When not working full-time as a manager at her family business, Joanna Tyrrell enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.

Recently, Joanna began suffering from lower back pain and debilitating headaches. After passing out in her home one day, her sister called 911. Joanna was admitted to the hospital’s intensive care unit, paralyzed from the waist down with a fungal infection.

After a month-long hospitalization, the hospital recommended that Joanna transfer to Summa Rehab Hospital for her recovery. Joanna couldn’t move her legs or do transfers when she came to the hospital.

During her two months as an inpatient, Joanna utilized the robotic Ekso skeleton and the neuro gym counterbalance machine. The first time she stood up using the neuro gym counterbalance machine, she wept.

“’Sunshine’ is the word that comes to mind when I think of the team at Summa Rehab Hospital,” Joanna says. “Physical therapist Erin came into my room like sunshine and picked up my spirits. Rod, the front desk officer, knows every member of my family and is extremely encouraging.”

When Rod noticed that Joanna was getting into the car to drive for the first time, he came outside and applauded her. “That was icing on the cake,” Joanna says, adding that Abby, her occupational therapist, and Dr. Brandon Weeks also were great encouragers and cheerleaders.

After a couple months as an inpatient, Joanna was able to stand with a walker and perform transfers. She now continues her care in Summa Rehab Hospital’s outpatient program and can walk up a ramp with a cane. Her goal is to ultimately walk unassisted and be able to perform her everyday activities independently. For now, she says he’s happy to be able to drive her daughter to school.

“I’m grateful I found the ‘Sunshine Staff’ at Summa Rehab Hospital who helped me get back home,” she says.