Stroke Survivor Reclaims Life, One Step at a Time

 Good luck getting recovered this well, likely less damage.

Stroke Survivor Reclaims Life, One Step at a Time  

For 67-year-old longtime Kansas City resident Todd Zehner, family has always been at the heart of his life. A husband of 45 years and proud grandfather of two energetic kids, Todd was looking forward to a joyous holiday season in December 2024. But on Dec. 17, his world turned upside down when a stroke sent him to the ICU for seven days. 

Todd’s care team determined he had suffered complications from the blood thinning medication he was taking for atrial fibrillation. And as he began the long road to recovery, Todd knew right where he needed to be. 

“I requested Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute for my rehab,” Todd says. “I had visited a friend there before, so I knew it was a nice facility right on the Saint Luke’s South Hospital campus with everything I would need.” 

The Rehabilitation Institute is the only facility of its kind in the Kansas City region, featuring 100,000 square feet of clinical space, 17 world-class robotic devices, an 11,000-square-foot therapy garden, gyms, and communal spaces for individualized therapies. With its expert staff and advanced technologies, the Rehabilitation Institute offers the region’s highest level of care for stroke survivors while keeping them close to friends and family. 

Todd’s rehabilitation began immediately, with Saint Luke’s therapists developing a personalized treatment plan and working with him to understand his goals. Unfortunately, Todd soon suffered another setback—his care team identified blood clotting in his legs that would require surgery. He was moved across campus to Saint Luke’s South, where he had a thrombectomy to remove the clots. A week later, Todd returned to the Rehabilitation Institute feeling uncertain about his future.

“When you go through something like that, you start asking questions,” Todd says. “Is this my final state? Can I take care of my property? But I didn’t want to give up, and that’s when the work began.” 

Todd’s rehabilitation emphasized balance, strength, and mobility. Simple tasks like climbing a flight of stairs proved challenging at first. 

He recalls therapists Chelsea Webb and Chris McCurley and physical therapy assistant Jennifer Green encouraging him to push through the pain. Soon, he was climbing two flights, then three, then four—always pushing himself to do one more. As it turned out, Todd could do a lot more than he thought. 

“I remember being in the hallway one day and Chris asked if I could jog,” Todd says. “And I immediately said no way, but he pushed me to try it. Next thing I knew, I’m galloping a little bit. And from there, I’m jogging. I was just so happy.”

“Todd was determined,” Chris says. “Whatever I asked him to do, he’d do it—and then do one more. You just knew he was a guy that refused to give up on himself.”  

Todd wasn’t the only one. His wife was there by his side, filming the whole thing to share with family, friends, and their church community. Throughout his recovery, Todd was flooded with emails, texts, cards, and calls from loved ones who couldn’t wait to see him again. And when he was finally discharged, he stood before his congregation on a Sunday morning to share his testimony. 

“There are all kinds of angels in my story,” Todd says. “Friends, family, and of course, everyone at Saint Luke’s—the stroke unit, the rehab unit, the nurses, the housekeeping staff—everyone there is just fabulous.” (How the fuck can they be fabulous, they COMPLETELY FAILED AT GETTING YOU 100% RECOVERED! But they convinced you through the tyranny of low expectations that their failure was actually a success. I'd have everyone there fired for incompetence!)

Today, Todd is back home enjoying retirement in Shawnee, Kansas, with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He celebrates each new day with a renewed sense of gratitude, knowing that his hard work and determination has given him a second chance at life and the opportunity to embrace every precious moment.  

Saint Luke’s Rehabilitation Institute is the Kansas City region’s premier facility for inpatient rehabilitation, featuring leading-edge technology and personalized treatment to help thousands of patients like Todd navigate their recoveries each year.