Donna Renee Hildebrand
Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital and Medtronic Neurological hosted "Movement for Life" where individuals experiencing spasticity learned about different treatments and therapies available. Dr. Alex Willingham, medical director of the Warm Springs Rehabilitation Hospital and Dr. David Altman, director of the Neurology Center of Warm Springs presented the latest information to help patients with tight, stiff muscles related to multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, brain injury, spinal cord injury or a stroke.
Movement for Life Ambassador, Donna Renee Hildebrand spoke about the success she has had with Intrathecal Baclofen (ITB™) Therapy, manufactured by Medtronic Neurological.
It was 23 years ago, but Donna Renee Hildebrand remembers it so vividly, the day she had her first stroke. She was 27 years-old and a single mother of a seven year-old son. The stroke, induced by a medication error, was so severe that Hildebrand had no functional ability and her cognitive level was that of a ten year-old.
“My son and I basically grew up together, we have a very different mother-son relationship.”
Hildebrand also suffered from severe spasticity, a painful condition that causes muscles to tighten and stiffen making movements difficult or uncontrollable.. Hildebrand’s goal each day was to make it through the day.
“I couldn’t think of what I would be doing in two years, because I was focused on surviving today.”
Hildebrand had yet another stroke that further debilitated her. But this time, an experimental treatment was going to prove successful.
Hildebrand was admitted to the Warm Springs Rehabilitation System to begin the rehabilitation process. Warm Springs physicians suggested an experimental treatment, ITB Therapy, that involved implanting a pump filled with Baclofen (a medication used to treat spasticity) under the skin. Although frightened, Hildebrand agreed to try a dose of Baclofen and within two hours of taking the drug she was able to feel her left leg for the first time in 13 years.
Today, Hildebrand still has the Baclofen implant that has dramatically improved her life, allowing her the freedom to be independent once again. She is an IT specialist, a wife, a mother and a grandmother to a seven month-old baby girl.
Warm Springs Rehabilitation System has been caring for patients for over 75 years to help them regain the dignity, pride and independence that are vital to a full life. Warm Springs offers comprehensive physical rehabilitation services at hospitals in San Antonio and Corpus Christi and long-term inpatient services of Luling and Victoria. Warm Springs also offers outpatient rehabilitation services at 8 clinics located throughout South Central Texas. Medtronic is the global leader in medical technology- alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world. With deep roots in the treatment of heart disease, Medtronic now provides a wide range of products and therapies.