Three years ago, Vera Kwabi, then in middle school, started experiencing unusual and disturbing changes in her behavior including anger outbursts, impaired memory, and loss of interest in hobbies, as well as physical symptoms such as balance problems and frequent falls.
When the providers at her local hospital were unable to pinpoint the cause, she was transferred to Children’s National Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease. During the following 4 weeks Vera received a host of treatments to manage her condition. Once medically stable and ready to benefit from rehabilitative therapies, Vera as admitted to the National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation (NCCR) at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital.
“I had lost all functioning skills,” Vera says. “I couldn’t talk, and I couldn’t walk.”
During the next 3 months, Vera received acute inpatient therapies…physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreation therapy, psychological counseling, and continuous medical care, under the direction of Justin Burton, MD, medical director of the NCCR. She was also able to continue her education with the guidance and support of Najma Knobloch, NCCR’s education coordinator.
“It was hard at first…it was very intense,” says Vera. “But it was for my benefit. I knew I was going home eventually. I had faith that I could push through. They used activities I like such as dancing to motivate me.”
Vera made excellent progress and was discharged with recommendations to continue rehabilitation as an outpatient.
Today, the 15-year-old is a 9th grader at Thomas Edison High School, in Alexandria, Virginia, which she proudly notes is an International Baccalaureate school. “I feel amazing…I’m getting back to being myself,” she notes. “I enjoy rock climbing, running, dancing, singing, and writing stories on my computer.”
While she continues to go to speech therapy, physical therapy, and outpatient therapy, Vera’s recovery has been remarkable…so much so that one would never know what she went through. “
“I believe each and every one of my nurses, therapists, and doctors were handpicked by God. I can’t thank them enough,” Vera says.