Sandy’s Story

My 61-year-old sister Sandy was admitted to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with a debilitating disease that was attacking all the major muscles in her body.

For weeks the search went on to diagnose a disease that left her without control of her bowels, unable to swallow without difficulty, and bedridden because her thin, weak legs could no longer support her. It became virtually impossible for her to care for herself; it seemed she was an invalid almost overnight.

A Mysterious Disease

Doctors ordered test after test in an effort to diagnose the mysterious disease that like a thief in the night had taken her once active life and reduced her to an almost unrecognizable person.

Sandy was not going to give up; she dug her heels in for the long road back to health but it seemed the harder she struggled, the deeper she sank into sickness.

After a transfer to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Sandy was diagnosed with Polymyositis, a rare endocrine disease that inflames all the muscles in the body.

Looking for Rehab at a New Hampshire Skilled Nursing Home

Sandy was transferred to Whittier Rehab; she had a lot of hard work to do to get back her strength. By this point she was being fed through a tube in her stomach and was confined to a wheelchair.

Her goal was to regain her active life and walk again but it would take months of rehab at a skilled nursing home to get her there.

A Search is Over

The search for the right place ended when I called The Edgewood Centre and spoke with the owner, Patty Ramsey.

Patty responded immediately to Sandy’s need and our wish to have her living close by in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Patty’s help turned out to be just one of a string of miracles that would happen for Sandy at Edgewood.

During her time in rehab, Sandy’s goal was single-minded: she would overcome this terrible disease and walk out of Edgewood with her head held high. In order to achieve that goal, she had a long way to go and many hurdles to conquer.

“There Are No Words to Describe the Love and Respect Given at Edgewood”

There are no words to describe the love and respect the staff at Edgewood gave out freely, most times going beyond the call of duty. She was taken care of by people who gave from their hearts.

Staff people would come in on their days off to visit her, others took the time to just hold her hand and give badly needed support on her tough days.

The Edgewood Centre can be proud of that kind of dedication. That kind of love really does heal.

A Dream Comes True

Physical therapists and occupational therapists worked with Sandy diligently, they were not going to let her fail. As the weeks and months progressed, Sandy continued to make strides toward her goal of walking out the front door and back into her life.

The day finally arrived and the exciting news of her discharge spread through Edgewood. Friends and staff people threw Sandy a surprise going away party and then lined the halls to the front door as she slowly rose out of her wheelchair, stood straight as an arrow, and walked toward the door.

I will always remember the loud round of applause as she walked out of Edgewood. A large blue and white banner hung over the door that read, “WAY TO GO, SANDY!”

– Liz Pettiford, author of Family in the Attic