Walter Cimini had been feeling increasingly unwell when his partner Lisa recognized drooping on the left side of his face. She dialled 911 and within a few hours, Walter was told he had experienced a stroke.

“I was transferred to Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital,” he says. “They told me I would be in the hospital for six weeks, which rattled me, but it’s the best thing that could have happened.”  

The first few days of Walter’s stay in hospital were especially difficult as the reality of the challenges ahead set in.

“The fear of the unknown was tremendous,” says Walter. “The first day, I couldn’t touch my hand to my face. It was the scariest feeling.”

While in the Sorbara Integrated Stroke Unit at Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, Walter began rehabilitation immediately, regaining the ability to swallow as part of his initial recovery. He recalls the support and encouragement of the team of nurses and doctors as a main source of motivation for him.

“I can’t even describe how amazing they were,” he says. “One of the doctors said, don’t look at it day by day. Look at your accomplishments week to week. And that’s so true.”

After six weeks of rehab in hospital, Walter was ready to go home. That’s when he learned that he would be referred to Mackenzie Health’s newly opened York Region Community Stroke Rehab Clinic at 955 Major Mackenzie Dr.

In the first phase of its opening, the clinic’s eight to 12 week program includes virtual, onsite, in-home and community-based therapy options for patients from Mackenzie Health and Oak Valley Health. Funded by the Ministry of Health, the clinic is the first of its kind in the region, filling a longstanding gap in care for residents by bringing much-needed rehabilitation services closer to home. Previously, patients coming out of hospital in York Region were referred to programs in Toronto or Newmarket, where they often waited weeks to months to access services.

“Increasing local access to outpatient rehabilitation is significant because time is crucial to stroke recovery,” says Anna Sewell, York District Stroke Co-ordinator at Mackenzie Health. “Within the first year, you want to do as much as you can to regain as much cognitive and physical function as possible.”

For Walter, having access to rehab close to home gave him a big advantage, and he’s been committed to attending three times per week for the duration of the 10-week program.

Along with the clinic’s location, its individualized approach to rehabilitation is also an added plus.

 “We provide patients with in-person, virtual and community offerings,” says Anna. These include organized cooking classes to help patients re-learn necessary day-to-day duties, as well as activities to support reintegration back into the community, such as going shopping or to the bank.

 “We want to ensure our program is patient-directed and that we’re helping patients meet their goals, as opposed to offering a rigid program for them to follow,” she adds.

One virtual element of the program that Walter has enjoyed is a digital cognitive therapy tool called HappyNeuron Pro, which helps patients rebuild the foundation of different cognitive functions as part of their stroke recovery. The tool consists of 45 customizable exercises that are designed to help people practice skills and learn strategies to overcome cognitive obstacles.

After Walter’s occupational therapist set him up with a profile at an in-person appointment, he has continued using the tool on his own device at home, working up to increased levels of difficulty.

“It’s amazing and frustrating all at once,” Walter says with a laugh. “It’s challenging, but you can’t take yourself too seriously.”

Despite the challenges, Walter knows he’s come a long way. He attributes his success to the people surrounding him.

“I couldn’t do it without my support system, including my family and the team at the rehabilitation clinic,” he said.  “They challenge me while making sure I feel supported — always reminding me to stay focused when I don’t succeed right away.”

And when he questions whether he can push forward, he remembers his loved ones.

“My kids and family are what keep me going,” he says. “Throughout this process, there are good days and bad days. It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.”