“Oh my God, I have been a baker forever,” Patti Dailey said with a big smile.
As owner of Rustic Crumble Bakery and cafeteria in the city of Weaverville in northern California, Dailey loved to welcome and serve people in his community. His days began at 2:30 am, they often extended for a long time, 12, 14, sometimes even 16 hours, before he could leave the bakery. The rhythm was exhausting but satisfactory.
On January 26, 2025, everything changed in a moment.
Dailey was outside cutting one of her trees, balancing on a 12 -foot staircase in the air with a chainsaw in her hand. “I don’t remember what happened,” he admitted. “They told me that a branch that Corté fell and knocked down the staircase from under me.”
The fall left Dailey with a traumatic brain injury and a compressed spinal cord. She was laughed from Weaverville to a hospital in Redding. After the initial scans revealed the reach of their wounds, it was flown again, this time to the UC Davis medical center. It was admitted on January 27.
What happened?
For Dailey, the first weeks after the accident are still blurred.
“He was at the ICU for a week,” his son, Ben Dailey recalled. “He hurt his column and his brain so much. Once she stabilized, she was transferred to the rehabilitation hospital.”
For Patti Dailey, that transition marked the beginning of a long and difficult trip: 64 days of intensive therapy that would remodel his life.
Hard work, perseverance and recovery at the rehabilitation hospital
In UC Davis Rehabilitation HospitalPatti was treated by Shane stoneA spinal cord injury doctor certified by the Board and director of the spinal cord lesions clinic. Stone is an assistant professor at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
“When I met Patti in the ICU, she had the strength of 1 of 5 in all her muscles,” Stone said. “To walk alone, the strength in the muscles of his leg should be at least three, what he did not have at that time. I remember saying:” You will do it very well. “She did not believe me because I could barely move any muscle.
Dailey was surrounded by a team of specialists: spinal cord injuries, neuropsychologists, social workers, case administrators and therapists.
His mornings would begin with drug controls, followed by hours of occupational, physical and speech therapy. The treatment plan was designed to restore your health and independence.
Initially, I was having a lot of pain and dizziness. She had a slow beginning for her recovery. When the team put their pain under control, Dailey began working hard and progressing.
With a spinal cord injury, it’s not just about walking. It is also the control of the intestine and the bladder. “In that type of injury, the intestine and the bladder tend to recover the slowest,” Stone explained.
Touched by the compassion and support of all
Dailey needed a long stay in the hospital to restore intestinal and bladder strength and function. She began to participate in an intestinal program and a bladder program to obtain more control and limit accidents. His trip to recovery was not easy, but he had a lot of support.
“There was a day I was crying, just fighting,” he recalled. “A very sweet gentleman who came to clean my room realized. He sat with me and with his broken English, said: ‘He will be fine. You’re going to be fine.’ They were all like that, really affectionate.”
For March 28, Dailey was strong enough to get out of the hospital. He could brush his hair, shower alone and use the walker to move. Each milestone felt like a triumph.
“In many ways, Patti is very unique and remarkable in his perseverance. Going from barely able to move the muscles to be able to walk and dress and do things on his own is really impressive,” Stone said.
April brought caution optimism. “I have a few days that they are definitely a fight,” he admitted. “I’ve always been independent and a multitasking. Now, I can’t do everything that used, and that has been humiliating. But it has also given me a perspective.”
Dailey continues its rehabilitation recovery at the UC Davis Point West Clinic. She is progressing and recovering strength.
Moving from barely able to move the muscles to be able to walk and dress and do things alone is really impressive, ”Shane Stone, spinal cord injuries.–Shane Stone, MD
A new health obstacle to cross
The spinal cord injury is not Dailey’s first serious health problem. In 2015, she had breast cancer. His treatment at that time put cancer in remission.
In June, he received devastating news: his cancer had returned. With the pressing need to concentrate on its cancer treatment and health recovery, he had to make the difficult decision to close his beloved bakery. When he announced that on Facebook, the community in Weaverville showed a lot of love and support.
Dailey’s gratitude for the support of his community and the medical care he received remains unwavering.
“I would really like to emphasize the incredible attention I received at UC Davis,” Dailey said. “Both the care teams for hospitalized patients and for outpatients were the best! They definitely made this recovery process easier with their care, love and encouragement. Dr. Shane Stone and Dr. Melala Mehdi are not only incredible doctors, but also incredible humans too.”
