Allyson Gaddis
Before her illness, Allyson Gaddis lived independently in Hendersonville and worked as an office assistant in Nashville. In her free time, she loved to bake. But in October 2024, Allyson’s life began to change in unexpected ways.
After experiencing stroke symptoms, Allyson was admitted to Centennial Medical Center. She returned home after a short stay, but before long, her family noticed concerning changes. Her balance was off, she struggled with everyday tasks like gripping objects, and weakness on the right side of her body grew worse. Within days, Allyson had lost nearly all function.
She returned to Centennial, but her condition continued to decline. Allyson developed trouble speaking and could only say her name. Further testing finally provided answers: she had Moyamoya disease, a rare and progressive condition that narrows the brain’s main arteries and puts patients at high risk for stroke.
To begin her recovery, Allyson came to Southern Kentucky Rehabilitation Hospital (SKY Rehab), where she started intensive inpatient therapy to rebuild her strength and independence. In the months that followed, she underwent two brain surgeries to help lower her risk of future strokes. After each procedure, Allyson returned to SKY Rehab, determined to keep pushing forward.
Today, she is continuing her journey through our outpatient therapy program, working on regaining strength in her upper body and building confidence for daily life.
Allyson has been living with her family in Franklin for extra support. Her mother and sister, a nurse, have played a vital role in her recovery, alongside her therapy team at SKY Rehab. Allyson is especially grateful for the encouragement and expertise of Laura, Preslee, and Mercedes, who stood out during her rehabilitation journey.
The Gaddis family chose SKY Rehab because of the hospital’s strong reputation in stroke recovery and its dedicated specialty stroke and brain injury unit. Allyson’s ultimate goal is to live independently again, regaining full function in her daily activities and returning to the kitchen to bake.
Allyson, thank you for inspiring us with your strength and perseverance. It has been an honor to be part of your journey, and we wish you continued success as you work toward your goals.
