"Not Only Gives Me Hope, But Purpose"

Monday, May 19th, 2014
Last modified on May 15th, 2020

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At 31 years old, Mimi Duffy quickly found herself in a fight for her life.

On the morning of January 15, 2012, she awoke to what she believed was a common migraine headache. However, the ordinary soon turned into the extraordinary after her husband found her unresponsive on their bed.

A CT scan at the hospital showed substantial bleeding in the area between her brain and the thin tissue that covers it, otherwise known as the subarachnoid space. Unbeknownst to her loved ones, Mimi had suffered a major hemorrhagic stroke in her brain stem, paralyzing her entire right side.

She was immediately admitted to the ICU; she was in a coma and on a ventilator. Her prognosis was not good – doctors predicted to her husband, Chris, and her immediate family members that she would spend the rest of life “locked-in,” a condition where the person is aware and awake but unable to move or verbally communicate.

That was more than two years ago. Today, Mimi finds herself immersed in therapy sessions and making strides toward becoming the independent woman she once was with the help of her SaeboFlex.

“The device not only gives me hope, but it also gives my once useless hand, purpose,” explains Mimi. “Thanks to the SaeboFlex, the range of motion in my right arm and shoulder are significantly improved. I can now do things I never thought I would be able to do again, such as move my right hand across my body to the left, turn my wrist over, and grasp and release objects with my hand.”

With the assistance of the SaeboFlex, Mimi is moving closer toward accomplishing her goal of returning to 100% mobility. Tasks she once found unattainable, now seem possible with a lot of practice, a concept that can be a challenge for a past salesperson who was constantly on the go and in a hurry.

“My ‘new’ body slows me down in life, but the SaeboFlex is helping me speed up my recovery,” said Mimi. “I would whole-heartedly recommend it to people like me. It’s helped my mind remember how it feels to use my hand and given me important options, such as working my fingers and providing me with the tools needed to perfect every movement I used to do on a daily basis.”

Mimi Duffy, Stroke Survivor