From Stroke to Strength: A Story of Resilience and Recovery
When Jon Turk felt a burning sensation in his nose and slight tunnel vision during a drive from Minnesota to Cedar Rapids, he and his sister pulled over.
“I thought I might be coming down with something,” Jon recalls. “My sister thought I might be having a stroke, but then the symptoms went away. So, I went home. The next day I was a little tired but otherwise felt fine. I even completed a full workout.”
Early Stroke Symptoms Often Go Unnoticed
The following morning around 3 a.m., something was clearly wrong. Turk felt the burning sensation in his nose again, and when he stood up, he needed to lean on a door frame.
“I couldn’t move my left leg or take a step,” he explains. “I ended up lying on the floor and was thinking, ‘Maybe I am having a panic attack.’ Stroke did not cross my mind because I’m in my 40s and in great physical shape. I went back to bed and tried to sleep it off. Looking back, I realize how dangerous that was.”
By morning, his sister convinced him to call an ambulance. Turk was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital ER in Cedar Rapids, where doctors confirmed he was having a stroke.
The Challenge of Spotting Strokes in Younger Adults
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 38% of Americans know all major stroke symptoms. Stroke is also frequently overlooked in people under 50, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.
“It’s important to go to an emergency room at the first sign of a possible stroke,” explains Nate Harmon, MD, St. Luke’s Hospital ER. “One of the main treatments for a stroke is a medicine called Tenecteplase (TNK). It helps break up the blockage of blood flow to a patient’s brain. The sooner a patient receives this medicine, the better their chances of recovery. TNK should be given between three and four-and-a-half hours after stroke symptoms start, depending on underlying health conditions. Unfortunately, Jon was not able to receive TNK because it had been longer than the recommended window since his symptoms began.”
“My first thought was, ‘How could this happen to someone like me?’” Turk says.
Turk spent just over two weeks in the hospital recovering from his stroke and then transitioned to St. Luke’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) in Cedar Rapids to begin the hard work of regaining his mobility.
“I was determined not to use a wheelchair or cane if I didn’t have to,” he says. “I wanted my life back.”
Stroke Rehabilitation: Regaining Strength and Independence
“I couldn’t believe someone in such good shape had a stroke,” shares Kevin Komenda, senior physical therapist (PT) at St. Luke’s PM&R. “But what stood out even more was his attitude. He never missed a session and never said ‘no’ to a challenge.”
Initially, Turk needed help to stand.
“We thought he might need assistance every time he moved,” Komenda says. “But that quickly evolved to just supervision. He tolerated more reps, more intensity and sometimes we were more tired than he was.”
“He’s incredibly motivated,” explains Barb West, a senior occupational therapist (OT) at St. Luke’s PM&R. “Jon’s left arm had limited range of motion, poor sensation and decreased awareness of where his arm was in space. We started with small movements, using gravity and assistive devices like the X-cite system and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) cycle. He did every exercise we gave him and more at home.”
Today, Turk is working with his outpatient therapist on high-level activities like running, hopping and jumping.
“I’m so proud of him,” Komenda says. “He’s doing things many stroke survivors never imagine possible.”
Team-Based Stroke Recovery: A Collaborative Approach
One of the keys to Turk’s success was the seamless collaboration between his therapy teams. At St. Luke’s, occupational and physical therapists work side-by-side, often in the same space.
“If PT was working on leg strength, I could integrate arm tasks like reaching or weight shifting,” West explains. “We look at the whole person, not just one limb or function.”
“This PT and OT collaboration allows us to achieve so much with our patients,” Komenda shares. “At the core of this work are passionate therapists striving for the best outcomes for our patients. Jon’s progress is a testament to that, coupled with his hard work and who he is as a person.”
Turk credits his progress to the partnership he built with his care team.
“My attitude was crucial, but they were equally committed,” he says. “They listened to what I wanted, whether it was going back to the gym or playing piano, and they have helped me get there.”
Raising Stroke Awareness
Now, more than a year after his stroke, Turk is back at his gym exercising, driving and continuing outpatient therapy. As a stroke survivor, he’s passionate about sharing stroke information.
“Don’t ignore something that feels out-of-the-ordinary,” he urges. “Have a doctor or health expert check it out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”