On a hot July morning, Mark Brady woke up and went about his day as usual. He didn’t expect he’d be spending the next two months in the hospital.
“I walked around the block, took a shower, drank a large iced coffee and was preparing to golf with my friends when my body started to shake,” Brady said.
When he didn’t show up, Brady’s golfing buddies stopped by his house and found him on the floor in his bathroom; one of those friends had taken a first aid class and recognized Mark was having a stroke.
“He saw my drooped face and called 911 immediately. From there I went to ECU Health Duplin Hospital, they put me on a helicopter, and I ended up in Greenville,” Brady said. “I don’t remember much until a week later.”
A team effort
After Brady transitioned from the ICU to a step-down unit, he entered inpatient rehabilitation where he met a team of trained therapists who collaborated on his care.
“When Mark arrived here, he was completely flaccid in his left arm and leg – which means he had no movement,” said Mary Kathryn Hubbard, occupational therapist. “During his stay here, he’s put in such tremendous effort and he’s dedicated to his success. Now he can actively open and close his left hand and use his arm functionally.”
“Early in his stay, we had frank conversations with Mark about his progress,” Melissa DeCarlo, physical therapist, added. “We wanted him to go home safely, but he had a long road ahead of him. Due to his hard work, his family support and his therapy interventions, he started getting better and our conversation changed. I’ve updated his care plan four times because he’s made steady progress the whole time. Now he can walk with a walker and get around with supervision.”
Kelsey Hall, a speech language pathologist, noted that Brady’s cognitive status has also improved.
“His scores initially showed a moderate disorder, but now he’s doing activities of daily living like finances and medications without cues,” she said. “His recovery isn’t necessarily typical, but it shows his dedication to getting better.”
Brady attributes much of his success to the rehabilitation team’s collaborative and supportive spirit.
“Every therapist has done a great job. They pushed me to the point of success, and they are the best in North Carolina,” Brady said. “They all work together and they cheer you on when you accomplish things. It’s a close-knit group.”
“As a team, we look at a patient as the whole person. We wanted Mark to get out and stay active. We co-treat with each other and helped Mark do what was meaningful to him, and that plan evolved over time as he improved,” said Alex Kinney, recreational therapist.
One of those collaborations included an outing to the local Barnes & Noble bookstore. There, he practiced skills he developed during his rehabilitation stay. For Brady, the experience was about more than physical recovery. It was about rediscovering his independence and confidence.
“It was great to be back in the real world,” he said.
These community experiences help patients apply physical, cognitive and problem-solving skills outside the hospital setting for improved functioning at discharge. By combining evidence-based practices, advanced clinical expertise and individualized treatment plans, the rehabilitation center helps patients of all ages achieve their highest level of function and quality of life.
“We can guide the patient,” Kinney said, “But they’re the ones who have to do the work.”
The next step
Brady completed his inpatient therapy and went home with his girlfriend, Lynne, on Sept. 17. He will continue his therapy at ECU Health Duplin Hospital’s Outpatient Rehabilitation clinic, and he has big plans for the future.
“When I was first admitted, they said I might not be able to walk again,” Brady said. “But I told them my goal was to walk independently by Christmas and play golf next year.”
According to Brady, it was the personal attention and genuine care provided by the therapy team that made a lasting impact.
“The therapists make you feel like you are the most important patient on the floor, even though they have many other patients that day,” he said.
The Inpatient Rehabilitation Center at ECU Health Medical Center offers expert care and personalized therapy from a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, recreational therapists, case managers and other specialists.
For most of his life, Robby McPhail has faced challenges head-on.
A Vietnam veteran, retired Army National Guard artillery officer, East Carolina University graduate and longtime business professional, McPhail has spent decades overcoming obstacles through discipline, perseverance and faith.
But nothing prepared him for the summer day in 2024 when a fall from a ladder left him paralyzed from the neck down.
“I never lost consciousness, so I knew exactly what was happening,” he said. “I was lying there on the porch, my phone within arm’s reach, and I couldn’t move anything. That’s a pretty sobering experience.”
Today, just over two years later, McPhail walks several miles a day, exercises regularly and is preparing to participate in ECU Health Rehab’s Run, Walk & Roll to Independence Race for the first time.
“It’s nothing short of a miracle based on what I came into the hospital with,” McPhail, 75, said. “I went from being totally paralyzed to getting my life back.”
The path to recovery began almost immediately. A retired labor and delivery nurse who lived nearby responded to his calls for help and emergency responders quickly transported him to ECU Health Medical Center.
Following surgery, McPhail began the long and challenging process of rehabilitation.
At first, even the smallest steps felt overwhelming.
During his inpatient rehabilitation stay, McPhail worked closely with physical, occupational and recreational therapists who helped him regain strength, mobility and confidence. Their expertise, encouragement and willingness to push him beyond what he thought was possible made a lasting impact.
“The professionalism of everyone I worked with was tremendous,” McPhail said. “They were knowledgeable, compassionate and always encouraging.”
Some of the most powerful moments of his recovery came from therapists challenging him to believe in a future beyond his injury.
One day, an occupational therapist told him she needed to measure him for a wheelchair.
“In my mind, that got my attention immediately,” McPhail recalled. “It motivated me to do everything I could to get back on my feet.”
Later, after transitioning to outpatient rehabilitation, a physical therapist delivered another challenge.
“She told me, ‘Next time you come back, don’t bring that walker,'” he said. “That walker had become my security blanket, but hearing that pushed me to keep moving forward.”
As he progressed through outpatient therapy, McPhail found himself surrounded by a team that celebrated every milestone while continuing to raise the bar for what he could accomplish. He credits the entire rehabilitation staff with helping him regain independence and restore confidence in everyday activities.
“When you’re going through something like that, you become very dependent on the people helping you,” he said. “They weren’t just providing therapy. They were giving me hope.”
Following outpatient therapy, McPhail was introduced to additional resources within ECU Health that helped him continue his journey to recovery. He began working with a trainer at the ECU Health Wellness Center, where he still exercises regularly, and became a patient of the ECU Health Lifestyle Medicine Clinic.
Together, the programs helped McPhail build healthy habits, improve his strength and endurance and manage chronic health conditions while continuing to recover from his initial injury.
“The Rehab team got me started, but the Wellness Center and Lifestyle Medicine Clinic helped me keep moving forward,” McPhail said.
Working with his wellness coach and Lifestyle Medicine providers, McPhail focuses on nutrition, exercise and overall wellness, developing a routine that has become a cornerstone of his recovery.
Today, he walks on the treadmill for an hour five days a week, regularly surpasses 10,000 steps a day and remains committed to maintaining his health and independence.
“I’m in the fourth quarter of life, and I want to play the whole fourth quarter,” McPhail said. “I want to stay active, independent and enjoy every day I’ve been given.”
Along the way, he has also found comfort and strength in his faith, family and community. He credits the prayers and encouragement of loved ones, along with the support of his rehabilitation team, for helping him navigate the physical and emotional challenges of recovery.
The progress has been so significant that rehabilitation staff have invited McPhail to share his story with current patients facing similar obstacles. He happily accepts every opportunity.
Whether speaking with patients or volunteering alongside staff, McPhail hopes his experience can inspire others who are navigating difficult recoveries of their own.
“If my story can encourage somebody else, I’m glad to do it,” he said. “When you’re sitting there facing the unknown, it helps to hear from someone who’s been through it.”
In addition, he volunteers on Thursday afternoons at ECU Health Outpatient Rehabilitation, a role he views as an extension of his recovery journey.
“It’s my way of giving back to the team of professionals who aided me in my recovery,” McPhail said.
That desire to give back is one reason McPhail immediately signed up when he learned about the Run, Walk & Roll to Independence race.
“This is the first year I’ve heard about it, and I signed up right away,” he said. “The Rehab team did so much for me. It’s a chance to support them and celebrate what they’re doing for people every day.”
As he prepares to join fellow patients, team members and community supporters at the starting line, McPhail hopes others will recognize the life-changing impact rehabilitation can have.
“The care I received, the professionalism, the encouragement, everything they did helped put me back together,” said McPhail.
For McPhail, the race represents far more than a community event. It’s a celebration of recovery, resilience and the people who helped him transform one of the worst days of his life into a story of hope.
“I’m thankful every day,” he said. “Thankful to wake up, thankful for the people who helped me and thankful that I can keep moving forward.”
To join McPhail at the Run, Walk & Roll to Independence race, please visit: www.ecuhealthfoundation.org/event/run-walk-roll-to-independence-5k-and-1-mile-fun-run-walk-2/
The first thing 83-year-old Sam Fulmer asked when he discovered he needed shoulder replacement surgery was, “when can I play tennis again?”
“I am an athletic nut, and I’ve played tennis since the Cuban Missile Crisis,” Sam joked. “That’s what, 62 years? But it got to where it hurt to hit a tennis ball, and that’s when I knew I needed to see a doctor.”
Pain on the court
After his service as a Marine – which is where he picked up his tennis habit – Sam found a job in North Carolina as a statistician and bookkeeper for a phosphate mine. Through the years, he’s remained active by playing tennis and riding bikes.
As a result, Sam is no stranger to joint replacement; he’s had both knees and a hip replaced. While he’s seen several doctors over the years, his most recent experience with Dr. Shawn Yeazell, a fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeon at ECU Health Orthopedics, was especially positive.
“My daughter works with ECU Orthopedics and she recommended Dr. Yeazell. I was able to get seen by him quickly, which was a great selling point for me.”
Another benefit, Sam said, was how quickly he was scheduled for surgery, and on Oct. 3, Sam had his reverse shoulder replacement at the ECU Health Medical Center.
Trusted care close to home
“Surgery went well and I had zero pain, which is practically unheard of for shoulder surgery,” Sam said.
Sam was eager to begin his recovery, and in a few days, he began physical therapy at ECU Health Beaufort Hospital Outpatient Rehabilitation.
“It was so easy to set up my appointments, and they have great people working there,” he said. “I worked with Rhonda Sillitoe and Jennifer Bylykbashi, and what a wonderful experience that was. I wanted to do more, but they told me they have to follow the surgeon’s protocol. The surgeons track your progress and we had to follow their rules, which isn’t easy because I’m a little hard headed. But they were right.”
In two weeks, Sam “passed with flying colors,” but his daughter encouraged him to continue his rehabilitation.
Rebuilding strength
Sam and his wife, Davey, were already members of the ECU Health Wellness Center – Washington, so it was easy to transition his recovery from outpatient rehab to the Wellness Center.
“I got to work with Russ Sohooli, who we already knew from going there, and he scheduled me for eight sessions. I can’t tell you how good Russ is; he’s in a class by himself.”
Sam recently completed his eight weeks with Russ, but after a short break, he plans to do eight more sessions.
“Being active is part of our lifestyle,” Sam said. “If you embrace that, you’ll have a better life – especially when you get to 65. That’s when you can make a bad turn. But if exercise is a part of your life, it’s a joy.”
Sam said he was most impressed with the smooth and easy coordination among the ECU Health locations and people.
“Everyone talked to everyone – even Russ was aware of my surgery and its protocol and what I’d already done in therapy,” he said. “We refer everyone to ECU Health Orthopedics because you get seen quickly and they help you get back to what you want to do.”
Two months ago, Sam got the green light to play tennis again.
“Dr. Yeazell told me to start easy, to not start by playing matches but just to hit the ball around with Davey or the bank board,” he said. “You have to work your way back and at first you might be afraid that it will hurt, but you have to build back that confidence and now I can hit the ball as hard as ever.”
Across ECU Health Medical Center and the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital, three dogs named Clive, Erving and Sam are leaving pawprints in the heart of patients, their families and team members alike. Whether in rehabilitation or pediatrics, these four-legged friends bring joy, motivation and emotional support to patients and their families.
Clive, an eight-year-old golden retriever and lab mix, has been working in the medical center’s rehabilitation department for more than three years. Originally trained through Canine Companions, a non-profit organization that trains and matches service dogs, the program released Clive due to his anxiety riding in cars. but retained all his training and social skills. His puppy raiser, Tanya Bowen, who serves as an outpatient rehab supervisor, connected with recreational therapist Kasey Shue, and found a way to put Clive’s training and social skills to use in therapy work. He typically works two days a week and specializes in emotional support, stress relief and anxiety management. His gentle demeanor makes him ideal for comforting patients and staff.
Shue describes him as a “snuggly bug,” and though he’s older and slower, Clive’s presence continues to make a powerful impact.
Erving, a golden retriever and the newest member of the rehab team, joined in May of 2025. Also raised through Canine Companions in Florida, Erving underwent professional training in Orlando and now works full-time with recreational therapist Kristen Jones. With 40 commands under his belt and certification through Assistance Dog International, Erving supports patients in physical and occupational therapy. His ability to retrieve, tug and interact with patients helps challenge their balance, build strength and boost motivation. Patients often find themselves more willing to participate in exercises when Erving and Clive are involved.
“One patient we had arrived at ECU Health’s rehab unit experiencing pain in his legs and physical therapy was proving difficult,” said Shue. “He didn’t want to walk. The pain was too much, and he was resistant to every attempt to get him moving.”
Then Clive entered the room.
The patient had dogs at home and immediately responded to Clive’s familiar energy.
“With Clive, he agreed to walk around the gym, something he hadn’t been willing to do before,” said Shue. “The pain was still there, but Clive helped him push through it.”
Then there was a patient recovering from a stroke. She couldn’t speak and hadn’t smiled since arriving.
“After a session with Clive, she smiled,” said Shue. “Her face lit up. When the session ended, she pointed to Clive and then to her bed because she wanted him to stay.”
As Clive curled up beside her, the patient’s daughter cried, the doctors cried, and so did the therapist.
“It was a breakthrough moment, thanks to Clive,” said Shue.
For one young girl with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Clive and Erving demonstrated how service dogs could support independence. She practiced real-life tasks with Erving like opening doors and pushing buttons and left excited to begin the process of getting a dog of her own.
According to Jones and Shue, even the staff feel the impact. On a day when a patient coded and did not survive, Erving was there to comfort the doctors who had administered CPR. His quiet support helped them process the grief.
A few steps away from rehab in Maynard Children’s Hospital resides Sam, a black golden retriever, lab and poodle mix trained through Canine Assistants, another non-profit organization that raises hospital facility dogs and personal services dogs. Her arrival was the result of nearly eight years of advocacy and planning by Child Life specialists Ashton Ayers and Chelse Smith, along with colleagues Jaymi Mendoza and Christy Denius. ECU Health Foundation provided the funding to bring Sam on board. After years of research and collaboration with the ECU Health Foundation, funding was secured and Sam officially joined the team in November 2023. Sam was matched with handlers Ayers and Smith after they were vetted through the organization and the hospital.
Ayers and Smith helped build the facility dog program from the ground up. Ayers was inspired by a facility dog handler who spoke at a child life conference, while Smith had firsthand experience with pet therapy and saw its impact in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) settings.
Sam now supports pediatric patients, including those in the ICU, offering comfort during procedures, emotional support during difficult moments and motivation for children facing medical challenges.
“We have a 16-year-old oncology patient,” said Smith. “He was slow to warm up to the hospital environment, but he definitely bonded with Sam. He met Sam when he was newly diagnosed with cancer.”
With his particular diagnosis, it was very important for him to get up and walk for his growth and healing, and to get him out of the room for his emotional state also, according to Smith.
“His care team told us he needed to get out of his room, but he didn’t want to,” said Smith.
Smith and Ayers brought over Sam and offered for him to take Sam outside and throw the ball for her. He surpassed all of his physical therapy goals that day and got to go outside and play with Sam.
“He came back last week and the first thing he said was, ‘I really missed Sam,’” said Ayers. “That’s always the first thing when he’s here, he wants to see Sam immediately.”
Whether it is comforting a child, motivating a patient or supporting a grieving doctor, Clive, Erving and Sam are more than therapy dogs.
“I’ve had people walk by and say, ‘You have the best job in the hospital,’” Shue said. “And now it’s even better – because there are three of them.”
Resources
In 1984, Jaimie Yahnker faced a decision: move to North Carolina with his parents or stay in Long Island, New York.
“Here I was fresh out of high school,” Jaimie recalled. “I went to a school for individuals with cerebral palsy, which incorporated physical therapy and the like into your education, so I graduated when I was 20. After graduation, I decided to move with my parents to North Carolina, which was the best decision I could have made.”
Jaimie was one of seven children, and three of his other siblings also lived in North Carolina. In November of that year, Jaimie was hired by ECU Health Medical Center, then Pitt County Memorial Hospital, and he’s never looked back.
Jaimie’s first job with the system was at the Information Desk, but when that didn’t work out, his connection to what was then called the Education Department through his sister, who also worked at the hospital, landed him a position putting together orientation packets for new team members on a part time basis.
“That went well, and I stayed in that role until I lived in North Carolina for a year and achieved my residency,” he said. At that point, Jaimie knew he wanted to go to school, so he attended Pitt Community College in the morning while working in the education department during the afternoons. “That’s how I got my degree in human services,” Jaimie said.
After graduation, Jaimie applied and interviewed for several different jobs. “No one was hiring,” he said. It was about that time, also, that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, something ECU Health’s then human resources (HR) director Charles Fennessy and the hospital’s HR department knew about and supported.
“He [Charles] was determined to help me all he could,” Jaimie said. “He saw the fire in me. He knew I was trying hard to find work and not getting offers, so he found a full-time position in the Insurance Department under Financial Services, and I worked in that department for nine or 10 years.” During this time, Jaimie also went back to Pitt Community College to get his degree in human resources.
Jaimie enjoyed his work, but he didn’t enjoy being in a cubicle all day. “I’m a people person,” he said. At the same time, Jaimie tore both of his rotator cuffs after walking with forearm crutches for years, an injury that required surgery to repair the damage.
“I knew Dave McRae [the chief executive officer at the time], and I told him I wasn’t sure how my recuperation would go, but that if I could return to work, I didn’t want to be in a cubicle,” he said. After Jaimie’s surgery, McRae helped him find a clinical support position at the front desk in the Rehabilitation department, where he worked first under Martha Dixon, and later with Wanda Bennett.
“Later I worked in hospitality (now called experience) where I stayed for a few years and through COVID,” Jaimie said. “The new rehab director, Dr. Felicia Collins, asked me to come back to their department and I’ve been here ever since.”
While he’s served in several positions across the hospital, Jaimie said he likes his current role because, “I am a good role model for the patients and their family members. They see me do what I am doing, and they think they can also be successful.”
Jaimie also enjoys the people he works with. “They are a great team, very supportive,” he said. “I saw one of our recreational therapists here as a patient, when she had Guillain Barre, and just like me, she had therapy here and was inspired to come back and work. I’m very happy in rehab.”
While he gets asked from time to time when he plans to retire, he has no intentions to leave anytime soon. “Working gives me a reason to get out of bed. I have responsibilities, and I’m comfortable here. It’s the best for my personality.”
Resources
ECU Health Rehabilitation will host its 13th annual Run, Walk and Roll to Independence event on Saturday, Nov. 9, bringing together former patients, their families and community members of all physical abilities. Participants can choose between a 5K or 1K course, with proceeds supporting vital rehabilitation programs. This year’s event carries special significance for Brittany Parker, who is returning not just as a participant but as a symbol of resilience after her own journey through rehabilitation.
In August 2023, Parker was navigating her first week back at work after maternity leave when she began experiencing unusual symptoms. What started as a mild tingling sensation in her fingers and toes on Monday gradually escalated. By the end of the week, Parker felt increasingly weak and fatigued, and by Friday, she could no longer lift her three-month-old baby.
Initially attributing her symptoms to exhaustion or perhaps low iron, Parker realized something was seriously wrong when she struggled to stand and walk. After falling at home, she and her family made the decision to go to the emergency room.
At the hospital, doctors quickly identified the underlying cause of her symptoms: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a rare but serious autoimmune disorder in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves. The condition can lead to muscle weakness, paralysis, and in severe cases, respiratory failure.
“By the time I reached the hospital, I could no longer lift my arms or legs,” Parker said.
At ECU Health Medical Center, she was diagnosed early, and treatment began right away, which helped stop the progression of the disease.
While her physical symptoms improved, Parker faced a new challenge: learning how to do everything again. After two weeks in the hospital, she was transferred to ECU Health’s rehabilitation center, where she began the long road to recovery.
“I had to relearn how to walk and even how to swallow,” said Parker.
The rehabilitation process was difficult, but Parker found strength in her care team.
“Everyone I worked with was amazing, from physical therapists to speech therapists. Melissa, my physical therapist, was so positive and encouraging. She celebrated every small victory with me, which made me want to push harder,” Parker said.
For four weeks, Parker worked tirelessly in rehab, gradually regaining the strength to walk, eat and move on her own again. Her recovery exceeded expectations, and she was able to return home earlier than anticipated.
“Being back home with my kids motivated me to recover even faster,” she said.
While doctors initially estimated her recovery could take up to a year, Parker was walking independently just three months after her diagnosis. She credits her faith, family support and the dedication of her care team for helping her through such a challenging time.
“I was so thankful to have a strong support system around me because not everyone is as fortunate,” she said. “I had such a great experience in rehab, and I want to show my support and tell everyone how amazing they are.”
Now, she’ll be able to do just that at the Run, Walk and Roll event where she will have a chance to connect with other rehab patients and share her perspectives.
“Brittany’s journey from being unable to walk to participating in the Run, Walk and Roll event is a powerful testament to her resilience and the exceptional care she received at ECU Health,” said Kasey Shue, recreational therapist, ECU Health Rehabilitation, and organizer of the Run, Walk and Roll event.
Through her participation, she hopes to inspire others and raise awareness about the importance of rehabilitation services. To learn more about the event and sign up, please visit: https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/NC/Greenville/RunWalkRoll.
The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation’s (AACVPR) Day on the Hill, which was March 4-5 this year, is an opportunity for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation professionals to visit Washington, D.C. to advocate for their profession and ask legislators for support for beneficial legislation on Medicare decisions. It was Stacey Greenway’s 10th year participating in this event, a milestone made all the more significant by her recent election as treasurer to the AACVPR board.
Stacey, the director of cardiovascular disease management services at ECU Health Medical Center, wasn’t initially interested in health care policy, but her zeal for her work inspired her to get involved.
“I’m passionate about what I do, and when I realized the impact these legislative decisions make on our patients, I wanted to get involved,” she said. “When the North Carolina Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Association (NCCRA), which works on the state level, asked if anyone was interested in participating in Day on the Hill, I thought how cool it would be to help our patients and our programs. After the first time, I was hooked.”
Each year, the AACVPR’s legislative priorities are different, but the goal is the same. “We want to help the legislators see things from the patient perspective and put a face to the people these bills are affecting,” Stacey said. “From that angle, you see the increase in a patient’s quality of life. From a health system perspective, it decreases the rates of hospital readmission. It’s a win-win.”
This year’s priorities centered on two bills: HR-955/S.1849, the Sustaining Outpatient Services Act, and HR-1406/S.3021, the Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act. The Sustaining Outpatient Services Act seeks to correct a legislative error from a previous bill that reduces reimbursement for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services when they are provided in off-hospital campus clinics. The reduced reimbursement rate makes cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services financially unsustainable and thus eliminates patient access to these resources, especially in rural communities. “Some rural hospitals, which don’t have a lot of real estate on campus, haven’t even tried to open a rehab clinic because of this issue,” Stacey said. This bill would establish an exemption status to certain hospital outpatient services, including cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, from that fee reduction.
The Sustainable Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Services in the Home Act would allow Medicare beneficiaries to receive cardiac or pulmonary rehabilitation services through real-time telehealth in their homes. This hybrid type of service was very successful during the pandemic, and it allowed more patients to be treated from across eastern North Carolina.
“Think of that 45-year-old patient who had a heart attack and would benefit from rehab services but has also been cleared to work and needs to make an income,” Stacey explained. “This bill would allow that patient to not have to make a choice between income and health; they could do both.”
During her time in Washington, D.C., Stacey and 74 other AACVPR members spoke with their respective House Representatives and Senators to advocate for these bills. Stacey said overall, the discussions were productive.
“I had some good conversations about both bills,” she said. “The telehealth bill was one the legislators could wrap their heads around easier; it was something they were familiar with. That was encouraging.” While more work needs to be done to increase support for the outpatient services bill, Stacey said she felt the needle moved a bit. “This is partly because the government seems to be changing their focus from thinking about the up-front costs of health care to the savings incurred on the back end,” Stacey said. “That means things are changing, and I’m hoping we’ll get a few more co-signatures on that bill.”
As a board member, Stacey said she now has other opportunities to support her profession.
“To represent eastern North Carolina and discuss at the national level some of the things that impact those who practice locally is really important,” she said. Because she was on the board this year, Stacey was also able join the board meeting the day before Day on the Hill and participate in the selection of a new legislative firm. “We met with the firm and prepped for Day on the Hill, but we also strategically planned for the future,” Stacey said. “It was exciting to be involved in that process.”
Stacey’s interest in running for the AACVPR’s treasurer position stemmed from her desire to stay involved in the national organization and escalating care for patients.
“The board is involved in regulatory and government relations, and that’s one of my big interests. Day on the Hill is just one way we stay involved. It’s a way of understanding and supporting initiatives and bringing that back to ECU Health,” she said. “We have six cardiac and pulmonary rehab programs within ECU Health, and I want to make sure those programs are aware of the initiatives the AACVPR promotes to escalate their practice and ensure we’re doing the best we can for our patients.”
Now that the initial conversations with Congress members are over, the next step is to follow up in a few weeks with those representatives still on the fence. “We’ll also bring in a constituent from that person’s district to speak to the impact of these bills,” Stacey said. Some representatives have already signed on to at least one of the bills, including Rep. Don Davis, Rep. Deborah Ross, Rep. Greg Murphy, Rep. Wiley Nickel and Rep. Jeff Jackson.
It’s important to be involved in the policy issues surrounding health care, Stacey said. “You don’t go into health care thinking about these operational or political issues, but when you’re faced with the repercussions in the clinic, you see the impact it has.”
She encouraged all health care professionals to get involved: “Let’s do this for the betterment of the patient experience,” she said. “For me, this has been one of the highlights of my professional life.”
Tanya Graham, a North Carolina native and Greenville resident, was outside cutting her grass when she started to feel very tired. That night, she experienced what felt like an asthma attack, so the next day she visited an urgent care clinic. “I do have asthma,” Graham shared, “but I’ve never had an attack.” The doctor ran a few more tests, and after an EKG, he decided to send Graham to the hospital.
“The cardiologist at [ECU Health] Medical Center said, ‘You are in heart failure,'” Graham said. “I didn’t know what he was saying, I was so shocked.”
Dr. W. Douglas Boyd, a cardiothoracic surgeon, told Graham she needed surgery, and two weeks later, Graham found herself back in the hospital recovering from a double coronary bypass. She was told later that her initial ejection fraction, which is the amount of blood your heart pumps each time it beats, had been 10 percent. A normal ejection fraction is 50 percent or higher. “After the surgery, they did another echocardiogram, and now it’s up to 35 percent,” Graham said.
Graham knew that once she was strong enough after the surgery, she wanted to participate in cardiac rehabilitation. She had heard about the option from her neighbor, who also had recently suffered a heart attack. “I also have two sisters who are nurses,” Graham shared. “One of them works for a cardiologist, so I talked with her about cardiac rehab, and all of my siblings agreed it was a good idea.”
Cardiac rehabilitation focuses on the “what now” after a cardiac event. Stacey Greenway, the director for cardiovascular disease management services at the Medical Center, hopes that cardiac rehab will become the immediate program associated with cardiac recovery.
“A multidisciplinary team works with the patients to establish and achieve goals to improve their health, quality of life and functional ability,” Greenway said. “We develop individualized treatment plans for each patient that includes exercise, nutrition, medications, stress management and other components.”
For Graham, therapy started slow, but she said she immediately felt comfortable. “The team is so smart, and they are in tune with each individual person,” Graham said. “It made a huge difference because I learned right off that I could trust them. It made me want to go.”
It also helped to have others around her going through the same experience. “It didn’t matter if they were a man or woman or what race they were – we were all there for the same reason. Our bodies had broken in some way, and we were all there together for the same purpose of trying to survive and extend our lives,” Graham said. “I drew strength from them, because when I saw them working hard, it made me want to do the same.”
The experience didn’t just provide Graham with the chance to get stronger after a major surgery. “The one thing I came away with,” Graham said, “is hope. Hope that I’d live a longer life.” Graham said that it wasn’t just the exercise that encouraged her and helped her get better; it was also the classes they offered. “I learned quite a bit from the classes, which covered things like diet and coping with this diagnosis,” she said. Something Graham didn’t expect was having access to support from a therapist. “I’d had a hard experience with my surgery, so they put me in contact with Dr. Kari Kirian, and she worked wonders. I can’t say enough positive things about that experience.” Dr. Kirian is a cardiac psychologist embedded in the heart failure program – a critical member of the care team as it is not uncommon for patients to experience anxiety or depression after a cardiac event.
While she wished she could have participated for longer, Graham graduated from cardiac rehab with the ability to do the things she needs to do. “It allowed me to come home and do the things you take for granted, like clean the house or roll your hair,” Graham said. She also immediately joined a gym and signed up for personal training to continue her progress. “I left cardiac rehab on a Friday, and that following Monday I was at the gym,” Graham said. “It wasn’t mandated, but the cardiac rehab team provided me with information. My sister goes to a gym, so I decided to go there, and now I go every weekday. I will continue to exercise, think positive and eat right.”
Because she’s feeling so much better, Graham said she has plans for the future. “I’m going to work on making one of my bedrooms a storage space, and in the spring, I plan to paint a shed in the back yard,” Graham said. She also hopes to visit her daughter and grandchildren in Phoenix, Arizona next winter. In the meantime, Graham said she’s cleared it with her doctors to serve as a volunteer in the cardiac rehab unit. It’s one way she can share her experience and give back to the amazing Cardiac Rehab team for impacting her life in an incredible way.
“I don’t care what I do. I just didn’t want to leave there,” Graham said. “I love people, and I thought maybe if I was around people going through what I went through, I could tell them my story and help them.”
Stay on ECU Health’s rehabilitation unit inspires Kasey Shue to pursue recreational therapist degree
To be a health care provider is to answer a calling. For some, the journey to health care is a straight line; for others, the road is winding. This series features stories from ECU Health team members who took the winding road, but found the destination to be worth the effort.
Kasey Shue, a recreational therapist, had no idea that a fulfilling career in health care was awaiting her when she got sick nearly eight years ago.
“I had an undergraduate degree in public relations and communications from East Carolina University,” Shue said. “I worked for the American Red Cross educating people about and coordinating blood drives. Then I went to the hospital with Guillain-Barre syndrome.”
Guillain-Barre is a condition in which a person’s immune system attacks the peripheral nerves, and it can result in near-total paralysis and breathing problems in the most severe cases. Shue’s case was, she said, pretty severe.
“I needed help with everything: I had to learn how to chew, swallow, sit, stand and walk again. It was like being a toddler.” Even more than the physical stress, Shue said that the emotional burden of being in the hospital was trying. “I had a husband and two small children at home,” Shue said. “We actually held my son’s second birthday party in rehab while I was there. It was difficult being away from my family and coming to grips with not being able to do the most simple of things.”
Shue spent two and a half months at ECU Health Medical Center, six weeks of those being on the rehabilitation unit. During her stay, Shue said all therapies were instrumental in her recovery, but recreational therapy (RT) made the biggest impact.
“I didn’t know what RT was before I was in the hospital,” Shue said. “RT affected me the most because it helps people keep being who they are despite their physical barriers. RT helped me schedule my son’s birthday party, and they took me on an outing to Target.” During her stay, Shue said she had a literal epiphany: “It hit me – I was going through this so I could go back to school to be an RT and give back. I wanted to pay it forward.”
After her recovery, Shue went back to school and graduated with her master’s degree in recreational therapy from East Carolina University. She also added an aquatic therapy certification to her degree because of her own personal experience in the therapy pool.
“Aquatic therapy was extremely beneficial to my recovery, so when I went back to ECU I was determined to get that certification,” Shue said.
Shue also knew she wanted to work in inpatient rehabilitation because, “you see people get better in a short time frame, and I like seeing that progress.” She didn’t know, however, that she’d end up working for ECU Health in the same rehabilitation unit where she recovered just a few years prior. “I had no idea I’d end up back here in the Medical Center, but in a lot of ways, it’s my perfect job to come back and help people in the same facility where I received help.”
Shue attributed her success both to the skills she learned in her previous career and the experiences she had as a patient.
“From my work with the Red Cross, I was already familiar with this hospital, as well as general health and wellness education. I also know how to work with people – not everyone does that well.” Shue said her time in the hospital gave her a unique perspective that allows her to be more empathetic with her patients. “I can relate to patients on a different level because I’ve been the one in the bed not wanting to get up or feeling like I couldn’t do the work. I have a rapport with patients and help them work through their pain. It’s made me successful in the patient care side of things.”
That professional perspective also bleeds into her personal life. “I tell people that now I’m Kasey version 2.0,” Shue laughed. “After being sick, I don’t take things for granted. I have more empathy for people, and the smaller things don’t stress me out like they used to.”
Shue said it’s an honor to work with the rehabilitation team, some of whom were there when she was a patient.
“A lot of my primary therapists when I was sick have moved on to other roles, but we still pass each other in the halls and have that relationship,” Shue said. “And some of my former therapists work with me every day. I have a professional respect for them, but we also have a deeper bond because they watched me and helped me get better.”
Working beside the people who helped her and providing services to people who are in the situation she was in eight years ago is gratifying.
“I really enjoy what I do, and it doesn’t feel like work. I tell people that I get paid to play.” Shue is also the handler for Clive, a dog who is a part of the Animal Assisted Therapy program and who helps patients in the rehabilitation unit a few days a week. “I’ve always been a dog lover, and as a patient I had several dogs that visited me. I knew pet therapy fell under the RT umbrella; the pieces came together so we could have Clive come in and work with our patients.”
Shue said these professional experiences fill her cup in a way her previous career did not, and her advice for anyone considering a career change to health care is to listen to their instincts.
“Life challenges, whether professional or personal, happen, and sometimes it requires you putting yourself out there and stretching your comfort zone,” Shue said. “If something draws you, listen to that pull. I’m a big believer that things work together for the good, even if you can’t see it initially. I didn’t ask to be sick, but it impacted my entire future in a positive way. Now I feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be, doing what I’m supposed to do.”
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Greenville, N.C. – ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University’s Lora Joyner was recently selected as the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation (NBDF) Physical Therapist of the Year. Each year, NBDF honors those who have made significant contributions to the inheritable blood and bleeding disorders community at its annual Awards of Excellence program.
“It is an honor to be recognized for my life’s work as a physical therapist in the bleeding disorder community by fellow therapists, health care professionals, patients, families, and HTC colleagues,” said Lora Joyner, MS, PT, PCS, physical therapist and clinic manager at ECU Health Hemophilia Treatment Center (HTC). “I am grateful that my name will be associated with Donna Boone and previous award winners and recognized as a role model and mentor for current and future health care professionals in the bleeding disorder community.”
Physical Therapist of the Year, given in honor of Donna Boone, PT, honors an individual who has demonstrated service to the inheritable blood and bleeding disorders community above and beyond their daily responsibilities in an HTC PT role. This person serves as a role model for others in the physical therapy field and has a minimum of two years’ experience working with individuals with blood or bleeding disorders at an HTC. Donna Boone was a pioneer in physical therapy and bleeding disorders and served as a mentor for many professionals.
“We are proud of Lora for all of the hard work, dedication, and leadership she has put into this clinic and into our patients,” said Dr. Beng Fuh, director of pediatric hematology and oncology, “Bleeding disorders, sickle cell disease and cancer are life-changing diagnoses for patients and their families. Lora is an invaluable asset and works hard to ensure patients can live their best lives as possible after diagnosis. Lora’s passion for her patients is reflected by this well-earned achievement.”
Joyner has worked at ECU Health HTC for 32 years as a physical therapist and as the clinic manager for seven years. As HTC manager, Joyner is responsible for selecting patients for clinical trials and research, supporting transition needs of the clinic, quality improvement and writing grants and reports. As a physical therapist, Joyner is responsible for treating any muscular skeletal complications, most commonly joint or muscle bleeds. If left untreated long enough, joint/muscle bleeds can cause chronic pain, long-term joint problems and limited mobility. Joyner also facilitates safe participation in sports and physical activity of patients, including medication management, which allows patients to live an active and fulfilling life. Additionally, Lora has held leadership roles in multiple regional and national organizations. She is the currently the national chair of the physical therapy committee of the NBDF.
“When you see the joy on the face of a little one when you say ‘yes you can play baseball’ after their diagnosis, after they’ve thought they wouldn’t be able to do normal activities, that’s one of my favorite parts of my day,” Joyner said. “All parents dream that their children are able to do normal things, and I’m able to help children do that.”
ECU Health HTC is a nationally recognized comprehensive lifespan clinic with both adult and pediatric specialty services that is one of only three in North Carolina and is part of a national network of over 140 Comprehensive Hemophilia Diagnostic and Treatment Centers, which provide comprehensive specialty care to people with rare inherited bleeding disorders and their families.