The Fountains at Washington House – Alexandria
“Whatever it takes!” and “Never give up!” are the mantras Mrs. Czekanski’s husband repeated while living with colon cancer. She did not imagine during any of those 10 years they would become her mantras as well.
On December 26, 2006, only seven months after her husband passed away, Mrs. Czekanski accidentally fell down 14 stairs. Her rehabilitation from that fall was the first of several, the most recent from a stroke in June 2010 which left her unable to ambulate.
Although she does not walk independently, her “Whatever it takes!” mantra and “Never give up” attitude contribute to her ongoing efforts to walk 40 feet with assistance.
Always smiling and never discouraged, Mrs. Czekanski maintains friendships she made while she lived in independent and assisted living, and has initiated new friendships with health care residents and rehabilitation patients.