Beverly Ford

Beverly Ford is a woman who has many roles—as a wife, community leader, and mentor to young people. Her life revolves around family, faith, and helping others. As a leader at Great Onyx Job Corps, Beverly works to provide free career training and education to low-income youth aged 16 to 24. Her efforts help young adults earn their GEDs and driver’s licenses and prepare for careers, apprenticeships, college, or military service. The Job Corps provides essential support, including housing, food, and healthcare. One of Beverly’s passions is leading the program’s Monday night class, a commitment she’s eager to return to!

Beyond her work with Job Corps, Beverly also plays an active role in her community in her free time. She has helped organize the FCA Prayer Walk and the KBC Leo Summer Summit. She also volunteers with the Boys and Girls Club. But one morning, Beverly’s world was suddenly turned upside down.

After experiencing right-sided weakness and slurred speech, Beverly went to the emergency room at TJ Samson Community Hospital, where she learned she had suffered a stroke the night before. This life-changing event left her with significant challenges: right-sided weakness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), slurred speech (dysarthria), and total dependence on others for her daily activities. The road to recovery was going to be long and demanding.

When it came time to choose a rehabilitation facility, Beverly didn’t hesitate. She had heard only positive things about Southern Kentucky Rehabilitation Hospital and was confident that we could help her regain her independence.

Beverly began intensive therapy at SKY Rehab just days after her stroke, receiving care from a multidisciplinary team that included speech, occupational, and physical therapy. When she first arrived, she could not roll over in bed without assistance and was entirely dependent on the support of others. But with the unwavering support of her husband and her dedicated care team, Beverly made remarkable progress. She soon began walking over 150 feet independently, using only a cane for balance, and quickly made incredible progress with speech therapy! Upon completing her program at SKY Rehab, Beverly was able to return to her own home, a testament to the hard work and dedication she put into her rehabilitation.

When asked what motivated her throughout this challenging journey, Beverly’s answer was simple: she was determined to recover so she could return to her husband and get back to making a difference in her community. To Beverly, success means setting your mind to a goal and not allowing anything to stand in your way. She has done just that—meeting and even surpassing the goals she set upon her admission to SKY Rehab.

Beverly and her family are grateful for the care and encouragement from the SKY Rehab team. They extended special thanks to her entire therapy team—especially Hanna, Aleksey, Peter, and Tara. They are also appreciative of Brandy Walden, a clinical liaison, who helped make the transition from TJ Samson to SKY Rehab possible.

For us at Southern Kentucky Rehabilitation Hospital, it was a true honor to care for someone who has given so much to our community. Beverly’s story inspires us all, reminding us that recovery is possible with the right support team and mindset!