Almost a year after a stroke, St. Anthony woman is still being denied rehab

Patsy Smith's husband, Tony Smith, isn't a physiotherapist, but his days are focused on helping his wife regain some movement in the limbs on the left side of her body.

The couple lives in St. Anthony, N.L., a small community on Newfoundland's northern tip. A number of months ago, a physiotherapist visiting the region gave Tony Smith tips to help with his wife's mobility that they've practised every day since.

"He's working on range of motion movements, core muscle strength and doing what he can," the couple's daughter, Tara Tucker, said.

It's the only rehabilitation Smith receives, after the family's applications for professional therapy from Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services were repeatedly denied.

"Dad has really been the one to step in and fill the void," Tucker said. "He's 73."

Smith suffered a hemorrhagic stroke on Dec. 30, 2023, and lost the ability to move her left side.

At 70, her initial prognosis was death. 

The community's hospital, Charles S. Curtis Memorial, doesn't have a stroke unit. Instead, the facility relies on medevacs to transfer patients to St. John's.

Tucker said a family doctor requested a medevac for Smith.

After the requests were denied, her mother was placed in palliative care. 

Days went by, and Smith didn't pass away. She improved.

"The bleed stopped, and because of that, very gradually and slowly, she didn't deteriorate as they suspected, but she actually started to gradually get better," Tucker said. 

Staff at the hospital in St. Anthony told Tucker they were not equipped to deal with her mother's condition.

"They indicated that they were in over their head," Tucker said.