Marca Ensley had been busy her entire life. As a business owner, she became well-known in the community for her work at M&J Sew Shop where she took in clothing repairs and alterations.

But after suffering a stroke last March, all of that busyness ground to a halt. She lost function in her left arm and left leg. The portions of her brain that control decision-making, memory and tasks such as managing finances and medications became impaired to the point she couldn’t return home to live with her husband. Ensley couldn’t even sit up in bed on her own.

Three months of intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy at Quinton Memorial Health and Rehabilitation, part of Hamilton Health Care System, allowed her to return home where she is increasingly mobile and able to complete daily tasks. She has continued in-home therapy and hoping to regain full strength and return to work.

Christy Callaway, director of rehab at Quinton, said Ensley worked hard in therapy to overcome the effects of the stroke and begin healing.

“In the beginning, she required total care, and her rehab was intensive and focused on helping her achieve the level of independence that would allow her to return home with family support,” Callaway said. “Progress was slow, but with her determination and through the joint care of her very supportive family, the rehab team and the nursing staff at Quinton Memorial, she was able to be discharged home in late June.”

Ensley’s story is not uncommon. Strokes occur when something, such as a clot, blocks blood flow to the brain, or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, someone in the United States suffers a stroke every 40 seconds. Getting medical treatment as quickly as possible can make a difference in how fully the person is able to recover.

So does getting proper long-term care. After receiving rehabilitation five days a week during her stay at Quinton, Ensley recommends the facility to anyone needing help recovering. She also credits the staff with providing much of the encouragement needed for her rehab journey.

“The staff went out of their way to provide me with everything I needed,” Ensley said. “Everyone worked hard to get me better.”

Ensley has additional medical equipment for her home to assist her with mobility. She is continuing rehab with Hamilton Home Health and hopes to return to work.

“Ms. Ensley and her family know that recovering from a stroke takes time, so they are prepared for rehab services to go on even with outpatient services as well,” Callaway said.

People experiencing a stroke can have difficulty walking, seeing, speaking, and understanding what others are saying. They can also experience paralysis in one or more parts of the body, and one side of their face may droop when asked to smile. If any of these signs are present, the person should immediately call 911 or seek medical care.