Finding calm in the storm

When James had a stroke at age 54, his life—and his sister’s—changed overnight. As his healthcare proxy, Maria suddenly had to make every medical decision, navigate care transitions, and fight for the support her brother needed to recover.

James spent time in the ICU, then moved to a rehab hospital, and later to a skilled nursing facility that left Maria deeply concerned. She struggled to get straight answers, was met with red tape at every turn, and worried constantly that her brother wasn’t safe or being cared for properly.

“I work in healthcare myself,” Maria said. “But even with my experience, I felt helpless.”

That changed when she connected with Cathy, a Care Manager at WellSense.

From the first call, Cathy stood out. Her calm voice and steady presence were a relief after so many frustrating conversations. Cathy listened carefully, asked the right questions, and always followed through. When James was at risk of being discharged to a home that wasn’t wheelchair accessible—with no home health care and no shower equipment—Cathy stepped in.

She worked closely with Maria to confirm her concerns, connect her with the right resources, and explain what needed to happen next. Cathy made calls, tracked down medical records, and made sure nothing slipped through the cracks.

“She never made me feel like a bother,” Maria said. “She always called me back, always had answers, and never once said she couldn’t help.”

With Cathy’s support, James and Maria were no longer alone in the process. Instead of roadblocks, they had a partner. And for Maria, each follow-up call from Cathy brought a sense of relief—not stress.

“She gave me hope,” Maria said. “And she reminded me that someone was in our corner.”

Names and locations have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.