Spring 2013 - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

Get Your Life Back For more information about Memorial Regional Rehabilitation Center andthe programs at our two locations, call 574-647-2600.It was the beginning of big accomplishments for Lauren,and little by little throughout 2012, the Pokutas saw lifecome back into their daughter. Under the guidance andcare of Heidi Collins, M.D., Lauren underwent rigorousinpatient therapy five days a week at Memorial’s RegionalRehabilitation Center. From the start, Lauren amazedeveryone with her progress. She may not have been completelythe same on the outside, but on the inside Laurenwas still there and ready to work hard to get back to herpre-accident state-of-being.Following her discharge from the hospital, Laurenunderwent physical, occupational and speech therapyat Memorial Outpatient Therapy Services (MOTS).“Our first objective was to get her to sit up on the edgeof the bed,” explains Jennifer Cunningham, physicaltherapist at MOTS.With that goal achieved, Lauren moved on to otherexercises that stimulated her brain and strengthenedher muscles. Because of the hard work of Lauren andher therapists, she was eventually able to feed herselfand brush her teeth. Regaining the ability to talkhas been a challenge. The family uses a letterboard to help clarify what Lauren is trying to say,but her vocabulary continues to grow by the day.Her love for singing never diminished whilerecovering and she was able to singagain as part of the New PrairieHigh School swing choirconcert and the school’smusical production ofFootloose. She even tooktwo classes in thefall 2012 semester,scoring A’s in both.And though she requires a wheelchair to get around,Lauren uses an exercise bike and is standing for shortperiods to strengthen her leg muscles.She continues to amaze family, friends and therapistsalong her path to recovery. “The first day I saw herwhen I had to hold her to keep her sitting upright, towhat she is doing today––it has surprised all of us,”Cunningham says.The Future Is Bright“Lauren has made such progress in one year, we arehopeful it will continue. Sometimes we sit back andcan’t believe just six months ago she couldn’t even talk,”Tonja says. “The doctors tell us the brain has the abilityto mend itself through the age of 24, but there areno guarantees.”Lauren has given everyone so much hope already;there is every reason to be optimistic.“The last 15 months have been the mostchallenging time of our life,” Michael says. “It’sbeen one hurdle after another. But it’s alsobeen one success story after another. Laurenis breaking all the barriers herself. She is amiracle. And her progress would not be possiblewithout the quality of care and supportwe receive at Memorial.”Lauren is readingat her gradelevel, but experiencingshorttermmemoryloss due to theaccident.Lauren Pokuta (center), mother Tonja Pokuta (left), fatherMichael Pokuta and Memorial Outpatient Therapy ServicesPhysical Therapist Jennifer Cunningham (right).Spring 2013 | qualityoflife.org13