Former Bethlehem Mayor Makes Stroke Recovery Strides at Good Shepherd

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Recovering from one stroke can be daunting enough. But two strokes in a matter of a month?

That’s exactly what Kenneth “Ken” Smith, who served as the city of Bethlehem’s mayor from 1988 to 1997, faced on his road to recovery.

A longtime Lehigh Valley resident who led Bethlehem during the closing of Bethlehem Steel and the city’s 250^th anniversary, Smith’s first stroke occurred in January 2024; at the time, he and his wife, Barbara, were enjoying a night out playing cards at their friends’ home. He then suffered his second stroke just one month later in the middle of a physical therapy session.

Both times, Smith credited the quick action of those around him in rushing him to the hospital for care.

Choosing Inpatient Rehabilitation

When stable enough to move to the next step of his recovery, Smith and his family evaluated inpatient rehabilitation options. Determined to return home and be as independent as possible, Smith specifically chose Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital, 3200 Center Valley Parkway, for his inpatient stroke rehab care.

“I watched it being built,” Smith said of the 123,000-square-foot hospital that opened in summer 2023, “and never, ever thought I’d be here as a patient.”

Smith said he selected Good Shepherd for a number of reasons, including the state-of-the-art facility, a regimen of daily, intensive therapy he knew he needed to return home and the “fabulous” doctors, nurses and therapists.

Getting to Work

With Smith’s decision made, the team on Good Shepherd’s specialized, physician-led Stroke Rehabilitation Program immediately began physical, occupational and speech therapy geared toward regaining his independence.

“I chose to come here because I knew Good Shepherd’s reputation,” Smith said. “And it’s been everything I expected and more than I expected. I had a class-A experience.”

After completing his specialized care, Smith graduated from the Stroke Rehabilitation Program and headed home in time to enjoy the incoming spring weather.

Since returning home, Smith’s making progress daily and enjoying many of his usual activities: attending regular lunch and breakfast groups with friends, spending time with his family and dining with Barbara at their favorite local restaurants.

Getting back to that routine with a successful transition to his Saucon Valley home, he said, started at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital.

“I don’t know that we know how lucky we are to have Good Shepherd here in the Lehigh Valley,” Smith said. “People come from everywhere to be here.”

Choose Good Shepherd Rehabilitation for your inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation needs by calling 1.888.44.REHAB or contacting us online.