"I was able to regain mobility in my affected hand and arm and eventually regain full function"

My stroke occurred on August 27, 2008. I was alone in my new apartment. No one knew my address yet because I had just moved a few weeks before. I stayed home from work and slept all day because of a splitting headache that had begun the day before. I got up from my bed briefly, and as I tried to return, I collapsed. I couldn't stand up or move the left side of my body. I did an "army crawl" to my bedroom to get my cell phone. I got the cell phone, but could not decipher anything on it. I texted a friend to call an ambulance, thank goodness for autocorrect, because I couldn't remember how to spell. That friend was able to get my mother on the phone and since my mother knew my address, she was able to rush over from work. She climbed a very tall gate to get access to my back door, which she broke down with her hip. She knew something was wrong because I wasn't answering my doorbell. As I sat there on the floor, I remember hearing the doorbell and trying to call out for help, but no words came out and I couldn't get up. She found me on the floor. I remember smacks in my face, "Anna get up." Then the very next thing I remember is waking up in the ICU from a coma being told that I had a stroke days later.

About a week later, I regained consciousness and was told that I had a stroke and asked if I understood what that meant. I had no idea what that meant; all I knew was that I was unable to move or talk.
My journey to Saebo began with all kinds of therapy. It wasn’t until my day-rehab that I was introduced to the Saebo Company and SaeboFlex through my Occupational Therapist. After hearing stories about some of her previous clients who had used Saebo, I desperately wanted to try it.
I began using my SaeboFlex about 4 or 5 months after my stroke. I diligently worked on my rehab activities using my SaeboFlex. Months later when I progressed in my therapy to out-patient therapy, I had a new OT, Katie Fogarty Polo, which was also certified to use Saebo products, so I was able to continue my therapies to incorporate the orthotic. Not only did I use it in the clinical setting, but she also created activities I could use at home. I had amazing success with the SaeboFlex and was able to regain mobility in my affected hand and arm and eventually regain full function with minimal spasticity.
I believe that my successful recovery is due in large part to Saebo and my will to get my life back. After recovering, I decided to enroll back in college. I wanted to be a part of someone else’s recovery from stroke and to show there is hope out there. I am now in the final parts of my schooling to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant with aspirations to become a certified clinician in Saebo products so that I can help others dealing with the same effects of Stroke or any other disability with upper extremity impairments. I believe in Saebo and believe in their motto: “there is no plateau.” As a future Occupational Therapist, I want people to know that there is hope out there and that Saebo can restore that hope.
AnnaMaria Baraglia
 
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Whether you are a caregiver, occupational therapist or even a stroke survivor yourself, Saebo  provides stroke survivors young or old access to transformative and life changing products. We pride ourselves on providing affordable, easily accessible, and cutting-edge solutions to people suffering from impaired mobility and function. We have several products to help with the stroke recovery and rehabilitation process.  From the SaeboFlex, which allows clients to incorporate their hand functionally in therapy or at home, to the SaeboMAS, an unweighting device used to assist the arm during daily living tasks and exercise training, we are commitment to helping create innovative products for stroke recovery.  Check out all of our product offerings or let us help you find which product is right for you.