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Why I work – “Stephanie
Smith remains in a wheelchair, fighting to walk – and dance – once again –
She ate an E. coli – tainted Cargill hamburger Source of Article: http://www.marlerblog.com/ From the
Saint Cloud Times - Stephanie
Smith of Cold Spring was a 20-year-old dance instructor when she contracted
E. coli after eating a hamburger at a family barbecue in 2007. She also
developed HUS and spent nine months in the hospital, including two months in
a medically induced coma to prevent seizures. Smith returned home
to Cold Spring in June. Her recovery has been much slower than the
21-year-old would like. During physical therapy sessions at CentraCare Health
Plaza in Sartell, Smith works at building strength and balance by sitting on
a special seat that records her movement. With a belt strapped
around her waist, she leans from side to side, watching an electronic screen
that resembles a video game. She tries to maneuver a figure on the screen
into a little box. Later, she lies on her back with her knees bent and tries
to lift each leg into the air. "Kick that muscle. Hold it up
there," urges her physical therapist, Lisa Barker. She helps by lifting
Smith's foot, clad in a stylish plaid sneaker. "Come on, kick, kick,
kick." When asked how she
feels she's doing, Smith answers softly, "Crappy." She wants to be able
to walk again, Barker says. But so far, she doesn't have the muscle strength
required to lift her legs forward. "We haven't really been able to
attack that like we'd like," Barker said. Still, Smith has
regained balance and is better able to transfer herself from her wheelchair
to a bed or chair, Barker said. She can stand at home for an hour using a
supportive frame and even stands on her own for short periods. "It's a long
battle," Barker said. Smith's mother,
Sharon, says she feels ill when she hears about the victims of the salmonella
outbreak. "I feel so bad in my heart, because I know what they're going
to go through," she said. Sharon Smith has been juggling taking care of
her daughter and getting her to physical therapy appointments while still
holding on to job as a Dairy Queen manager. But she isn't complaining, and
said she's extremely grateful for the prayers and financial support people
have offered throughout the ordeal. "Every day I
wake up and say, 'Thank you, God,' " she said. "I don't care how
difficult it is." |
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