Diagnosed with diabetic amyotrophy, the rare condition knocked out nerves in Sandy’s left leg, essentially leaving it paralyzed.
“I could not walk. I couldn’t do anything,” she recalled while going through warm-up exercises recently at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation in Bethlehem. “It was just isolating.”
Sandy saw a variety of doctors and providers, seeking answers. At one point, Sandy said, a local physical therapy clinic turned her away, telling her they simply couldn’t help her.
That was devastating.
Dejected but undeterred, Sandy found her way to Good Shepherd Rehabilitation and she hasn’t looked back.
“When I came in here and they tied my legs together to ride the bike…” Sandy said, trailing off with a smile. “Now I’m very independent. I’ve been to the credit union and pharmacy already this morning, and there was a time when I couldn’t do that.”
Sandy built strength and stability, and now she’s able to run errands, go to her favorite grocery store and just be out and about in her community.
Like many recovery journeys, there were positive days and not-so-positive days. Rehab is tough. It can be frustrating.
So, what kept Sandy motivated?
“Not wanting to be a prisoner of my own house,” Sandy said, as tears welled up in her eyes.
This past summer, all of Sandy’s perseverance and work alongside her Good Shepherd team resulted in meeting a major goal: walking one mile in the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community at DeSales University. While Sandy shares “my extreme gratitude to the entire Good Shepherd team,” we in turn are grateful for you, Sandy! Congratulations!