Joyce’s Story

This is a story about a very special lady, my mother-in-law, Joyce Wysozan.  Not only is she like a second mom to me, but also a very good friend!  Joyce’s world revolves around her family.  She has one son, Bob and two grandsons, Tim & Corey.

Joyce was a single mom and raised her only child, Bob and provided for him through out the years.  She worked at Hackley Hospital in the x-ray department for 34 years.  Joyce was forced to take an early retirement for health reasons in 2002.  She is 62 years young, and currently lives in a home in Roosevelt Park , where she has been a resident for over 30 years.

In 2006, Joyce had additional health issues arise.  She had two surgeries and several procedures to help with circulation problems.  On January 29, 2007 she had surgery at Hackley Hospital for what was to be the final operation in her treatment.  The surgery was a success but sometime during or shortly after, she suffered a major stroke.  It affected both sides of the lower brain, a rare occurrence.  More complications followed as the days passed in the Intensive Care Unit.  Joyce developed pneumonia, followed by another smaller stroke and eventually heart and respiratory failure.  She was put on a feeding tube at this point and came very close to needing a ventilator.  For several days it was touch and go as we prayed for her healing.  With the excellent care of the Hackley Hospital ICU staff she eventually stabilized.  Within a short period of time, Joyce was moved to the “ Select Specialty Hospital : which is within the Hackley building and is set up for long term care and rehabilitation.  It was there that we were given our “miracle”.  On a snowy February day Joyce seemed to “awaken” from her ordeal!  Each day that followed she showed rapid improvement.  Doctors and others would peek into her room just to see her progress and she became a very popular patient.  One by one the tubes and monitors were removed and soon Joyce was up and going, and she never stopped.  She spent a total of two weeks at Select and received exceptional rehab.  Her case worker even approached her about writing a “case study” about her experience.

By February 27, 2007 we were able to take Joyce home to her own house in Roosevelt Park .  She now lives independently and is enjoying time with her family, friends and her kitten “Angel”.  She still suffers from a few side effects.  These include,  general weakness, and slurred speech.  She also walks with the help of a cane.  Thankfully she remembers nothing of her time in the Intensive Care Unit.

We are so thankful for Joyce’s recovery.  She has been give a second chance at life.  On a follow up visit to one of her doctors, her doctor commented on how happy he was to see her again.  He went on to say that he had actually “written her of” because of all her complications.  Joyce’s quick response to his comment was “Well I am sure glad no one could read YOUR writing!  How appropriate!

For all we have been through as a family, we really want to do something special for Joyce.  She has always put her family ahead of herself and her needs. As a result of this, her house is in need of some TLC, very similar to what she needed not so long ago.  We are so proud of Joyce’s strength, she is making new life style changes to better her health.  Because of everything she has been through, we would love to see Joyce get a new look for her home environment to go along with her new beginning.  We would like to see things improved and made easier for her, so that she doesn’t have to be concerned about anything but getting better.

Joyce is a very special person to family and friends.  We’ve always known this, but now with her amazing story, others will too.  She’s been given a second chance at life, something most of us probably will never experience.  We consider this a “gift”, one that we will be celebrating for many years to come.

(written by, daughter-in-law, Kathy Wysozan)