Sandra Gilpin Bio

BIOGRAPHY:

Sandra Gilpin

My name is Sandra Gilpin, and I had a stroke April 17, 1996, when I was 63 years old. My right side was paralyzed and I still wear a leg brace and use a quad cane and for longer distance a motorized scooter. Until last month, my right hand was a hard fist that at times I couldn't pry open. I asked constraint therapist, Linda Gallander, if she thought that I could benefit from her therapy. She looked at my hand and told me that my chances of having successful therapy were pretty slim, but she agreed to help me.

Now, I am using my paralyzed right hand to work the controls on both my lift chair and my microwave. I can now unwrap a single slice of Kraft sliced American cheese, using both hands, without tearing it into little wads like I used to. My hand now helps me in brushing my teeth, making up my face, and in bathing. I can now open my hand except for the curled up finger right by my thumb. I am beginning Botox treatment on that troublesome finger. Linda suggested this botox treatment. I chose Linda's $500 program, where she came to my apartment for three hours to bring the exercise equipment and teach me how to work at it for three hours daily on my own.

In between one minute timed exercises, Linda has me do weight bearing on my right hand by putting it out flat on a cushioned chair and holding it down one minute, while I push into the chair just as hard as I can. This weight bearing has helped me open my hand and it has also strengthened my paralyzed arm. I can now hold it down straight with the elbow unbent. I am thrilled to death with my new hand and the new life, which it has made possible.

My therapist has an office in Kingwood, a suburb of Houston, Texas. You can go to her office for therapy, or she will come to your home. She has called me frequently to see about my progress, and I can call her when I have a question. Also, if I need another hour with her, I can have it for $100. Her price for a week of six hour a day therapy is $7000. It is well worth that price, but I don't have $7000, and Medicare doesn't yet cover it. I hope that in time Medicare and other insurance plans will cover it. Constraint therapy is hard work, but it will work for you if you are willing to work hard.

The Stroke Network, Inc.

P.O. Box 492 Abingdon, Maryland 21009