I’ve been through. I think I could connect with people.” Allen “AC” Howerton, 2005 Hope Award Recipient
Affecting his entire left side, his speech and his ability to swallow, the stroke required AC to undergo extensive rehabilitation to regain basic balance, movement and other capabilities. Unfortunately, AC’s rehabilitation benefits didn’t extend as far as his needs. That’s when he discovered the CNI NeuroHealth Center. “Although my benefits were exhausted, I was able to continue my rehabilitation at the Center. And the care there has been exceptional. It’s an incredibly positive place to be – I make improvements with every visit.” In fact, AC has regained his ability to swallow and walk on his own, and he is able to drive, use his left hand— and even fish. But he’s also discovered that he has new capabilities as well…inspiring other recovering stroke patients. “At the Center, I learned a lot about recognizing and celebrating even the smallest signs of progress. I know how important it was for me to realize that I was improving even when I didn’t necessarily recognize it myself. I try to do the same for other patients.” AC is also participating in a clinical research trial that is targeting secondary stroke prevention, and he has presented to the CNI board of directors and the Spalding Community Foundation about the positive impact that the CNI rehabilitation program has had on his life. “I feel like I’m part of a team at CNI. I look forward to going there because I always walk out a little stronger. For me, it’s a feeling of accomplishment every time. It’s like catching the fish.”
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Colorado Neurological
Institute Stroke Center
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Kyle
Severson is just like any other typical 12-year-old boy—full of
energy, big smiles and lots of ambition. His story, however, is anything
but ordinary. 
As
an accomplished fisherman, Allen “AC” Howerton learned early-on
the importance of even the smallest movements when it comes to casting
and reeling in a catch. More recently however, those kinds of small movements
have had much greater meaning for AC – because they are signs of
his continual progress following a stroke he suffered last year.
Gene
Houghton
