Spring–Summer 2025 5 able to go to the bathroom. Those little things were very challenging.” Steady progress Cahue was motivated to get back to his active lifestyle, including playing soccer with his kids, working and completing household chores. “Those things, you could tell, really drove him,” Denklau says. After a stroke, rehab focuses on helping people overcome their deficits, often through repetitive exercises that strengthen muscles and “get them to fire again,” Denklau notes. At first, Cahue used a walker. Over time, he was able to walk with a cane—though not yet on his own. “He did a tremendous job throughout, pushing himself and often doing more than we even gave him as far as homework to do outside of therapy,” Denklau says. “He’s doing wonderfully,” Denklau adds, noting that, although Cahue has completed therapy, he still stops by to see his team on his way to doctor appointments. Feeling better, feeling grateful Cahue appreciates how his therapy team challenged him to gradually increase his activity level, never forcing but always encouraging him. Cahue says he is about 80% recovered. He is able to perform activities of daily living, including cooking and driving. And he’s hoping to return to work. Cahue expresses deep gratitude to his entire Riverside team—and to his family, including his children, Bianca and Andy, for their love and support and for taking him to and from therapy. “Thank you, God,” Cahue says. “Now I can continue my life.” His wife, Patricia Cahue, had this to say about the care her husband received in the critical first moments of his stroke and throughout his rehab journey: “They acted fast when he was in the emergency room,” she says. “And while he was in the hospital, everyone there was just absolutely amazing. It is very noticeable how much he progressed in such little time.” To celebrate, Patricia had T-shirts made for her husband with positive messages, like, “Nice try, stroke. I’m still here.” “He had a stroke, but he fought,” she says. “He fought hard and he survived.” Get back to your active life To make an appointment for physical therapy or other outpatient rehabilitation services, call (815) 214-9023. Versatile new tech at Riverside The new neurointerventional biplane imaging suite at Riverside offers procedures for stroke (e.g., thrombectomy, clipping or coiling), tumors, arteriovenous fistulas and arteriovenous malformation. Installation of the biplane (made by Siemens Icono): ● Increases efficiency and the number of procedures possible. ● Improves accuracy. ● Allows for 3D imaging. ● Decreases the need for patient transfers. Learn more on page 9. Gerardo Cahue works on various physical therapy exercises at Riverside’s Frankfort Campus. These screenshots are from videos taken by his family to track his progress.
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