PHX Reporter

A Peoria resident, Oscar Martinez, is sharing his journey of recovery after suffering a stroke in December 2022. The 51-year-old recalls the day vividly: "I remember, we were waiting for our daughter and grandson to come over so we could give my grandson his Christmas presents," he said. "That’s when I started to sweat a lot. I called out to my wife for help, and she immediately noticed I wasn’t okay. I couldn’t move or speak. That’s when she realized I was having a stroke."

After being rushed to the hospital, Martinez learned from a nurse that he had experienced a stroke. Initially optimistic about his recovery, he soon realized it would be a lengthy process.

“It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges,” Martinez explains.

Martinez's physical therapist, Stephanie Larson from Banner Physical Therapy, emphasizes the importance of rehabilitation for stroke patients. “We focus on helping the patient do things like getting in and out of bed, in and out of the car, sitting down, standing up, balance training," Larson says.

Larson highlights fall prevention exercises as an unexpected but crucial part of rehabilitation. “Another surprising factor of rehab might be how hard we have to push these patients following a stroke in order to regain as much function as possible,” she adds.

Martinez credits these activities with aiding his progress: “Thanks to these activities, I’m able to walk with the assistance of a cane and an ankle foot orthosis (AFO) - which is a device that helps stabilize my ankle,” he shares.

However, Larson notes that recovery varies among individuals: “The recovery time and process are different for every single patient,” she states.

Despite the challenges ahead, Martinez remains hopeful: “To anyone who might be going through a similar situation right now – keep pushing and believe in yourself,” he urges.

Banner Physical Therapy operates as part of Banner Health's joint venture with Select Medical’s Outpatient Division. They offer various services across Arizona at 60 locations. For more information on their services or locations nationwide under Banner Health's umbrella visit selectmedical.com/outpatient or bannerhealth.com.