Simyoulim came to Kindred Hospital Paramount about six months after being told she had only this amount of time to live due to the breast cancer that had metastasized throughout her body. Her primary oncologist who recommended that she come to Kindred had been treating her with chemotherapy, and after her long struggle Simyoulim was in a very delicate condition, depending on a ventilator to support her lungs, a feeding tube for nutrition and IV lines to administer medication and fluids.
At the beginning of her stay at Kindred, Simyoulim was treated by her respiratory therapists, started a course of IV antibiotics and began receiving much-needed nutritional support. Her caregivers also managed the drainage tubes in her chest and closely monitored her heart as she was suffering from an irregular heartbeat. With her mother and brother at her side, and with abundant support and encouragement from her team of caregivers, Simyoulim slowly began to regain her strength and reached a major milestone when she was able to be successfully weaned from the ventilator.
Simyoulim’s speech pathologist ensured that she was able to swallow safely and use her voice again. This enabled Simyoulim to begin drinking and eating a modified diet at first, leading to a normal diet and being able to have the feeding tube and IV lines removed. Other major accomplishments included regaining the ability at first to sit up then get out of bed, and then walk and even climb stairs unassisted in the therapy gym. Her physical and occupational therapists were instrumental in helping Simyoulim regain her mobility and independence over the tasks of daily life and her positive attitude once again drew everyone to her side, helping her reach her next milestone.
By the time Simyoulim was discharged from Kindred to return home she was a different person and looked forward to some normalcy once again. “My mom and brother were my number one supporters,” Simyoulim expressed. “But everyone helped me fight my illness and my oncologist, Dr. Nandan, he found solutions and was there for me from day one. I was told I had six months to live – without him and all my caregivers I wouldn’t be here today.”
“There isn’t just one person that we can thank in particular because everyone was special and helped my daughter so much,” Simyoulim’s mother acknowledged. “Her doctors, therapists, nurses, CNAs and her speech therapist were incredibly helpful and I could tell that everyone loved my daughter.”