Paralyzed by Three Strokes, Now Walking Again!

Name：Mr. Jiang Age：71

Gender：Male

Diagnosis：Ischemic Stroke

Date of Diagnosis：July 6th, 2019

Chronic Disease：hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia

Treatment period：Aug. 8 to Sep. 2, 2019 (25 days, 10 treatments)

Mr. Chiang's first visit

You’ve heard of a second stroke, I’ve had three

Mr. Jiang from Nantou, was a former taxi driver who was used to working through the night. After retirement, he picked-up farming and was working every day in the boiling heat under the scorching sun. His existing chronic disease and heart condition, ventricular hypertrophy, already put him at risk of developing stroke. Along with his labor-intensive work in intense heat, his body eventually gave in. What came next was a 20-year battle with stroke.

Jiang began his battle with stroke 20 years ago. His first stroke greatly impacted his mental status. He suffered from impaired vision, and started having trouble recognizing friends. What’s more, the stroke had impaired his logic so much that he had to give up his favorite pastime, Mahjong, because it was clear that he would not win another game.

5 years ago, in 2015, he had a second stroke. Though luckily, the experience of the first stroke allowed him to react quick enough to make it to the hospital within the “three-hour prime treatment time,” but wasn’t enough to stop the stroke from happening. Jiang was put in thrombolytic therapy, and was discharged from the hospital after 15 days.

Mr. Chiang's second treatment at Liu Shun

Three years later, Jiang suffered from yet another stroke — his third — in July of 2019. Post-stroke, he started experiencing symptoms such as dizziness, tension in the lower body, and difficulty walking. Unfortunately, the third time was not the charm. Unable to receive thrombolytic therapy for missing his “three-hour prime treatment time,” there was no other treatment for Jiang. The right side of his body became semi-paralyzed.

While Mr. Jiang was battling with his disease, Mrs. Jiang was fighting one of her own. Couldn’t bear to see her husband suffer anymore, Mrs. Jiang was set on finding him a cure, something the hospital was clearly unable to provide. As if it was destiny, Mrs. Jiang learned about the Liu Shun stroke treatment through the family of Jiang’s next-bed neighbor.

Mr. Chiang could walk independently with a walker

I went from paralyzed in a wheelchair to standing up to walk in a year

It was Father’s Day in Taiwan when Jiang came to Liu Shun for the first time.

Upon first impression, Jiang was pale, weak, and tired. Sitting in his wheelchair, he could hardly support his own weight, much less sit up straight. Every few minutes, Mrs. Jiang, besides him, had to pull him back up to stop Jiang from sliding completely off his chair. It was a harsh sight to take in, especially considering the occasion being Father’s Day.

Chiang's check-up a year later; looking energized!

Thankfully, Mr. Jiang was progressing at impressive speed since the beginning of his treatment. On just his third treatment, we began to see promising movements in Jiang’s toes and lower body. Mrs. Jiang also shared with us that her husband was communicating with more clarity, beginning to have more strength and energy, and could now eat through the mouth without the feeding tube.

However, Jiang’s recovery journey wasn’t a simple straight line as it might have seemed. Jiang almost gave up on treatment at one point. When Jiang pulled his arm muscle doing physical therapy and was told he would never be able to move his arm again, he lost all hope and wanted to give up. Luckily, thanks to his loving wife and the encouragement of our case managers, Jiang successfully completed all ten treatments with astounding results. Not only could he move his arm, he could even play arm wrestle with our case managers!

Chiang could raise his arm now

Jiang’s chronic disease and heart condition put him at risk of stroke, which is likely why he had suffered three strokes. Being the at risk population, Jiang understands the importance of coming back for check-ups. He returns every three months for scheduled continual treatments as a method of stroke prevention. It’s been a year since he had a stroke and now he has almost returned to normal, with good strength and energy, the ability to converse fluently, and walk. His admirable dedication to his recovery is the reason for all his improvements.