SEHA, a subsidiary of PureHealth, the largest healthcare group in the Middle East, highlighted the recovery journey of a 62-year-old stroke patient treated at SEHA’s Salma Rehabilitation Hospital in a case that reflects the impact of coordinated rehabilitation, sustained clinical support, and family involvement in restoring function and independence after severe neurological injury.
The patient experienced an acute ischaemic right middle cerebral artery stroke that left him bedbound with profound muscle weakness. On admission to Salma Rehabilitation Hospital, he required mechanical ventilation, nasogastric feeding, and a tracheostomy tube. His Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was low, and his activity tolerance was minimal.
At the start of rehabilitation, the patient could communicate only using pen and paper. A coordinated care plan was developed to address communication, swallowing, and broader rehabilitation needs, with gradual progress supported through ventilator weaning, speaking valves, and a safe transition to oral feeding following a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS).
During the course of treatment, the patient experienced setbacks, including temporary renewed ventilator dependence related to lung complications. However, with continued support from his family and the rehabilitation team, he continued progressing through each stage of care.
Rhea Maurice El Achkar, speech therapist/speech & language pathologist at Salma Rehabilitation Hospital, said: “Regaining the ability to communicate was an important turning point in this patient’s recovery. As his ability to express himself improved, we saw greater engagement with therapy, stronger interaction with those around him, and meaningful progress in both swallowing and overall rehabilitation.”
Physiotherapy progressed from bedside exercises and assisted transfers to gym-based mobility training, ultimately supporting the patient’s return to independent walking with safety precautions. By the time of discharge, he had regained significant strength and was participating more fully in daily activities.
Benz Conrad Rago Lasta, a physiotherapist at Salma Rehabilitation Hospital, said: “His progress reflected the value of early, goal-directed physiotherapy delivered in a structured and consistent way. By building strength, balance, and functional mobility step by step, the team was able to support a recovery that helped restore independence and confidence in daily life.”
Today, the patient has regained independent mobility and communication, an outcome that highlights the role of coordinated rehabilitation in helping individuals recover function and confidence after life-altering neurological illness.
Salma Rehabilitation Hospital continues to advance comprehensive, patient-centred rehabilitation through close collaboration across clinical disciplines, resulting in better long-term outcomes for patients with complex rehabilitation needs.
