Long-term Stroke Rehabilitation: Jan's Journey to Independence

Jan Smith is an inspiration to anyone struggling to recover from a stroke.

It has been seven years since the retiree from Huntsville, Texas, suffered a major stroke when total blockage of her carotid artery cut off blood flow to her brain. “I couldn't move my left arm, including my hand. I could not walk, and my eyesight was affected,” Jan recalled. She suffered from “left neglect” and could not see anything on her left side. “My brain was not registering what my eyes were seeing on the left. I also had swallowing issues and my speech was affected - I could not find my words.”

That was on April 9, 2019.

After spending over a month in an inpatient rehabilitation facility, Jan arrived in a wheelchair for outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation at St. Luke’s Health - The Woodlands Hospital.

She was learning how to walk again when she fell and broke her hip at home, six months into her therapy. That injury, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic, during which she could only undergo virtual therapy, set her recovery back significantly. Still determined to come back from her stroke, Jan resumed in-person physical, occupational and speech therapy at St. Luke’s - The Woodlands at the end of 2021.

The Impact of Consistent Therapy

Jan worked with Speech Therapist Brianne Arraez, CCC-SLP, and overcame her speech deficits and left neglect in only two months. She has amazed her therapists with accomplishments both big and small over the years. “I have had breakthroughs, victories and small things that add up,” she said.

Occupational Therapist Laura Conner, OTR, has treated Jan for her entire recovery at St. Luke’s - The Woodlands. Conner was amazed to find that after multiple small breakthroughs, Jan regained movement in her left shoulder in April 2026. “We did a progress report, and Jan exceeded all of our expectations. I was literally shocked,” Conner said. “Recovering from a significant stroke can be a slow, painstaking process and if anything interferes with that, a lot of ground can be lost,” Conner said. “But Jan keeps improving. If the patient is making significant progress towards function and their insurance approves it, there is justification for continuing.” 

Conner says it is important for stroke patients to continue rehabilitation to avoid a condition called learned disuse, when the brain stops signaling to the affected limb, causing deterioration and weakness.

Jan credits her faith in Christ, her husband and the many therapists she has worked with over the years for her continued progress. “They kept things going for me. They would switch things up and work on different areas that I didn't even realize I needed.”

It paid off. 

“I can walk now, I can take care of myself, I can bathe and get dressed. I can do little things around the house and even mow the lawn, using a zero-turn riding lawn mower,” the 71-year-old said recently. Jan has limited use of her left hand but is able to move her elbow and straighten and lift her arm, which she uses to balance herself.

Jan admits it’s been a long road for her and her husband, Alan, her sole caregiver. She almost gave up in 2021 and credits therapists like Laura, whose job often includes a bit of cheerleading and counseling, to motivate the patient. “Laura would tell me, ‘You just gotta keep coming, keep going, keep trying, keep working on it.’”

Advice for Stroke Survivors

Being able to walk again has given Jan the independence she once worried she might never get back.  “My goal was to hold my grandbabies, and now they're all grown up, but I look forward to the day I can hug them with both arms and participate with them in all the activities they love,” she said, offering this advice for stroke survivors: “Embrace the journey, celebrate the baby steps and never give up,” she said.

Learn how our rehabilitation team at St. Luke’s - The Woodlands can support your recovery journey or find a doctor near you.