Penny Humphrey has a magic number on the brain: 60.
Right now, she’s sitting at 56 steps per minute on the NuStep during therapy. Four little steps might sound like small potatoes to the rest of us, but Penny knows the work and determination it takes to bridge that gap.
“I’m going to do it,” she says. And she’s putting in the work to get there. At Edgewood Sioux Falls Prairie Crossings, Penny is famous for two things: her absolute refusal to quit and her warmth. She’s the unofficial welcome wagon, inviting new neighbors to join her at lunch and turning an intimidating new zip code into a cozy home.
Getting back to being the community rock took some serious heavy lifting, though. And Penny was ready to roll up her sleeves.
Penny moved into Edgewood Sioux Falls Prairie Crossings in December 2017. In November 2018, she met Alaina Young, CaringEdge occupational therapist and Therapy Team Lead. Between chronic back pain, multiple falls, and arm weakness that made it difficult to hold utensils, Penny’s world had gotten smaller.
After five back surgeries and a frightening fall with her walker, a wheelchair became her primary way of getting around. Weakness in her hands made dressing and personal care difficult. She was sleeping in a recliner because getting in and out of bed felt out of reach.
Her wish list was refreshingly real: walk again, tackle her morning routine, and spend more time with family beyond her apartment walls. Penny had places to be.
“Right off the bat, Penny was willing to do whatever it took,” says Alaina.
Team Penny got to work. Her physical and occupational therapists helped her build strength, improve balance, increase endurance, and practice the everyday tasks that would give her more independence.
Today, she’s chasing 60 steps per minute on the NuStep, determined to beat her personal best of 56. Those four extra steps have plenty of life behind them, and Penny intends to get there.
Today, Penny’s cruising to meals and around the community with her front-wheeled walker. The wheelchair hasn’t retired; it still does heavy-duty lifting inside her apartment for laundry and putting clothes away, but now she calls the shots on how she gets around.
The scoreboard of progress is stacked:
These aren’t Olympic-sized milestones that make the local evening news, but facing the day on your own terms? That changes everything. Her world didn’t just expand inside her apartment, either. Penny’s climbing in and out of cars to see loved ones, and she can even tackle the stairs at her son’s house with a little support to join the party upstairs.
Every win buys her a ticket to the life she actually wants to live.
Penny is the kind of person who makes a place feel like family.
Let’s be real: progress is a bumpy road. Penny remembers the tearful days when progress felt especially hard, but she also remembers the squad cheering her on through those frustrating moments.
“Alaina says, ‘Yes, you can. Yes, you can,’” Penny shares. “The whole team roots you on. They’ve got my back. They don’t make me; they guide me.”
It’s a true partnership. Penny doesn’t just show up; she brings ideas to the table. When her environment tries to trip her up, she brainstorms tweaks with her therapists to make life smoother. She’s the co-pilot of her own recovery.
What’s all this hard work for? Bingo, craft sessions, and Friday happy hours, for starters. Penny’s out here living her best life on community boat rides, library trips, and outings to the Sioux Empire Fair.
And then, of course, there’s the holy grail: family dinner. Penny recently celebrated her birthday at T.C. Referee’s, her favorite spot for country-fried steak, mashed potatoes, and gravy.
Every extra ounce of strength means she gets to say a resounding “yes!” to the things she loves. And her neighbors at Edgewood Sioux Falls Prairie Crossings reap the rewards of her vibrant energy, too.
A Seat at Penny’s Table
Executive Director Carmen Dougherty puts it best: Penny makes people feel seen. When a new resident walks through the door, Penny is often the first person extending a hand and pulling up a chair.
As her confidence and independence have soared, so has her capacity to be that familiar, friendly face making room at the table.
This National Physical Therapy Month, Penny’s story reminds us how much life can fit into a therapy goal. For her, progress means walking to lunch, climbing the stairs at her son’s home, and welcoming a new neighbor to her table. Every bit of progress means more freedom to do what matters to her. And if Penny has anything to say about it, those 60 steps are right around the corner.
Reach out today to info@caringedge.com to learn about CaringEdge therapy services available near you.
Whether your goal is getting dressed more easily or getting out for family dinner, it matters.
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