My mom suffered a stroke on May 30th and, after a week at UCI Health-Los Alamitos, she was referred…read moreto Encompass. The nurses in the stroke and cardiovascular unit there were exceptional--compassionate, attentive, and truly wonderful in every sense.
Through a coworker, I learned that a family member of hers was already receiving acute physical therapy at Encompass, and she spoke so highly of the professionalism and the facility that I shared it with my siblings. Not sure if manifestation did its magic, but the very next day, Gina, the liaison, reached out to me to confirm our interest in moving forward with the referral. She was warm, thorough, and deeply reassuring, guiding us with clarity and kindness.
From the moment we arrived, we were struck by the environment: calm, organized, and thoughtfully designed, with each patient given the dignity of a private room. Gina had advised my mother to bring comfortable clothing and activewear, preparing her for the intensity of acute rehabilitation.
The nursing staff met every expectation with grace and care. A heartfelt thank-you to Nurses Lupe, Daisy--whom my mother called her "my friend," a name they shared for each other--JP, Tiffany, May, and all the others whose names I may not have learned, but whose presence we felt deeply.
The food and cleaning service crew were wonderful in maintaining a clean environment everyday and nutritious meals! My mom loved the food & it definitely provided her more insights on the importance of eating a variety of foods!
I wasn't able to attend most occupational therapy sessions since they were held early in the morning before visiting hours at 8am, but I did have the chance to meet Peter and Cassidy. They were grounded, kind, and made my mother feel safe and at ease during her first shower in a week--a moment she described with profound gratitude, calling it "the best shower of my life."
And finally, to our main case manager, Nhã Vũ and the physical therapy team Matt Lê, Kevin Lê, and the therapist with the earring who was described as "Kevin's student," (sorry I wasn't there to catch your name) ,Tâm & Christine- each of you left an enduring mark on her recovery. Even those I did not meet were spoken of repeatedly with admiration and warmth. My mother often recalls how one of you said you would care for her as you would your own mother and you did exactly that.
There is something powerful in how she continues to remember these sessions. During home PT, she will sometimes pause mid-exercise, laugh to herself, and recount a story or moment from Encompass. Those memories have become part of her healing.
We are especially grateful for the diversity within Encompass, and for the Vietnamese physical therapists who played such an important role in her comfort and motivation. Being able to communicate fully and be understood, I believe, made a meaningful difference in her recovery trajectory.
She is not yet fully recovered, but she is undeniably on a strong path forward--built on a foundation of skilled care, encouragement, and human connection.
On behalf of Cô Phương Lê and my siblings, we extend our deepest gratitude to the entire Encompass team. The level of care you provided was not only professional, but profoundly human.
