My Friend, My Supporter, My Doctor

On August 25, 2002 Casey Hastings woke up at 21 years of age and could not feel her right leg.  She was unable to walk or turn her foot.  Her grandmother called the doctor and he told them to go to the emergency room immediately.   The closest ER to Casey was Skyline Medical Center.

Casey was immediately rushed in and treated. Several physicians were called in to assist with her condition because at the age of 21, Casey was having a stroke and experiencing bleeding and swelling in her brain.  She spent 15 days in the CCU at Skyline.  During that time of seeing many different doctors and Dr. Robert Singer’s brain surgery procedure, she met an amazing woman.  This woman became her doctor, her comforter, and most importantly, her friend.

“Dr. Christina Burch came into my room and would tell me long medical terms, but somehow managed to explain it in words that a 21 year old could understand,” Casey said.  “She would sit on the side of my bed and hold my hand while I cried.  After two weeks, I had lost all my vision. The room was dark and the days were long and scary. But when Dr. Burch came into the room my world would lighten up for a minute, but then would be shattered.  Dr. Burch would have to tell me in a tear-filled voice that there was a possibility that I didn't have much longer to live, but despite the odds, she would remain hopeful.”

Dr. Christina Burch spent countless hours working on Casey’s unusual case calling doctors all over the United States trying to save her life.

“While I laid there in darkness, I met several doctors along the way at Skyline who all worked as a team to help me recover from my stroke and blood disorder, which was found out through extensive testing by the doctors at Skyline.  Through it all, Dr. Burch never gave up.  Dr. Burch would always come in and say "Hi pretty girl. How are you today?"  Not feeling very pretty after months of not wearing makeup, her spirit lifted me up every day.”

When Dr. Burch would leave for the weekend, she would always come by to see Casey before she left.  After a while, Casey got stronger and stronger and began rehab services at Skyline.

“The rehab people at Skyline Medical Center were wonderful,” Casey said.  “In 2002, the Rehab floor was a work in progress and boy, was it needed!  However, the therapists did what they could in my hospital room to get me back to regular daily activities. They would come in my room countless times and many times I would think, “You’re back again?”  I knew if I was going to get better, I had to do therapy.  I thank all the therapists who worked with me.”

It was a long road for Casey, but two months later and a lot stronger, Dr. Burch came to Casey and informed her that they were ready to send her to a Rehab Hospital where they could give her more therapy since Skyline, at the time, did not have a Rehab Center.  But Casey was disappointed… or perhaps she’d just been spoiled by the caregivers at Skyline.  “I was treated with disrespect and after a week of the below average therapy sessions, I returned home and continued what my therapists at Skyline had taught me to do including my eye exercises, my leg lifts, and more,” Casey said.

Casey remembers how she felt at age 21 being blind and weak, with her college and career dreams shattered.  She says that she just kept remembering Dr. Burch saying, "Pretty girl, you can do it!"

Casey continued doing her therapy at home with much determination and prayer. To this day, Casey still has a strong friendship with her doctor, Christina Burch, MD. 

“She has seen me through college and been my support.  Not once did she ever seem frustrated when I asked a million questions about my medications and therapy.  She has seen me cry, laugh, and just being myself.  Since she called all over the country saving my life and spent countless hours working with me, I could not think of a better person to ask to be my matron of honor than Dr. Burch.  No one would do other than the one person who helped to save my life and still continues to keep me going even out of the hospital.  On April 17, 2005, I stood up with a lot of hope and thankfulness that I am a three-year stroke survivor and now a loving wife.  I send all my thanks to Dr. Burch for telling me "Pretty girl, you can do it!"

Casey Hastings married Todd Liebergen with her friend, her doctor, and her supporter, Dr. Christina Burch, at her side as matron of honor in her wedding.

- Author Marissa Murphy is Skyline's Internal Relations Coordinator.