On August 7, 2020, Dawayne “Wormy” Boyce’s life changed in seconds. He got up as usual, bright and early to get all his chores done. Dawayne and his son, Ben, are Bedford County cattle farmers. Wormy didn’t know it yet, but that day was going to be very different. Wormy was sick with a high temperature and coughing; COVID-19. Not knowing all the effects it could have, he took medication and started his day bush hogging his Chestnut Ridge farm.
That’s when it happened; one possible symptom of COVID-19 is blood clots, which is what happened to Wormy. Several blood clots had formed throughout his body, circulated throughout his vascular system, and one ended up in his brain, causing him to have a bad stroke. Wormy was life-flighted to Vanderbilt Hospital where he underwent surgery to remove the clots from his neck and brain and insert a filter to keep any clots from his lower extremities from moving up into any major organs.
Wormy fought an uphill battle for his life in Vanderbilt’s COVID-ICU for the next 21 days; he had pneumonia, was on a respirator, and had multiple mini-strokes. Unfortunately, Wormy’s struggle wasn’t over when he woke up; as a result of his stroke, he was unable to swallow, sit, walk, or use his left arm due to left-sided hemiparesis.
He was transported to another facility where he began his rehab to recover and teach him how to do all these things again. Doctors told his family it would be a long year or two to regain his strength, if he would even be able to. With lots of prayers and hard work, he regained enough strength in just three weeks to go home and start outpatient physical therapy.
Kasey Parsons, a family friend and an owner of Elite Physical Therapy and Balance Center, had been helping guide the family during this time, answering every text and phone call day and night. The family decided Elite Physical Therapy and Balance was where Wormy would go for physical therapy. They believed he would be working for the next year to recover enough to work his farm again. Amazingly, after just a few visits, Wormy put his cane down and was walking alone. With the help of the excellent staff at Elite’s Shelbyville clinic – the physical therapist Josh, the PTAs Deb and Jason, and the occupational therapist Erica, as well as all the wonderful techs – he regained his balance and mobility to do things he had not been able to do for a few months.
Wormy is now working with Elite’s OT and hand specialist, Erica, and he has even surprised himself with all he is able to do now on his farm. This marks his 4th month and when he returned to his Vanderbilt doctors, they were amazed with how much he had improved, all because the staff at Elite Physical Therapy and Balance Center in Shelbyville. “Your staff has helped work a miracle with God. Dawayne has almost finished his recovery and is back doing what he loves; farming and enjoying life with his growing family.”
Thank you, Wormy, for trusting and allowing us to help you FEEL BETTER FASTER and get back to farming and tending to your precious grandchildren and family.
If you or a loved one is recovering from a stroke, please come see us for a free consultation to see how we can assist you in your recovery. To request an appointment, click here, or call directly to one of our three locations during regular business hours:
Cool Springs: 615-224-9810
Shelbyville: 931-684-0027
Spring Hill: 931-489-2022
Certainly she would benefit from an evaluation to determine the cause of her instability. Would her Dr give her a prescription for therapy?