Cindy Stineman-Miller is the poster person for drive, determination, and humor.
Blessed with a 10,000-watt personality, a grandmother’s warmth, and a heart the size of Texas, the always-kind, ever-engaging Stineman-Miller is both a gifted motivator and friend to all.
Calling her busy, with no time for foolish things like a seriously injured humerus, would be an understatement of gargantuan proportion.
Yet, there it was, that injured left arm. getting in the way of everything.
Fortunately, Stineman-Miller had a caring, compassionate, and knowledgeable friend – Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Rene Teel-Mulka, PT, DPT, OCS, – at the ready. Like Stineman-Miller, Teel-Mulka, is a Blue Grass, Iowa native, and a dedicated and vital piece to Rock Valley’s Blue Grass clinic and the overall community puzzle.
Stineman-Miller’s injury odyssey began during a summertime hike at Davenport, Iowa’s gorgeous West Lake Recreation Area.
Ever the exercise enthusiast, Stineman-Miller is a hiker who kayaks in the summer and swims year-round. She cross country skis in the winter and recently spent five days on a hiking adventure/reunion with 20-plus friends at Colorado’s Estes Park.
On that fateful day, however, trouble found the affable wife, mother, and grandmother.
In a shaded area, Stineman-Miller stepped in rut and spilled to the ground, breaking the humerus (the upper arm bone that forms the “ball” of the shoulder ball-and-socket joint by articulating with the shoulder blade) of her left arm. The humerus extends from the shoulder down to the elbow, providing the arm’s length and facilitating a wide range of motion.
“I was looking at nature, wildflowers and birds I’m sure,’’ said Stineman-Miller, also a gifted pianist, who was even void of playing after her fall. “And I believe the shade left me from seeing the rut. I rolled, went to the ground, landing on my left shoulder.’’
For the next seven weeks – through two sets of X-rays and her arm stabilized in a sling – the forever-upbeat and always-on-the-go Stineman-Miller was often relegated to watching the world from the swing on her front porch.
Sure, there would be occasional walks and attempted avenues to remain busy, but Stineman-Miller was told there could be no contact with the injured area and that a slip or a fall would lead to even further damage. Even trickier would be navigating her three-story home for nearly two months.
“Had my arm in a sling without hardly moving it,’’ Stineman-Miller said of the injured area. “I spent a lot of time walking like a slug making sure I didn’t bump it.’’
When the second set of X-Rays determined Stineman-Miller would not need surgery, she turned quickly to a pair of names she knew and trusted – Teel-Mulka and Rock Valley Physical Therapy.
“After Cindy’s (shoulder/arm) evaluation, we went to work,’’ Teel-Mulka said. “We had to establish strength in the area affected and then we had to concentrate on range of motion.’’
From a lifetime of understanding the person, Teel-Mulka knew the kind of effort Stineman-Miller would give to getting better, reaching her goals, and returning to the things she loves to do.
“I never had to worry that Cindy would not do the work outside the clinic to get better and achieve her goals,’’ Teel-Mulka shared. “Not only would she work hard and trust the therapy process – and we have worked together before – I knew what we did inside clinic walls would be carried through to when Cindy was at home. Cindy is the ideal patient, and she’s special to a lot of people. I never for a second questioned her willingness to work to get better.’’
Having Teel-Mulka guiding her rehabilitation, played a vital role in Stineman-Miller’s success. She knew and trusted the person and the therapist.
“I was told (by others) I would only be able to move it here (showing her left arm straight about chest high),’’ Stineman-Miller shared with a frustrated look. “But that is not the case because of Rene. I can swim and do things I was told I would never be able to do thanks to Rene. I have a range of motion I was told I would never have.
“You know, I have known Rene and her (twin) sister since she/they were seven,’’ added Stineman-Miller. “I have watched her run all over soccer fields, playing with my daughter. I watched her take swimming lessons all those years ago and now I turned to her to help me get better. Rene is incredible at what she does. Here I was with that sling, and she said we are going to do this, bend it, and do that, and I had complete confidence in what she was doing. There was never any doubt about her ability (as a therapist). Then she assures me that I am doing everything right at home. She is why I am back doing what I love.’’
Ever modest, Teel-Mulka said it helps to have a motivated patient.
“Cindy understands the process,’’ Teel-Mulka said. “And she is so determined. She is a special person, and I was so grateful to have the chance to help.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Storyteller