The hospital, originally recommending hospice care, recommended that Zoe transition to a rehabilitation facility to begin tackling the many challenges ahead. On October 1st, 2013, Zoe – who couldn’t talk, walk, or eat, and who was paralyzed on the left side of her body – was transferred to Weisman Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital.
Within a month Zoe could stand and could feed herself with her right hand. One morning, in occupational therapy, she pointed to a picture of a dessert and spoke her first word since the accident: “Cake.” In January, Zoe transitioned from in-patient care to a day program, and the next month to outpatient care. By now she was at a Rancho level 6 – a significant improvement in just four months of care.
Today, Zoe continues to make progress. She still receives outpatient occupational therapy but has graduated from physical and speech therapy. Zoe is completely verbal and able to carry on conversations. She attends public school and even made honor roll! Zoe mostly walks with a cane, especially for uneven surfaces. She only uses a wheelchair for long distances – but not the fundraising walks she finished.
Zoe completed a quarter-mile AIDS walk and half-mile breast cancer walk unassisted, on her own. She loves amusement parks and still participates in the activities she enjoyed before the accident, most of which can be modified to meet her needs. “If Zoe wants to do something, she will do it,” says her mom. “We are blessed that we came here [to Weisman Children’s]. You can tell that the Weisman Children’s staff loves what they do, and loves their patients.”