Posted on May 15, 2025
Standing Tall, One Millimeter at a Time
Dion’s Determined Comeback from Stroke
If you had asked Dion Eason in April 2024 whether he’d be standing in a wedding come October, he would’ve told you, “No way.”
Just weeks earlier, Dion was navigating his recovery journey after a stroke—still in a wheelchair, relearning how to walk, and processing what it meant to live with the entire right side of his body affected. The idea of standing tall in a suit, on uneven grass, as a groomsman? Seemingly impossible.
But as Dion would come to learn, everything he wanted was just on the other side of his fear.
Acting F.A.S.T. in a Life-Changing Moment
In February 2024, Dion’s life took a sudden turn.
The 50-year-old supervisor at an RV plant had built a life around hard work, spending long hours every week leading departments and mentoring younger employees. That morning, Dion wasn’t feeling well and decided to head home early. “I told my wife I was going to take a nap,” he recalled. “And when I woke up, I knew something wasn’t right.”
He described hearing and feeling a sound “like a ketchup packet popping” in his head. When he tried to speak to his wife, nothing came out.
“I could hear her, but I couldn’t respond. It was like an out-of-body experience.”
His wife, Marisa, quickly called 911, and they were rushed to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for life-saving care.
A New Chapter in Kalamazoo
The stroke had affected Dion’s speech, coordination, and the right side of his body—from shoulder to foot.
After a month of recovery in the Adult Stroke Inpatient Rehabilitation Program at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital in Grand Rapids, Dion transitioned to outpatient therapy closer to home at Mary Free Bed in Kalamazoo.
“When I left inpatient, my hand wasn’t working at all. I needed an indoor wheelchair just so I could get around my home,” he said. He arrived at his first outpatient appointment in a wheelchair, wearing an arm brace and an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), struggling to walk even short distances.
“I was scared,” Dion said. “But Marlesa, my PT, told me, ‘Just try walking without the wheelchair. Just once.’ I was terrified—but I did it. And that moment changed everything.”
With every session, Dion progressed. He transitioned from a large quad cane to a smaller one, and eventually, to a single-point cane. He left the arm brace and AFO behind. His gait improved. His strength returned. One step—one millimeter—at a time.
He joked that the recumbent bike was his “least favorite part of therapy,” but it worked. “Eventually, I didn’t need assistance going up and down stairs. I could balance. I could pick something up off the floor without even thinking about it.”
Meanwhile in occupational therapy, Dion was regaining the use of his right arm. “Every week, I’d tell my OT something new I was able to do—brush my teeth standing up, use my arm to carry something, just everyday stuff I never thought I’d do again.”
And he wasn’t just inspiring himself—he was inspiring the entire team.
“Each visit, Dion showed up ready to push his limits,” said his Mary Free Bed occupational therapist, Shelby Henegar, OTD, OTR/L. “He was always focused on the bigger picture: gaining back independence and restoring hope. His progress—from regaining gross and fine motor skills to his ability to fully participate in daily tasks—was incredible. But what stood out most was his impact on those around him. He didn’t just show up for himself. He lifted others up, too.”
A Goal Worth Standing For
In April, a coworker Dion had mentored at the RV plant paid him a visit.
“He told me he was getting married and wanted me in the wedding,” Dion said. “I immediately told him no. I was still in a wheelchair. I didn’t want to be a burden.”
But the young man wouldn’t take no for an answer. Dion’s presence meant too much to him. Reluctantly, Dion said yes—and that’s when his therapy goals became very clear.
He would stand at that wedding.
“I trained every day with that wedding in mind. I walked. I stood. I worked on stairs and uneven surfaces. Every time I picked up something, or brushed my teeth standing, it was about being ready to stand at that wedding.”
When October came, Dion was nervous—but ready.
And then, all of his fears came true.
“My biggest fear was walking up steps without a railing,” he said. “And when I got to the venue, it was worse than I imagined—twenty feet down to the ceremony with cement stairs and no railing.”
But the bride changed everything in the moment.
“She said, ‘You know what? We’re not going to use those stairs. We’ll walk down this grassy hill instead.’”
It was exactly what Dion had trained for. He navigated the hill. He crossed over stone pavers. He stood through the ceremony with a nurse on his arm, steady and proud.
“It went from my worst nightmare to, ‘Wow.’ Everything just worked out. It couldn’t have gone better.”
After the wedding, he went back to his therapy team in Kalamazoo.
“He came back in October and asked if he could give me a hug,” said Marlesa Johnson, PT, DPT, and site lead at Mary Free Bed in Kalamazoo. “He said that everything that he was worried about for the wedding happened. But he was able to fully participate and had a good time because we had practiced everything in physical therapy together. He was so thankful.”
The Cheetah and the Snail
Dion’s journey, like recovery itself, wasn’t linear.
“At first, I told myself I was a cheetah. I thought: Give me six months—I’ll be back,” he said. “But six months came and went, and I realized this was a lot tougher than I imagined.”
That’s when Dion had his breakthrough.
“I’m not a cheetah. I’m not even a turtle. I’m a snail trying to go a mile. And if I’m a snail, I’ve got to ask: Am I willing to put in the right work to do this? And the answer was yes.”
“How do I do it? One millimeter at a time.”
That mindset carried Dion not just through his wedding goal, but through the rest of his recovery. He worked hard with goals to attend more weddings, to fly to New Orleans for a family reunion, and to see his brother graduate with a doctorate. And through it all, he never gave up on himself.
“I looked around that therapy gym and I saw people giving it everything they’ve got to regain their independence,” he said.
“Everyone’s fighting to be the best version of themselves. The team at Mary Free Bed—my PT, my OT, the front desk staff—they didn’t just help me physically. They gave me the courage to try.”
Inspiration in Motion
Today, Dion has graduated from outpatient therapy and continues achieving milestones through his own perseverance, faith, and the unwavering support of his wife and those around him. He knows recovery isn’t just physical; it’s an attitude. It’s choosing to keep going when progress feels slow. It’s trusting your therapists to help you reach your goals, leaning on your loved ones, and drawing on strength from unexpected places—like a compassionate bride who, in a moment of resilience, changed plans to give him the confidence he needed.
This Stroke Awareness Month, Dion’s story reminds us that recovery isn’t something people face alone. We all have the power to make a difference by being patient, by being aware, and by showing up for others in ways big and small. Sometimes, the greatest support comes from others—and simple acts of understanding can help someone reclaim their independence and personal strength.
Dion continues to get back to what he loves. Bowling, golfing, cooking, travel, and—true to form—inspiring everyone he meets. He knows the work of recovery isn’t over. But he also knows that every small step forward adds up.
“You’re going to be scared. That’s normal,” he said. “But everything you want is just on the other side of fear. You can’t give up on yourself—you’ve got too much to do.”
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About Stroke Rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed
Stroke is a leading cause of disability in adults, but recovery is possible with the right support. Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation offers inpatient and outpatient stroke therapy tailored to each patient’s goals—like walking down the aisle, standing with a friend, or simply regaining independence.
Our team in Kalamazoo is proud to be part of Dion’s story—and many others like his.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month. Recognizing the signs of a stroke can save a patient’s life and improve their recovery outcomes. Click here to learn more from the American Stroke Association and how to Act F.A.S.T.
Learn more about Stroke Rehabilitation at Mary Free Bed:
