WASHINGTON, D.C. –Sharon Starkey, a recent stroke patient from Annapolis, Md., sat down with the MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital (MedStar NRH) Stroke Services team to talk about her story and her experiences here doing rehabilitation. As part of an ongoing series, we’ll look at what our patients are saying about us and the care we provide them on their journey to recovery.

Q: How did you end up in the hospital?

I was talking different and my daughter and husband noticed, and they carried me to the hospital. Once I arrived at the hospital, the doctor gave me an MRI that indicated a stroke.

Q: What changes did the stroke cause?

It caused a change in everything that I did on my right side. Driving, helping others and it changed my lifestyle.

Q: What is one of the most beneficial things about therapy?

It gave me hope, walking ability, speaking ability, being able to take care of myself. And hope is the main thing.

Q: What is something challenging about therapy?

Accepting that with treatment you must accept that it will take time.

Q: What would you tell a stroke survivor just starting out in rehab.

Come here to MedStar NRH. The treatment, the way people treat you, the equipment, I would suggest above all else go to a place where people are warm. This is not an easy job (to recover), it is not an easy journey. You need to be reinforced on a regular basis every day that rehabilitation is possible and that’s why I suggest here above all else.

Q: What do you like about group therapy?

Hearing about others, hearing others share what has happened to them, where they are. You feel alone when you have a stroke and hearing others that have had or are going through the same thing but, yet they have made progress, it gives you hope.

Q: Would you recommend NRH to someone looking for stroke rehab?

OH yeah! I don’t have to think about that!!

To learn more about the Inpatient Stroke Recovery Program at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital, please call 
202-877-1152

Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Services are conveniently located throughout the region. Click here to learn more about the locations of Outpatient Stroke Recovery services

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About MedStar National Rehabilitation Network

The MedStar National Rehabilitation Network is a regional system of rehabilitation care that offers inpatient, day treatment and outpatient services in Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia.

The Network’s interdisciplinary team of rehabilitation experts provides comprehensive services to help people recover as fully as possible following illness and injury.  Rehabilitation medicine specialists, psychologists, physical and occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists work hand-in-hand with other rehab professionals to design treatment plans tailored to each patient’s unique needs.  Rehabilitation plans feature a team approach and include the use of state-of-the-art technology and advanced medical treatment based on the latest rehabilitation research.  

The Network provides comprehensive programs specifically designed to aid in the rehabilitation of adults and children recovering from neurologic and orthopaedic conditions such as amputation, arthritis, back and neck pain, brain injury, cancer, cardiac conditions, concussion, fibromyalgia, foot and ankle disorders, hand and upper extremity problems, post-polio syndrome, stroke, spinal cord injury and disease, and sports and work-related injuries.

Inpatient and day treatment programs are provided at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital located in Northwest Washington, DC and at more than 50 outpatient sites conveniently located throughout the region.  MedStar National Rehabilitation Network is fully accredited by The Joint Commission, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), with CARF accredited specialty programs for Amputations, Brain Injury, Spinal Cord Injury and Stroke.

For more on MedStar National Rehabilitation Network and to find a location near you, log on to MedStarNRH.org.

Derek Berry 
Director of Communications
Office: 202-877-1773
[email protected]