Distinctly Montana Magazine

Life and Hope After Stroke ADVERTISEMENT Kalispell man shares inspiring story of rehabilitation, recovery In July 2023, David Mostek was in his home office when he knew something was wrong. He was having trouble breathing and could barely stand, but he knew that if he could get his wife's attention he could get help. He made as much noise as he could kicking the wall and praying to bring her upstairs, and when she entered the room, he collapsed. His wife called 911 and David was transported to the hospital. EMS had alerted the hospital that a potential stroke patient was on the way, and after conducting tests, doctors confirmed David was having a stroke and transferred him to a hospital in Spokane, where he had a procedure to remove the clot in his brain. He spent a few weeks recovering in the ICU before being transferred back to Kalispell for in-patient rehabilitation and recovery. For David and the one in four adults over the age of 25 who will experience a stroke in their lifetime, there is life – and hope – after stroke. Rehabilitation can build strength, capability and confidence. It can also help someone who experiences a stroke continue daily activities, despite the effects of their stroke. There are more than 7 million stroke survivors living in the U.S. today. But not all strokes – and not all stroke survivors – are the same. Finding the right rehabilitation plan is vital to recovery after stroke. The American Stroke Association has developed standards to help rehabilitation facilities provide consistent, high-quality care for individuals as they recover from stroke. Facilities that have agreed to participate in the Association's post-acute stroke standards program agree to follow the Association's treatment guidelines and have made a commitment to providing care that is based on standards aligned with American Stroke Association science and vetted by stroke rehabilitation experts. David's rehabilitation at Logan Health Medical Center in Kalispell, one of several Montana facilities participating in the Association's post-acute stroke standards program, included PT, OT and speech therapy. David says he focused on his recovery like it was his job and the team at Logan Health supported his efforts by "treating the person, not the condition." "I put myself into it with everything I've got," he said. "There are two things I can control: my attitude and my effort. If I was going to get graded on either of those, I wanted it to be an A+" David's rehabilitation plan was tailored to his unique needs, and when he was immediately surpassing the goals his care team set for him, they set even higher goals for him to achieve. The former marine joked that if they told him to do 40 laps around the hospital, he did 80. "Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 8 says that 'So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you … our own selves, because you have become very dear to us,'" David said. "That's how I felt they cared for me, so I was determined to treat it as my God- ordained job to recover." © Copyright 2024 American Heart Association, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit. All rights reserved. Mission:Lifeline is a registered trademark of the Association. Unauthorized use prohibited. Learn more about this initiative at heart.org/PostAcuteStroke Congratulations to the following Montana facilities who have joined the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association's post-acute stroke care initiative. These providers have agreed to follow the Association's treatment guidelines and have made a commitment to providing care that is based on standards aligned with American Stroke Association science and vetted by stroke rehabilitation experts: • Beartooth Billings Clinic, Red Lodge • Glendive Medical Center, Glendive • Stillwater Billings Clinic, Columbus • Sidney Health Center, Sidney • Roundup Memorial Healthcare, Roundup • Park Place Transitional Care and Rehabilitation, Great Falls • Logan Health, Kalispell • Logan Health Brendan House, Kalispell • Copper Ridge Health and Rehab Center, LLC, Butte • Bitterroot Health-Daly Hospital, Hamilton • Missoula Health and Rehabilitation Center, Missoula Rehabilitation is key to recovery after stroke. It helps you relearn or change how you live. Choosing the Right Setting You can rehab at: • Inpatient rehabilitation facility • Skilled nursing facility • Long-term care facility • Long-term acute care hospital • Home-based or outpatient care Your needs determine which type(s) are best for you. The American Heart Association and American Stroke Association recommends inpatient rehabilitation facility care if you can tolerate at least three hours each day of stroke rehabilitation. Stroke Rehab Should Include: • Training to improve mobility and ability to do daily tasks • Individually tailored post-stroke exercise program • Access to cognitive/engagement activities (books, games, computer) • Speech therapy, if stroke caused difficulty speaking • Eye exercises, if stroke caused loss of vision • Balance training for those with poor balance or fall risk LEARN TO SPOT A STROKE Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S. But there is life and hope after stroke through care and rehabilitation.

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