Stephen's Story

Stephen Wilder is a 40-year-old right-hand-dominate single uninsured male who was at a fitness center on 10/27/2021 when he collapsed and became unresponsive. He was taken to a local trauma center where he presented with global aphasia and dense right hemiparesis. He was admitted to the ICU where he improved enough to be discharged to an inpatient rehab charity bed for two weeks and then discharged to his home in November 2021 with only medical follow up. In December of 2021, Mr. Wilder experienced seizures which required hospitalization and chronic seizure management.

Stephen has a 7-year-old son and had just received his CDL to be a truck driver. His brother who is retired from the navy and married with children has been helping with his care. Stephen’s medical history includes hypertension and a colectomy for obstruction. He did not have a PCP when we admitted him but was being followed by a Physical Medicine and Rehab for his medical issues.

Stephen was admitted to the GA RSVP Clinic in March 2022 and presented with severe aphasia where he was beginning to speak a few words. He was continent of bowel and bladder. He required physical assistance with bathing, dressing, cooking, household management, writing and all community-based activities. He was able to ambulate short distances in his home with a walker but utilized a wheelchair for all other mobility in his home and community. Mr. Wilder also had chronic neuropathic pain and spasticity in his right upper and lower extremities. He had limited use of his right upper extremity for basic activities of daily living. Stephen’s goals are to be able to communicate and play with his 7-year-old son and eventually be a truck driver.

Stephen has attended 14 visits at the Clinic. We were able to help Daniel and Stephen with the Medicaid application and found a primary doctor to follow up with his medical needs. The GA RSVP PMR doctor trialed medications for his pain and spasticity, and he is stable now with little pain. His spasticity has improved for performing ADLs independently. He is now able to walk with a cane and speak in short sentences with the support of a GA RSVP Clinic Speech Pathologist who saw him two times a week. He is able to balance and putt with a golf ball and will be attending a local Adaptive Golf Clinic. He is taking care of his son with assistance and participating in some of his sports activities. Stephen is attending a BI Support Peer group and doing very well! His ultimate goal is to get back to driving and potentially be a truck driver.