15 Mar 2026 One step closer to home
By Kelli Reep
At 81, Burt Burrow never expected to find himself recovering from brain surgery. A longtime blood thinner regimen led to bleeding in his brain, something that happened without a fall or warning. After emergency surgery at a hospital in Sherwood, where doctors drilled two small holes to relieve the pressure, Burrow was told the next step would be inpatient rehabilitation.
That step brought him to Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, a decision that, years later, he and his wife Shirley still talk about with gratitude and affection.
“I can honestly say I had fun there,” Burt said with a laugh. “It was calm, it was welcoming, and they took such good care of me.”
Shirley visited daily, bringing clothes for therapy sessions and offering encouragement. While she couldn’t stay overnight at the time, she felt reassured knowing her husband was in capable hands. “It meant everything to know he was safe and cared for,” she said.
That reassurance became more personal when Shirley needed rehabilitation after a fall. Based on their previous experience, she also requested Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital and received the same compassionate care. The staff even arranged for Burt to stay overnight during her therapy. “They encourage you to do what you can, but they’re always right there,” Mrs. Burrow said. “And no matter the hour, they come in with a smile.”
Burt arrived at the facility in February 2020, just days after surgery. He would spend about 10 days at the freestanding acute inpatient rehabilitation hospital, a time that proved critical in helping him safely regain strength, confidence and independence. From the very first night, he noticed how closely patients were monitored. When he attempted to stand on his own beside his bed, a bed alarm immediately alerted staff. “I felt like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar,” Burt joked. But the moment underscored the team’s attention to patient safety. That attentiveness never wavered.
“Any time I needed anything, they were there immediately,” he said. “Day or night.”
As Burt’s condition improved, so did his mobility. He progressed from bed rest to wheelchair use and eventually to walking with assistance. Therapists worked closely with him in the rehab gym, guiding him through stair training, strength-building exercises and balance work, always prioritizing safety.
“They put this big belt around you so you don’t fall,” he explained. “They made sure you were ready before they let you do anything on your own.”
That careful encouragement paid off. By the end of his stay, Burt was able to wheel himself through the building, attend therapy sessions independently and even walk on his own with a cane. In recognition of his progress, the staff surprised him by moving him to one of the hospital’s larger, more comfortable rooms for his final nights. “I called it the ‘Presidential Suite,’” he said. “It felt like a celebration.”
Beyond therapy, the couple was impressed by the personal touches that made their stays feel less like a hospital and more like a community. Patients selected their meals in advance from multiple menu options. Burt made friends with fellow patients, including a World War II veteran with whom he shared meals and conversation, and staff consistently treated him with dignity and kindness.
According to Lindsey Remow, BSN, RN, executive director of Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital, stories like the Burrows’ reflect the hospital’s mission.
“Our purpose is to help patients regain function so they may reclaim their lives,” Remow said. “We want every patient to leave stronger, more confident and one step closer to home.”
The hospital is the only freestanding acute inpatient rehabilitation facility in Faulkner County, offering intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy in a setting designed specifically for recovery. With an average stay of 10–14 days, patients receive individualized care from a dedicated team deeply invested in the community they serve.
For the Burrows, the impact is lasting.
