Elementary school teacher's stroke recovery: the progress and challenges

A Collier County elementary school teacher is on the road to recovery after suffering from a stroke. Marissa Colon, a music teacher at Sabal Palm Elementary School, experienced a stroke while at lunch on December 1.

On Friday, her family shared that her life was saved thanks to the quick-thinking school nurses. 

Three weeks later, Marissa is making progress thanks to physical therapy. She is now able to talk, eat, and move as much as she can. 

"They've been trying to get me to walk a little bit down the hallway," said Marissa. "I have no real motion on that left-hand side, but we're getting my foot to flick up and just so that it starts the process."

Speaking from a hospital in Jacksonville, Marissa and her husband, Angel, discussed her journey so far.

"Everything right now she needs assistance with," said Angel. "They've given me training here to move her from the bed to the chair and vice versa, and everything that an average person would do on their own. She can't do by herself, with the exception of maybe eating her food and drinking water. That's what she's limited to right now."

Marissa expressed gratitude for her husband's support throughout her recovery.

The married couple misses teaching and being with their students. They are looking forward to coming back, and to spending Christmas with their children, who will travel with family to be reunited at the hospital.