Millie Lewis–who was known as Magnificent Millie during her roller skating heyday–has been working with therapists at Landmark Care and Rehabilitation in Yakima, Washington, since suffering a stroke in August. A video showing her recovery process, skates and all, has delighted the internet.
An October 9 Facebook post by her daughter Brenda Mills detailed how Lewis had been helped by her occupational therapist, Chanin Clayton, and others at Landmark since her stroke. The post had been shared over 36,000 times at the time of writing.
“It has been amazing to watch her progress,” Mills wrote while sharing images and videos taken by Clayton showing her mother using a medical apparatus to roller skate. “I want to thank the rehab crew for their hard work and creative minds,” Mills said.
Lewis is reported to have been crowned roller skating champion at the 1985 Northwest Regional Championships.
Clayton added, “A few days into her therapy, we were told she had been to a national championship in roller skating dance. We discussed with her and her family that when she gets stronger, I would love to help her skate one more time. About [a] month into her rehab, we did a home assessment, and at the end, she showed me her skates and we brought them back to our facility.”
Physical and occupational therapists worked with Lewis, making some modifications to a LiteGait therapy device to help her skate once again. Chanin said Lewis was “in her happy place. As we skated through the facility, she was all smiles. She made every staff member and resident smile as they rooted her on.”
