Rich Sheya

Take me to St. Mark’s Hospital: 
Stroke survivor turned hospital volunteer.

Rich Sheya knows how to fall. With a lifetime of mountain biking, backpacking, climbing, hiking, and other adrenaline-pumping adventures, Rich has a hard-earned understanding of falling techniques that prevent injuries. But that’s not all; Rich also knows how to get back up again. Recently, he took his resilience to a whole new level when he got back up to re-learn life after a devastating stroke.

When the stroke hit, it was just a normal day … until it wasn’t. Rich’s body fell to the ground in an empty work building. He attempted to pull himself upright, only to realize the left side of his body no longer worked.

“It was the strangest feeling. I knew my arm and leg were attached to me because I could see them. But I had no feeling, no movement, no nothing,” Rich said.

Thankfully, Rich had a cell phone in his pocket. After calling his wife for help, Rich waited for her and for the emergency medical transportation team to arrive.

“After Diane called them, It only took a few minutes for the first responders to get there, haul me out from behind the desk, and load me in the ambulance. Then they gave me a choice: ‘Where do you want to go?’ I said I wanted to go home, but that wasn’t an option, so I chose St. Mark’s Hospital,” Rich said.

St. Mark’s Hospital provides 24/7 care for all types of strokes as a certified Comprehensive Stroke Center.

Rich suffered a hemorrhagic stroke, meaning a weakened blood vessel ruptured and was bleeding into his brain. While hemorrhagic strokes make up only 10 to 15 percent of all strokes, they are severe and life-threatening. Rich needed top-quality, round-the-clock medical attention, so he spent several days in the Intensive Care Unit at St. Mark’s Hospital.

“I’d go back to St. Mark’s Hospital again for sure – they treated me like a human… They’re empathetic and make a personal connection with their patients,” Rich said.

Once stabilized, Rich transferred to the Acute Rehabilitation Center (ARC) at St. Mark’s.

“I figured I’d shake things off and be out of there in a couple of weeks,” Rich remembered. “But I couldn’t stand up, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t even swallow correctly when I got to ARC.”

The ARC provides comprehensive rehabilitation services to help patients regain strength, everyday skills, and quality of life.

To achieve such goals, ARC’s in-patient rehabilitation team develops personalized therapy plans for each patient, combining physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, and recreational therapy.

Rich stayed at the ARC for one month, dedicating every waking moment to his recovery. First, he re-learned how to swallow, then focused on re-learning how to hold items in his left hand. He eventually concentrated on standing, walking, and even climbing stairs.

“I wanted it real bad, and what I’ve discovered is that the wanting and the trying are crucial parts of stroke recovery,” Rich said.

Admittedly, Rich’s unwavering desire to progress occasionally looked like stubbornness. He jokingly bantered with team members, slipped in extra reps to his workouts, and occasionally pushed the envelope to see if he could advance faster.

“If they can work with me and put up with all my nonsense, they can work with anybody,” Rich said, smiling. “They’re very kind, compassionate individuals – all of them.”

On his ARC graduation day, Rich walked with an arm clutch down a hallway lined with clapping therapists, doctors, and nurses. Suddenly, two therapists burst through the crowd and gave Rich congratulatory hugs.

“It was a totally and completely unexpected, emotional experience for me, and it cemented in my mind that I wanted to do something to help other stroke survivors,” Rich said.

How a successful stroke survivor finds joy in supporting new stroke patients.

Rich has volunteered time and support for the past two years at ARC. Sometimes, he helps with cleaning or moving equipment, but his favorite moments involve interacting with new stroke patients.

“It’s been rewarding in ways I didn’t anticipate,” Rich said. “As a stroke survivor, there can be times when you wonder why the damn thing didn’t … put you out of your misery. I went through that, and I think most stroke survivors go through it. As a volunteer, I’ve talked with patients about those feelings. I’ve cried with them. And I can look them in the eye and tell them that the only way through it is to DO it. I say, ‘It’s not going to be easy, and it’s not going to be quick, but you will make progress.’”

Rich is a living example of the life-saving care at St. Mark’s, the restorative progress available through hard work at the acute rehabilitation center, and the exceptional difference that the St. Mark’s Hospital Volunteers make.

St. Mark’s Hospital proudly serves the community as a Comprehensive Stroke Center. If you or a loved one is experiencing a stroke, please call 911 immediately.

See available volunteer opportunities at St. Mark’s Hospital or call (801) 268-7593.