Rehab patient gets to walk on the beach

Diane Knapp of Bolingbrook has a history of multiple sclerosis and has struggled with walking and her gait since 2005. When she recently developed pneumonia, she was completely unable to walk. She came to Alden Estates of Naperville for therapy to build up her strength but doctors were not sure she would ever be fully able to walk again.

Her husband, Bill Knapp, told the Alden staff, "I would love to walk along the beach with my wife. We used to go to Clearwater, Florida all the time. Now she can't even crawl to the bathroom."

Just three weeks after intense physical, occupational and speech therapy at Alden Estates of Naperville, Knapp was able to walk - with a little help - 100 feet. To celebrate, the staff at Alden Estates of Naperville worked with Andrea Coates, manager of Naperville's Centennial Beach, to arrange to have the Knapps, along with her nurse Manny Vigder, RN, and Activity Director Jessica Lazzara have private access one evening to fulfill her and Bill's wish. Lazzara played several Beach Boys songs during the walk.

"It was wonderful," exclaimed Knapp, smiling from ear to ear. "The beach was beautiful to see and I had so much fun with Bill and the Alden staff!"

"It's always our goal to see our patients recover and go on to live their lives and fulfill their dreams," says Katie DeWerdt, administrator, Alden Estates of Naperville. "We're so happy Diane was able to achieve her goals in such a short time and are especially thankful to Centennial Beach for helping us make it all possible."

Alden Estates of Naperville Post-Acute Rehabilitation and Health Care Center provides post-acute rehabilitation programs in orthopedics, cardiac, pulmonary and neurostroke as well as intensive therapies to help individuals achieve maximum functionality. The facility is located at 1525 Oxford Lane in Naperville and can be reached at (630) 983-0300 or www.AldenEstatesofNaperville.com.