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Stroke Recovery  Dr. James Ling Neurologist The Methodist Hospital The year's stress, combined with high blood pressure, took a toll on Lewis' health, and in January 2006, she suffered a stroke. "The process of walking, to me, is much like life itself," she wrote in an essay for Houston Public Radio's "This I Believe" series. "There are lots of bumps, ups and downs, and zigzags, but I forge ahead with a positive attitude as my best weapon." The stroke left Lewis paralyzed on her left side. "My whole life's journey changed," she wrote in her essay. "I became completely absorbed in a continuing struggle to regain strength, balance and health." 
Rehabilitation through TravelEight months after her stroke, Lewis traveled to Prague and Germany. "I was in a wheelchair most of the time," she recalls. "The tour guide told me I was very brave to come all that way." Since then, she has taken many more trips – to Mexico to visit her son Steve and to the Western Caribbean on cruises. With each trip, her physical abilities have improved, and she now walks with a cane. "At home it's easy to sit or take the easiest approach. When you travel, you have to move your own body." she says. "Yvonne has made an inspiring recovery," says James Ling, M.D., codirector of the Methodist Neurological Institute's Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center. "Long after the stroke, she has made a commitment to follow up with her health check-ups. In doing so, she has functionally overcome the paralysis that she suffered and is as active, if not more, than she had been prior to her stroke." A Partner in Recovery "About a year after my stroke, I started going to The Methodist Hospital to see Dr. Ling. I wanted to have a neurologist who would be able to take care of me," Lewis says. The Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center is the largest dedicated stroke unit in southwest Texas. "In many cases, we have more advanced techniques and research that offers more hope, when conventional therapies have failed," Ling says. At the stroke center, Lewis learned about Botox® as a treatment for spastic muscles. "My first doctor didn't mention it, but when I came to Methodist, Dr. Ling suggested it," Lewis says. Lawrence Nguyen, M.D., medical director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Neurological Institute, administers the injections. "Botox is a brand name for botulinum toxin, a very potent toxin that works by blocking the release of neurotransmitters required for muscle contraction," Nguyen explains. "It may be used clinically in any situation where muscles are too tight or spastic." Lewis says she doesn't like needles, but the benefit she receives from the injections is worth it. "It relaxes my toes and helps me walk better," she says. Nguyen agrees. "I anticipate that her pain, tightness and gait will all improve as a result of these efforts," he says. "As a stroke survivor, I find I have to be assertive on my own behalf and keep looking for treatments that will help," Lewis says. At the Eddy Scurlock Stroke Center, experienced physicians, surgeons and rehabilitation specialists are available to manage and address the complex conditions that accompany stroke.
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