Biting back at the bear: Teacher/coach a year into stroke rehabilitation

By Chuck Friedbauer

“Sometimes the bear bites you, sometimes you bite the bear.”

As a coach and teacher at Chaska Middle School East for 31 years, Scott Berg used that slogan to motivate his students through various hardships. It now fits personally, as he battles against the effects of a stroke he suffered one year ago.

“It’s … good,” was Berg’s protracted explanation of his progress, accompanied by a slight stretch of his right foot as he sat in the family room chair of his apartment, with his partner and fellow East teacher, Terri Small.

The fact he was able to sit and stretch that foot at all is testament to how far he has come in his rehabilitation. “The changes he’s going through are big, but slow,” said Small. “It’s been amazing to see how your body can gain these processes back again.”

The stroke he suffered on April 2, 2007, initially left him paralyzed on the right side of his body, and with severe damage to his ability to communicate. He underwent intensive brain therapy and other rehabilitation procedures for six months at various institutions, but has been home since October, receiving in-home therapy from Minneapolis-based Courage Center and Ridgeview Medical Center in Waconia.

Berg is always working hard at something, said Tori Elftmann, his nurse assistant from Ridgeview Medical Center. “He is progressing nicely, and his determination is the key,” said Elftmann. “Everyone has a bad day, but he tries to improve something every day and understands every little thing helps.

”Physical therapy is part of his daily routine. “Anyone who knows Scott knows he will never give up,” said Small. “Scott has had to learn how to do many simple things we take for granted.” For example, lying straight in bed was difficult, as he always wanted to lie diagonally.

Berg’s diet is back to normal, and is past a feeding tube stage.Berg uses a wheelchair, but learning to walk again has been another staple of Berg’s therapy. “He walked down the length of our hall for the first time the other day,” said Small. “That’s 550 feet and he only needed his quad-cane about half the time.”

Part of his therapy includes visiting the Chaska Community Center, where he can use equipment to build back muscle, balance and endurance. “It was little intimidating for him at first,” said Elftmann, “but he’s enjoyed seeing several retired teacher friends there.”

Speech therapy is another area of focus for Berg. As a result of the stroke, he has expressive aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate and limits an individual’s ability to convey thoughts through the use of speech, language, or writing.

“He understands what he hears, but has a hard time expressing himself,” said Small. “He speaks in spurts, not full sentences, and can’t always find the right words, like the time he meant to say ‘Valentine’s Day’ but ‘Patriots’ came out, because we had just watched the Super Bowl.”

Katie Brown, a teacher at Jonathan Elementary who used to swim for and coach with Berg, visits him periodically. “He is definitely aware; his face lights up when he sees pictures of his old teams,” she said. “You know he gets it, he just can’t express himself as much as he would like yet.”

Looking forward

Berg’s immediate future holds a significant change, as he moves to outpatient therapy at the St. Francis Health Services in Chaska. “He’s progressed enough to get to that point, but it’s bittersweet because the in-home therapists have been so good for him,” said Small. “But he is determined to keep improving.”

“Doctors say improvement will continue between two and five years from the time of the stroke,” said Small. “It’s hard to predict because the brain is mysterious and different for each person.”

Beyond the therapy, Small said they try to do the things they always did. Always an avid reader and writer, Small asked Berg if he liked to read the Chaska Herald. A foot stretch stopped only briefly for an emphatic nod “yes.”

“We’ll go get groceries, watch sports on TV and travel to Red Wing on the weekends,” she said. Berg inherited the house where he grew up on Lake Pepin. “He was planning on retiring in three years and moving there,” said Small. “We recently were able to stay there overnight for the first time since the stroke and it was nice to see Scott wheel around on the deck.”

Respect earned

Berg had a difficult time finding the right words when asked what he missed most about his time at East, but “kids” and “teachers” drew noticeably affirmative nods. When asked if he missed one more than the other, a shrug and a smile said he’d never say.

That answer is fitting, based on the respect both have for him. As one of his swimmers, Brown said Berg earned, but never demanded, respect. “It was clear he cared and always made you feel special,” said Brown. “He never yelled or got real emotional, but you knew when he was excited for your accomplishments.”

He was also an excellent coach, said Brown. “He was always highly organized and thinking of strategy,” she said. “He knew exactly what an opponent would do and what we needed to do to win.”

Megan Owens, a Chaska High School senior involved in fundraising efforts for him, had Berg as a middle school health teacher. “He made a huge impact on me and his lessons have stuck with me,” said Owens. “He wanted us to be healthy and active.” 

Small met Berg when she started teaching at East 23 years ago. Planning to leave the school after one year, Berg convinced her to stay with a gift. “Was it your Corvette?” she asked. While he couldn’t find the right word, his eyes flashed, he shifted forward slightly and his knowing smirk was answer enough.

Jill Shipley knew him when they grew up in Red Wing. As Berg’s fundraising coordinator, she received many comments from former students or their parents on how he had impacted their lives, like the following anonymous quote: “His quiet, calm presence always helped me settle my nerves before a meet as he advised me to control the controllables and not worry about the rest."

Fundraising

Berg is now on the receiving end of considerable assistance from the community in his rehabilitation, as fundraising has totaled approximately $27,000 to date.The help has been overwhelming and too numerous to list everyone, said Small. “We are so thankful for everything,” she said. “There hasn’t been anyone who hasn’t helped, from school staff, students, childhood friends, the community and our apartment building.”

“We’re planning to use the money to make the house in Red Wing wheelchair accessible,” said Small. “I can’t buy any equipment or aids now, because he is changing so fast and probably wouldn’t need it very long.”

At one point during the interview, Small asked if there was anything he wanted to say to everyone who has helped him. Gazing out the window while stretching his foot, he said slowly, “Thank … you.”

Scott Berg gets a peck on the cheek from his partner Terri Small. Berg is one year into his recovery from a stroke. He and Small have taught at Chaska Middle School East for nearly a combined 55 years. 

Chaska middle school teacher: 31 years

Inducted into CHS hall of fame: March 15, 2008

Swimming/diving coach: 27 years

Tennis coach: 16 years

Suffered stroke: April 2, 2007

More info: www.caringbridge.org/visit/scottberg

Donations: Accepted to the Scott Berg Fund at Community Bank Chaska or online at www.scottberg.org. 

Act F.A.S.T. stroke symptoms test

Face: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

Arms: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

Speech: Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred? Can he/she repeat the sentence correctly?

Time: If the person shows any of these symptoms, time is important. Call 911 or get to the hospital fast. Brain cells are dying.

Source: National Stroke Association