Stroke survivor Trudy Coleman has recovered well with the assistance of a device implanted in her that stimulates her nerves.
The Kingston woman suffered a stroke while in her yard in October 2023, which affected her upper extremities.
During her rehabilitation at Allied Services in Wilkes-Barre Twp., she was introduced to the Vivistim system, a pacemaker-like device implanted in her chest that has helped her regain significant function.
The technology has led to a dramatic recovery for the 73-year-old who lives alone with her two dogs.
“She is so much more independent now and it’s exciting to see,” said Rebecca Carr, an occupational therapist and representative of Vivistim.
Trudy Coleman, left, a stroke patient utilizing Vivistim, delivers a painting to Becky Carr, a therapy development specialist at Vivistim, during a therapy session at Allied Services on Friday, May 16, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Lori Ackerman, an occupational therapist at Allied Services, holds a Vivistim device over the area that it’s implanted in Trudy Coleman on Friday, May 16, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Lori Ackerman, an occupational therapist at Allied Services, must use a device to activate the Vivistim during a therapy session on Friday, May 16, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Becky Carr, a therapy development specialist at Vivistim, describes the function of the device on Friday, May 16, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Trudy Coleman, a stroke patient at Allied Services, uses nervous system stimulating exercises in tandem with Vivistim to help restore upper body functions on Friday, May 16, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Trudy Coleman, a stroke patient at Allied Services, uses nervous system stimulating exercises in tandem with Vivistim to help restore upper body functions on Friday, May 16, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Trudy Coleman, a stroke patient at Allied Services, uses nervous system stimulating exercises in tandem with Vivistim to help restore upper body functions on Friday, May 16, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Trudy Coleman, right, a stroke patient at Allied Services, uses nervous system stimulating exercises in tandem with Vivistim to help restore upper body functions with the help of Lori Ackerman, an occupational therapist, on Friday, May 16, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Carr and others from Vivistim visited Allied on Friday for one of Coleman’s therapy sessions as part of Stroke Awareness Month. The company claims the Vivistim system is a “first-of-its-kind breakthrough technology” approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2021.
Coleman visits Allied several times a week and works to improve upper extremity function with an occupational therapist. She performs simple tasks like picking up items by clasping her fingers or signing her name to checks. She also draws and paints, two of her passions.
“This would have been impossible a year ago,” said Coleman’s occupational therapist Lori Ackerman.
During therapy sessions, Ackerman clicks a device linked to the Vivistim system, which stimulates Coleman’s nerves. Initially, Coleman felt a “ping” with each click, but now she hardly feels anything at all.
Coleman also has a magnet she wears on a necklace that she swipes over the device when she is home and not in therapy to keep her nerves functioning.
The device has even allowed her to start driving again. Unfortunately, the device isn’t able to help with her speech.
“I wish it would improve my speech. It’s a little slurred, but I can deal with that,” Coleman said. “I’m 85% better.”