As a volunteer firefighter, Billy Dachsteiner was capable of handling tragic events and keeping a positive mindset while helping others.

It was a normal Friday for Billy as he worked in the backyard refinishing a shed—suddenly he heard a buzz from his pager. He quickly responded to the call and drove to the firehouse.

As he was putting on his gear, he noticed a tingling and numbing sensation in his hands. While in the firetruck he started feeling weak and immediately noticed something was wrong. His colleague asked if he was OK, and he said, “No, I think I’m having a stroke!” His voice was slurred and he felt his face drooping, both telltale signs of a stroke.

As first responders tended to Billy with his colleagues at his side, all he could think about was the emergency response call. “You guys need to go—there are kids involved in the accident,” he told his colleagues.

As a firefighter, Billy still wanted to help others, even as he was having a stroke.

A Chance to Choose Inpatient Rehabilitation

Once his condition stabilized, Billy sought Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Southern Illinois for rehabilitation. As an electrician, he remembered wiring the hospital building a few years prior. In addition, he had a friend and family member who suffered from a stroke and chose Encompass Health for rehabilitation.

“I noticed how clean the hospital was, and I knew it was a hospital that I wanted to go to for recovery,” he said.

When he arrived at Encompass Health, Billy couldn’t walk or even complete simple tasks. “I couldn’t move my left side or walk—all I could do was turn over in the bed—and it was tough,” he recalled.

Billy describes himself as stubborn, and he used it as his motivation to get better. “I didn’t want to come home in a wheelchair—I wanted to walk again,” he said.

A Care Team of Support

While in inpatient therapy, Billy went through intensive therapy to regain his mobility and independence. His team of therapists, nurses and doctors worked with him to develop a care plan specific to his goals.

“Billy was super motivated,” said Melody Reinneck, his occupational therapist. “I remember I sat him up on the side of the bed and he had no movement on his left side. Over the next few weeks, he progressed and was super motivated to get better. He even encouraged a younger patient at our hospital who suffered from a stroke by sharing his recovery—it was inspiring!”

A Ramp of Hope

Billy wanted to return home, but he was worried since he lives alone. But all along, he had the support of his friends and colleagues, who were working to make his transition home seamless. On Aug. 30, Billy returned home to a ramp built by his firehouse colleagues to aid in his recovery.

“I felt really good about it,” Billy said. “We are like brothers, and as a team we all work together to support each other.”

The Walk of A Champion

Billy returned home with the willpower to walk again. Thanks to his hard work in therapy, he did just that.

As he was wheeled to the edge of the ramp with a friend on both sides to assist, he walked to the front door of his home.

Billy continued his recovery with outpatient rehabilitation two days a week. His greatest victory was walking back into Encompass Health South Illinois and showing his progress to his former care team.

“I am thankful for the therapists, doctors and nurses that stuck right beside me,” he said. “They’re absolutely wonderful!”

As Billy continues to recover, he is excited about getting back to what he loves most—fishing and deer hunting.

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