Strong Work Ethic Results in Amazing Recovery

As most people were preparing to go to sunrise service on Easter morning, Jayesh Ramteke, his wife Raviprabha and son Abhishekh (Abhi) were headed to the emergency room. As a physician, Dr. Ramteke recognized he was having a stroke when his speech began to slur and he had weakness on his right side. Convincing the staff at the ER was another story.
His symptoms were mild when he arrived and the doctor on call could not detect his slurring or weakness. Dr. Ramteke and his wife were adamant and therefore, he was admitted until the following day when additional tests could be done. Two other physicians then examined him, but were not convinced it was a stroke. CT scans and MRIs were inconclusive. On his third day in the hospital, he fell in the bathroom. It was only then that clinicians believed what he had been saying all along.

Determined to Get Better

When Dr. Ramteke was transferred to Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, he was completely paralyzed on his right side. “I started very earnestly with physical, occupational and speech therapy. My therapists worked hard and they made me work hard. No matter what, I was going to get better,” he said.
His family was a tremendous source of support and encouragement. As soon as they heard of their father’s stroke, daughters Vasantika (Sona) and Arundhati (Aroo) rushed down from Charleston, S.C. to be by his side. They each took turns being with him. One would come to stay from Monday – Wednesday and the other would be there Thursday – Saturday.
His goal was to walk out of Brooks. One month later, on the day of his discharge, he was wheeled to the front door and then walked out with a cane. “Since then, I have not sat on a wheelchair!”

A Top Priority

Outpatient therapy posed a new challenge. Therapies were scheduled three days a week and Mrs. Ramteke needed to return to work. Abhi was a junior at Douglas Anderson High School at the time. He selflessly withdrew from classes and enrolled in a home school program so that he could drive his father to and from therapy and other appointments.
Dr. Ramteke still had a moderate amount of weakness in his arm and leg when he began outpatient therapy. As with inpatient, he was very diligent with his outpatient therapies. “Dr. Ramteke’s work ethic was remarkable. Any exercise you gave him, he would go home and work on it 200% of the time,” said Melissa Green, his physical therapist.
His occupational therapist, Leanne Williamson agrees, “Dr. Ramteke valued therapy and made it his priority. He was so eager to participate in any activity/exercise presented and consistently requested suggestions for how to perform a similar activity at home. Dr. Ramteke would perform all exercises for several hours a day and would come back to the next session requesting additional home programs. It was truly an honor to treat him.”
“Dr. Ramteke would always walk over and say good bye to me after he finished his PT session. Often his wife would come in and thank us for our time and attention while working with her husband. This always just made my heart melt,” said Leanne.

Hard Work Rewarded

When Dr. Ramteke wasn’t in outpatient therapy, he utilized the Neuro Recovery Center to continue his progress. That tremendous drive and determination paid off. In August, Dr. Ramteke was able to return to work at Florida Blue as a medical auditor. He eased back into the work environment, going to the office one day a week at first and working the other days from his home office. By November, he was able to drive again. He now goes in four days a week and works one at home. “If you didn’t know I had a stroke, you wouldn’t be able to tell. My leg is back to 90% normal.”
Dr. Ramteke recently celebrated his one year stroke anniversary. He and his wife visited both his inpatient and outpatient care teams to thank them for all they did. He is forever grateful for the outpouring of prayers and good wishes from family, friends, co-workers and clinicians. “I want to thank them all from the bottom of my heart.”
For more information about stroke, please visit our stroke section.