An avid gardener, business consultant and happy homebody, Jackie Nagel and her husband, Leon, enjoy an active and content life. All of that was disrupted in 2021 when she was beset by a strange set of symptoms. Her sudden loss of strength and inability to walk was diagnosed as Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its nerves.

Jackie began treatment at a well-known facility and transferred to Providence Little Company of Mary RehabCentre in San Pedro after sensing her recovery was stalled.

Proactive recovery partners
Jackie recalls being transferred on Good Friday and was pleasantly surprised when assessments began immediately. A high achiever by nature, Jackie was impressed by the staff’s approach.

“They kept my expectations realistic while taking me beyond what I thought I could do,” she remembers. “They created wins for me every time I went into therapy. They would constantly evaluate areas where I was weak and plug in exercises or activities to build them up. They basically rebuilt me one muscle group at a time.”

Jackie has a uniquely qualified perspective after two decades as a strategic consultant and her past career as a nurse in the 1970s. “They have a seamless whole team approach that’s impressive,” she says. “From the nurses to the therapists to the nursing assistants, they provided a continuum of care that helped me regain my independence. I would not be where I am without the staff at Providence Little Company of Mary.”

Planned generosity
Feeling immense gratitude for her restored health and seeking a way to express her appreciation, Jackie made a bequest to Providence Little Company of Mary Recovery Center in San Pedro in her trust.

“The San Pedro RehabCentre prioritizes investing in training and equipment. I want this gift to support the staff and provide them with what they need. I hope other donors join me in helping to create a facility that is worthy of the extraordinary work they are doing.”