After complications after a knee surgery, social media star Diane Leary, known as MeMe to her family and more than a million followers, required inpatient rehabilitation to get her back to her life and friends. For her, being able to prepare Sunday supper was a must, so her occupational therapist made sure cooking was a part of her therapy.
MeMe's story
Sunday supper at Diane “MeMe” Leary's home is more than a meal; it is a tradition filled with family, connection and, of course, delicious dishes prepared lovingly by MeMe herself.
However, after years of standing on her feet, the 86-year-old social media influencer — beloved by her hundreds of thousands of followers for her Southern charm and country cooking — was having knee problems that made it difficult to go about her daily routines.
For years, she pushed through persistent pain, but after fully retiring, she knew it was time to take the next step toward a better quality of life, and most importantly to her, she wanted to be able to continue entertaining both her family and social media fans.
She chose to undergo knee replacement surgery, but her recovery took an unexpected turn. Complications after the procedure landed her in the ICU, where she experienced tremors, chest pain and seizures. Once her condition stabilized, she began inpatient rehabilitation, determined to regain her strength and return to the people who mean the most to her — her family and her fans.
Recovering after knee replacement surgery
MeMe's top priority was safety. After thoughtful conversations with her daughters about rehabilitation options, the family agreed that AnMed Health Rehabilitation Hospital was the best choice for her recovery. Together, they arranged for her admission, confident that the hospital's specialized care would help MeMe regain strength and independence.
Her biggest goal? Getting back to the kitchen so she could continue her cherished tradition of preparing Sunday lunches for her family after church.
“It was very important for me to get back to cooking,” MeMe said. “My grandchildren, even my little great grands, they look forward to coming to MeMe's on Sunday.”
Returning to the kitchen — and her fans
MeMe didn't want her family or her social media fans to miss out on her cooking, so she went straight to work in her rehabilitation.
When MeMe entered AnMed Health, she needed a wheelchair and needed assistance with standing and walking. Her therapy plan was intensive: three hours a day working with physical and occupational therapists to rebuild strength and mobility.
In addition to building back her strength, MeMe's rehabilitation also focused on what was important to her, which was cooking again.
The highlight of her recovery was the activities of daily living (ADL) suite. These suites are designed to simulate real-life environments, allowing patients to practice everyday activities in a safe, supervised setting.
For MeMe, that meant stepping back into a kitchen and reconnecting with her passion for cooking.
At our hospitals, therapy is twofold. Physical therapy helps patients get stronger and regain movement, while occupational therapy focuses on returning to the activities that make life meaningful. For MeMe, that combination was the key to getting back to what she loves most.
During her stay at AnMed, Health, she wanted to get back up and let all her followers know that she would be back on her feet soon. Corrine Gillion, her occupational therapist, helped her make one of her famous cooking videos.
“I loved incorporating your meaningful activity of cooking into our occupational therapy sessions,” Corrine said.
With the help of her therapy team, MeMe made remarkable strides during her rehabilitation. “I loved it here,” MeMe said. “I wanted to stay!”
Back to her fans and Sunday suppers
What started as a way for her grandchildren to enjoy her cooking for years to come, grew into MeMe's rise to social media fame.
She began recording videos of her cooking family recipes. With the help of her daughter, Kaylene Foster, she started a social media account and began posting them.
Her passion for cooking became an instant social media hit. To date she has more than a million followers, and thanks to her time at AnMed Health she's back to recording her famous cooking videos and serving up Sunday supper to her family and friends.
More than a year after her rehabilitation, Meme returned to our hospital, and shared this sweet recipe.
MeMe's Lemon icebox pie recipe
Ingredients:
- Two cans of condensed milk
- Six egg yolks
- One cup of lemon juice
- Prepared graham cracker crust
- Whipped cream to top
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together egg yolks and condensed milk until they are “well acquainted.” Mix in lemon juice, and pour into prepared crust. Bake for 15 minutes, and then let chill. Serve with whipped cream and enjoy!
Health resources
Get more healthcare resources and healthy aging tips from our rehabilitation experts.
