OC Woman 'Starts From Scratch' After Horrific Crash: Good News

IRVINE, CA — Every morning, Irvine resident Cher Bransky stands at the window of her apartment at Woodbridge Terrace of Irvine to appreciate the exceptional eastern sunrise.

A year ago, this was far from Cher's reality — at age 65, Cher suffered injuries from a terrible car crash while trying to take her granddaughter out to buy a present for her first birthday.

"What was meant to be a nice celebratory day turned out to be one of the worst days ever," Cher said. "I was black and blue and swollen everywhere. It seemed like a hopeless situation, but God had different plans for me and wanted me here."

The crash resulted in Cher having to undergo a major back surgery and a long road to recovery.

Cher met physical therapist Dee Joshi when she moved to Woodbridge Terrace of Irvine to receive full-service care. Joshi would end up being the person Cher needed to make a huge impact on her recovery journey by helping her heal both her body and mind.

"I was in a physically and more importantly mentally, a very vulnerable state when I moved to this amazing community. Woodbridge Terrace of Irvine is full of great, loving, and intellectual people," Cher told Patch. "Getting introduced to Dee Joshi was a part of God’s manifestation for me. We lost no time in getting started with my road to recovery, which was not easy, but it was very much rewarding."

Through Joshi's guidance and "Stand Strong," a physical rehabilitation program at Woodbridge, Cher was motived to "start from scratch" and focus on building her strength, endurance, flexibility and mobility.

Now, Cher is able to get out of bed on her own and participate in activities like boxing, long-distance walking and high-agility and flexibility exercises.

"I am blessed to have found Dee and Woodbridge Terrace of Irvine. With Happy tears, I remain so very grateful to have been able to utilize the stand strong program at the Woodbridge community to have helped me find this new life that I have created for myself," Cher said. "I have found new love for myself, and I truly care for my personal wellbeing. With the 'Stand Strong' program I have been able to see my life in a clear lens and know exactly that my life would not have been the same, had I not chosen Woodbridge Terrace of Irvine as my home."