From Wheelchair to Walking: Marlene’s Road Back to Independence
How pulmonary rehabilitation helped one 86-year-old reclaim her strength and mobility
At 86, Marlene Seech knows what resilience looks like. After years of living with an autoimmune disease, her health took a sudden and frightening turn last year when vasculitis caused bleeding ulcers and dangerously low hemoglobin levels. A fall in her apartment led to an emergency hospitalization that changed her life.
“I was very weak. I couldn’t do anything on my own,” Marlene said.
She was admitted to Bronson Battle Creek Hospital before being transferred for specialized care at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, where she spent nine days under the close watch of doctors and nurses. “They were all so caring and thoughtful. It was a good experience,” she said.
After her hospitalization, Marlene returned home to the independent senior living community in Battle Creek where she lives. But now, she depends on a wheelchair – her strength was gone, and with it, much of her independence.
“That wheelchair was like a prison,” Marlene said. “I couldn’t go anywhere. I couldn’t visit my family because their homes weren’t wheelchair accessible.”
At the recommendation of her pulmonologist, Dr. Eric Smith, Marlene enrolled in Bronson Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services in Battle Creek, where she visits twice a week. She is scheduled to complete rehab at the end of January 2026 because of her remarkable progress.
Under the care of pulmonary rehab specialists Lon Letcher and Amanda Reis, Marlene committed herself fully to the work. When she first started, Lon helped her stand from her wheelchair and asked her to see how far she could go. “I could only shuffle two steps,” says Marlene. “Now I can walk 25 minutes on the treadmill.”
The moment she walked into rehab without her wheelchair for the first time last month is something Marlene will never forget. “The whole staff was hooting and hollering,” she said with a laugh.
Today, Marlene primarily uses a walker and only uses her wheelchair when she is fatigued. She can visit family, live independently and return to one of the things she loves most: volunteering at the food bank.
“Pulmonary rehab has allowed me to keep doing that,” she said. “I love being active in my community.”
Marlene’s advice to others starting their own rehabilitation journey is simple: “Make up your mind to work hard. A positive attitude makes all the difference.”
At Bronson Pulmonary Rehabilitation Services in Battle Creek, Marlene found more than therapy. She found her freedom again.
Watch Marlene's video:
