Patient Stories

Melissa: Neuro-Hope’s Rehabilitation Program Produced Neuroplasticity

Melissa was a previously healthy, high-powered fashion designer who began experiencing episodes of neurologic issues over the course of several months. She would go on to suffer several strokes before being diagnosed with a form of blood cancer. Her cancer was treated, and the strokes discontinued, but Melissa was left with debilitating neurobehavioral deficits.

At the age of 33, Melissa’s rehabilitation history was extensive and included in-patient, day hospital, community re-entry, and comprehensive outpatient services covering cognitive, physical, occupational, recreational, speech, and psychotherapy. At the time we began working with her, doctors were no longer recommending cognitive rehabilitation.

Melissa was deprived of dignity and privacy because of her physical and mental limitations. She had no use of one hand and only limited control of the other. She was unable to independently perform many activities of daily living, such as toileting, bathing, dressing, and eating, and had to depend on her parents or a companion for assistance. Written expression was important to her, but writing was painful and tedious. She was unable to read more than a few sentences in one sitting. Areas of strength were strong motivation and tenacity, the ability to verbalize her thoughts and ideas, insight, and the ability to benefit from supportive counseling.

Her professional background and personal strengths made her the ideal candidate for Neuro-Hope’s multidisciplinary “High Achiever’s Program.” Highly customized software and hardware coupled with intensive occupational and psychotherapy allowed her to focus on activities she most desired – writing and graphic design. A professional artist was recruited to work with her. Melissa was able to work both during telehealth sessions and on her own in a supportive and familiar environment – her own home.

Within the first few days, Melissa’s perseverance and stamina improved to the point that she was able to work for 3 to 5 hours per session. Within two weeks, she had made measurable improvements in spelling, grammar, visual scanning, and reading. She was able to read 100 pages in three hours, enjoying books and magazines for hours with increased accuracy, comprehension, and, of course, sustained attention.

Melissa also saw improvement in areas not directly targeted in therapy. While her computer interface was modified to facilitate reading and drawing, she also saw great improvements in her physical capabilities. She was now able to dress and toilet herself when she wore accessible clothing. She could bathe herself and shampoo her own hair. She could hold and eat finger foods.

Six months after therapy began, Melissa enrolled in a college continuing education course. She would continue therapy for another year and continue to improve. She is now married and living an independent life which involves a lot of art, cultural activities, and exercise.

World experts in brain plasticity theorize Neuro-Hope’s novel therapy can stimulate neuroplasticity in some patients. The magnitude and breadth of Melissa’s improvement is striking given the severity of her brain damage, the time elapsed since her strokes, and the extent of prior rehabilitation efforts.