Local Senior Proves It Will Take More Than a Car to Stop Her

A speed bump in her life. That’s how 82-year-old Sigrid Weinmann explains the April morning last year when, during one of her daily five-mile walks, she was struck by a distracted driver in crosswalk. To most, a double skull fracture, severe concussion, triple fracture in the left knee, broken ribs, numerous other bumps and bruises and 75 days in the hospital and in rehabilitation would classify as a little more than a speed bump – but not to Sigrid.

“My mother always looked at the bright side of life,” said Sigrid from her home at Piedmont Gardens senior living community, where she’s lived the last five years. “My father had cancer,

beat it, and passed away from old age at 102. My family instilled these values in me – we’ll do it, we’ll be ok.”

That’s because perseverance is a word that Sigrid is intimately familiar with. Born and raised in Germany, she and her family left everything behind when they fled the approaching Russians at the end of World War II. They weren’t quick enough. She, her mother and four siblings spent the next two years as refugees in East Germany before reuniting with their father, who was a prisoner of war.

In 1961, Sigrid came to the U.S. to work in a physics lab. She eventually continued her studies, earned her doctorate and spent 30 years teaching at Michigan Technological University, fulfilling a dream to be a teacher just like her father.

Then, on the morning of April 28, 2018, the accident. Doctors told her it was a miracle she lived, attributing her survival to her strict fitness regimen at and around Piedmont Gardens. The severe concussion meant surgery was too risky, so after a week in the hospital, she convinced doctors to transfer her back to the community for skilled nursing and rehabilitation.

“I’m so thankful for Piedmont Gardens – the community really, really helped me,” she said, adding her 68 days in skilled nursing were marked with constant visits and well wishes from family, friends, neighbors and team members. “I was committed to getting back on my feet as soon as possible. Plus, I had a cruise that was dangling there, and I really wanted to go.”

For months she had been looking forward to her July cruise in the Mediterranean. That, and her refusal to defer her duties as Piedmont Gardens’ resident council president, proved to be motivation. On July 11, just days before she embarked on her trip, Sigrid was discharged back to her apartment at the community. She made that cruise, and even participated in some excursions.

Today, Sigrid has graduated from wheelchair to walker to cane, and attributes much of her progression to excellent medical care, therapy and the support she received at the community. She hasn’t yet fully recovered hearing in her right ear, and her balance can be a bit off some days, but she’s almost back to her five-mile daily walks, albeit at a slightly slower pace. She also continues to feed her wanderlust, adding to the 70-plus nations she’s visited to date with another cruise down the Danube River next year.

“I have lots of dreams still, a long list of countries I want to see,” she said.

At Piedmont Gardens, when she’s not lending her talents to some committee or fulfilling her responsibilities as resident council president, Sigrid visits others in the community’s health center. This is something she did even before her accident but hopes her recovery can now inspire others to do the same.

“You help others and others will help you, it’s just as easy as that,” she added. “That’s just how I was raised.”

About Piedmont Gardens

For 50 years, Piedmont Gardens has offered older adults in North Oakland a vibrant retirement option. Just across the bridge from San Francisco and close to UC Berkeley, the community is steps from Piedmont Avenue’s diverse shops and restaurants. Additionally, the community offers residents the complete spectrum of living options, from independent living and assisted living to skilled nursing and memory care. Piedmont Gardens is owned and operated by HumanGood, a nonprofit public benefit corporation serving older adults since 1949. For more information, visit Piedmont Gardens at 110 41st Street in Oakland, call 510-597-6700 or visit them online.