MEET KATHY
Kathy serves as the inspiration for Mary Kay Engel, who rides her bike from Maine to Florida this month raising funds to support Rocky Mountain Stroke Center. As a special education teacher, Kathy was in the middle of achieving her career goals and raising her teenagers. At age 47, she experienced a stroke in the middle of the night. That night changed everything for her and her family, including Mary Kay, whose ultimate commitment to help survivors of stroke has reached beyond the immediate needs of caring for her sister and her family.
Rehabilitation helps Kathy focus on regaining physical strength and language skills. She stepped down from her teaching role, but speaks fondly of the years she worked with kids and their families to make a difference. A couple of things keep Kathy going. She wants to drive a car again. Driving symbolizes independence in a way so many other things merely hint at. “I also want to be able to pamper and babysit my grandchildren!”
Kathy credits her family, her own commitment, and a positive attitude for having come so far in the eight years since the stroke. She is so proud of her sister and her efforts to raise awareness and money to support RMSC. “The Stroke Center provides services unlike anywhere else, coming up with creative ways to help all of us rehabilitate and regain as much independence as we possibly can.” Kathy is determined to drive again, in part so she can get to the Littleton location more frequently. “Interacting with the other survivors is so motivating. And,” she confesses, “I do need motivating sometimes.”
In the end, though, Kathy says that living with stroke is “not that bad.” Life is good, she says again. As with many of her survivor peers, Kathy finds that focusing on the positive helps her get through the days, one at a time.
Kathy, her sister, Mary Kay, and their mother joined the cycling activities in July at Mountainside Fitness Centers in Westminster and Lone Tree, adding not only to the excitement of those “races,” but to RMSC’s coffers as well.
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