Kay
"This was a long journey."
Kay had endured a long waiting period for a heart transplant as her birth heart was failing. When she was finally able to have the transplant performed at the beginning of the year, she unfortunately developed multi-organ failure and numerous complications, including acute respiratory failure.
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Her physicians worked hard to stabilize her condition and finally managed to wean her from the ventilator nearly a month after her transplant. Kay was able to be transferred to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central where she would begin to receive additional respiratory therapy to strengthen her lungs, and rehabilitation to enable her to reclaim her independence and return home.
Kay was completely dependent on her team of caregivers for all her needs as she was extremely debilitated and couldn’t even lift her arms or legs on her own. She was guided by her physical and occupational therapists who worked with her seven days a week until she was finally able to stand and walk on her own and take care of her daily needs. Her speech pathologist helped her reclaim the ability to speak using a voice valve at first and then, when the breathing tube had been removed, Kay was able to once again speak with her own voice and begin to drink and eat a normal diet.
“This was a long journey,” Kay shared before she was discharged. “I had to fight confusion and depression along the way, but I’m grateful for the care I received and for having the support of my husband and daughter every step of the way.”
Hillary
“When I first came to Kindred I could hardly reach my head.”
Hillary was admitted to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for respiratory therapy so she could be weaned from the ventilator. She also had pressure wounds from prolonged bed rest, was extremely weak and malnourished, and was completing a course of IV antibiotics to treat her pneumonia.
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At the beginning, Hillary was unable to lift her arms or legs and required complete assistance from her caregiver for all her needs; but she was motivated and engaged and began to make progress with her respiratory therapists, and was able to be taken off the ventilator successfully.
She then was able to have the breathing tube removed and her speech pathologists helped her regain the ability to swallow so she could begin to drink and eat a nourishing diet guided by her nutritionist. Her wound care team helped to resolve her wounds and Hillary also made great strides with her physical and occupational therapists and was soon up on her feet once again and walking with minimal assistance. Hillary enjoyed the time she spent in the rehab gym and was glad to start reclaiming her independence before she was discharged from Kindred to continue her recovery. “I’m grateful to everyone but my favorite therapist is Dennis,” Hillary said about her certified occupational therapy assistant. “He created an exercise plan that allowed me to get back the strength I need to brush my own hair. When I first came to Kindred I could hardly reach my head.”
Donna
Donna overcame respiratory failure to be able to return home.
Donna was admitted to a general hospital when she developed shortness of breath that progressively became worse.
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She was intubated and placed on a ventilator to support her lungs and increase her blood oxygen levels. Once she was stabilized she was transferred to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central to begin respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
At the beginning of her stay at Kindred, Donna was very weak and unmotivated, but as her respiratory therapists made progress and she became more alert and oriented, Donna became more engaged in her recovery and was able to be weaned from the ventilator. Her physical and occupational therapists played a significant role in getting Donna back up on her feet and able to care for her daily needs. Her speech pathologist was able to guide Donna to regain the ability to swallow safely and she was soon able to begin drinking and eating a normal diet.
After being at Kindred for just a few days over a month, Donna reached her goal of being independent in all areas of self-care and mobility and was able to be discharged home to continue her recovery.
Julian
"The staff here are very, very good and nursing was amazing."
Julian has been battling with cancer since he was diagnosed many years ago and most recently underwent a major treatment, which unfortunately caused him to have a cardiac arrest that led to respiratory failure.
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Julian was placed on a ventilator and remained in a critical condition until physicians were able to stabilize his heart and other functions, allowing him to be transferred to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central to receive respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
Julian was immediately started on the respiratory failure program and began to make excellent progress, leading to him being weaned completely within a matter of a few days, and then successfully having the breathing tube removed. Julian also made significant progress in all other areas of his recovery, helped along by a positive attitude and steady determination to recover his health. By the time he was discharged from Kindred, Julian was well on his way to being able to reclaim his independence and get back to enjoying life and his retirement.
“I was very satisfied with my treatment and recovery,” Julian affirmed just before he left Kindred. “The staff here are very, very good and nursing was amazing – polite and professional.”
Michael
A Long Ordeal is Nearly Complete
Michael lived at home with his wife and was active in the community until he began to suffer from cardiac issues. He underwent hospitalization and received treatment and was sent home, only to have to be rehospitalized.
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A few days later, Michael experienced a major cardiac arrest and had to have a device implanted in his heart. Unable to breathe on his own, Michael was also placed on a ventilator and given a feeding tube. He then remained at the acute care facility for nearly two months before he was able to be transferred to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central.
After a long period of bed rest and immobility, Michael was extremely weak and couldn’t lift his head, legs or arms. He began to receive aggressive respiratory therapy and was placed in the early mobility program, where his physical and occupational therapists began to help him regain his range of motion and strength, working with him seven days a week. The diligent efforts of his entire team of caregivers started to show results as Michael made steady progress day by day until he was finally able to be taken off the ventilator.
Michael then would go on to receive help from his speech pathologist to relearn how to swallow safely and he was then cleared to start to drink and eat a regular diet. He also continued to make excellent gains with his physical and occupational therapy and by the time he was ready to be discharged from Kindred to continue his journey to recovery Michael was able to stand with assistance and continued to get stronger every day.
Donald
So Glad to be Off the Ventilator
Donald is a retired X-ray technician who has been married to his wife, Linda, for 41 years – together they have five children and enjoy spending family time together. Late last year Donald had an acute heart attack and he was rushed to the hospital.
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At the acute care facility, physicians determined that he needed five arterial stents placed and he underwent surgery, but unfortunately developed numerous complications, including kidney and respiratory failure and anemia. He required emergency blood oxygen infusion therapy in addition to being placed on a ventilator and Donald would go on to remain at the hospital for a prolonged period of time before being brought to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
He was immediately started on proven respiratory therapies and made quick progress which allowed him to be taken off the ventilator completely. This milestone was followed by another major success when his speech pathologist was able to help Donald regain the ability to swallow and speak and he was able to begin to drink and eat again.
Donald also progressed very rapidly with his physical and occupational therapists and was up on his feet and walking with minimal assistance by the time he was discharged. He had also regained his independence over the activities of daily living and was looking forward to continuing his recovery.
“I am so glad to be off the ventilator and feel so much better without the breathing tube,” Donald expressed. “I just want to give my heartfelt thanks to everyone for all y’all have done for me.”
Alvaro
His journey to recovery is nearly complete.
Alvaro lives at home and was active in his life and at work until he became unconscious due to dangerously low blood pressure. He was admitted to a hospital and was diagnosed with coronary blockage and had to have a triple vessel bypass surgery.
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Although the procedure went as planned, he developed acute respiratory failure and had to be placed on a ventilator and given a feeding tube. He also developed acute kidney injury and began his recovery in a delicate condition in the hospital.
When Alvaro was stable enough to be transferred he was brought to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central to begin respiratory therapy and rehabilitation. Although he had been weaned from the ventilator, he still had the breathing tube in place and was very weak. With his wife at his bedside, Alvaro began to receive diligent care from his team at Kindred and started to make significant steps toward recovery.
His physical and occupational therapists helped Alvaro regain his strength and mobility and he progressed from being bed-bound to being able to walk with the assistance of a walker. After the breathing tube was removed he was assisted by his speech pathologist to regain the ability to swallow safely and he was able to begin to drink liquids and eat a soft diet, enabling the feeding tube to be removed.
Just before he was discharged, Alvaro was happy to be moving on the last step of care before returning home and was very encouraged by the progress he had made. Now able to get up, walk and take care of all his daily needs, Alvaro was nearly independent in all areas and grateful for the care he had received.
Ondra
"I am very glad that I came here to Kindred."
Ondra enjoyed gardening and participating in activities with her church until she started to develop problems with her breathing. Her respiratory condition worsened and she had to be taken to the hospital where she was diagnosed with pneumonia that quickly led to acute respiratory failure.
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Ondra’s kidneys started to fail and she was also found to be severely malnourished, a condition that had led to her developing swelling in her brain, muscle loss and a bacterial infection.
At the hospital, physicians had to place Ondra on a ventilator to support her breathing and managed to stabilize her condition; however, they weren’t able to wean her from the ventilator. Ondra was then transferred to Kindred Hospital Dallas to receive advanced respiratory therapy and rehabilitation. When she first arrived she was very weak and required intensive care from all her caregivers. Ondra’s respiratory team worked to strengthen her lungs and restore normal breathing. Her nutritionist ensured she was getting everything she needed to help her regain her strength, while her nurses and assistants administered to her daily needs, comfort and medication management.
As Ondra made progress, she became more engaged and participated more actively in her recovery. Although her stay at Kindred was nearly three months long, Ondra was able to overcome several setbacks and was successfully weaned from the vent and then cleared to swallow liquid and food by her speech pathologist. Her physical and occupational therapists made excellent progress restoring greater range of motion and increasing her strength.
“I am truly grateful for the care everyone provided me,” Ondra shared before she was discharged. “I am very glad that I came here to Kindred.”
Barbara
“I am thankful for all the staff that took care of me and helped me get better.”
Barbara recently moved to Dallas from Oklahoma and enjoyed gardening and doing volunteer work for her church before she developed a serious pulmonary illness. When she started having difficulty breathing, she was taken to the hospital where her condition worsened and she had to be placed on a ventilator to support her failing lungs.
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Physicians were able to arrest the development of her illness, but they were not able to wean her form the ventilator. As Barbara was also experiencing serious malnutrition she was given a feeding tube and when she was sufficiently stable was transferred to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
When she arrived at Kindred, Barbara was extremely weakened by her illness and malnutrition. She required full assistance from her caregivers but even though she was unable to communicate she was determined to recover and she had strong family support. Her respiratory therapists immediately began to work with Barbara to strengthen her lung function and she started to make progress. She also received daily therapy sessions from her physical and occupational therapists and she was soon able to start getting up and sitting up in her bed.
Once her lungs were strong enough, Barbara was able to be weaned from the ventilator and she was also able to begin walking with assistance and support from a walker. By the time she was ready to be discharged from Kindred, Barbara was looking forward to going home soon and she praised her caregivers for the care and attention she received.
“I am thankful for all the staff that took care of me and helped me get better,” Barbara shared. “I am so glad to be off the machine and able to breathe and talk on my own again.”
Charles
Well On The Road To Recovery.
Charles lived part-time in Guatemala and New Mexico and enjoyed good health until he developed a fever and headaches and was later found unconscious by his wife. He was rushed to the hospital where physicians determined he had suffered an acute embolic stroke, swelling of the brain, seizures and an infection.
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Physicians were able to stabilize Charles’ condition and he was transferred to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for therapy and rehabilitation. When he first arrived he was completely dependent on his team of caregivers for all his needs as his mobility was severely impaired, but right away he was placed in the “Move Early” program designed to get patients up and out of bed. Charles was also disoriented and was having difficulty with comprehension and problem-solving skills as a result of the injury to his brain from the stroke and encephalopathy.
A multidisciplinary team consisting of physicians, nurses and physical, speech and occupational therapists worked together to help Charles on his journey to recovery. With his wife at his side providing support and a positive outlook and motivation, Charles began to make progress quickly and he eagerly participated in all his therapy sessions.
By the time he was discharged from Kindred, Charles was walking with minimal assistance and a rolling walker. He was also well on his way to regaining his independence, able to do the tasks of daily living with minimal to no assistance and his cognition and communication skills had improved significantly as well.
Chayadevi
Heading Home Again
Chayadevi was living at home with her husband when she stared to experience severe nausea, dizziness and recurring difficulty breathing. Her husband, a retired doctor, ensured that she was rushed to the hospital where she had to be placed on a ventilator to support her lungs while physicians diagnosed her to determine a course of treatment.
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Once she was stabilized and able to withstand a transfer, Chayadevi was brought to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central to receive advanced respiratory treatment and rehabilitation with the hope of returning home with her husband. When she first arrived, Chayadevi was very weak and dependent on the ventilator for oxygen and a feeding tube for nutrition, and her team of caregivers and nurses for all her daily needs. Her respiratory therapists began to strengthen her lungs as her physical and occupational therapists assisted her with regaining her mobility and overall strength.
Chayadevi responded very quickly to her treatment plan, and with great support from her family who were always at her side was soon weaned successfully from the ventilator. In the rehab gym she also did very well and was soon walking without assistance and able to resume activities of daily life.
In less than a month, Chayadevi was able to be discharged from Kindred to return home with her husband. She was pleased to have been able to overcome her health challenges and looked forward to continuing on her journey to recovery.
Hunter
Determined To Regain His Independence And Return Home
Hunter began experiencing severe pain in his abdomen and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. At the regional hospital he was diagnosed as suffering from an acutely swollen gall bladder and was transferred to an acute care hospital to receive a higher level of care when he developed respiratory failure and had to be placed on a ventilator.
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Unable to eat or drink and severely weakened by his condition, Hunter also required the placement of a feeding tube to administer nutrition. When he had been successfully stabilized, he was brought to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
With strong family support at his side and a positive attitude, Hunter began to make progress toward recovery. His respiratory team helped him regain most of his lung function as he also began to do physical and occupational therapy, and although he was still relying on partial ventilator support, his speech therapist was able to help Hunter communicate with a speech valve and also to begin drinking and eating a modified diet.
By the time he was discharged from Kindred, Hunter was closer to meeting his goal and become fully independent again. He was able to walk with minimal assistance and do many of the activities of daily living and he looked forward to completing his journey to recovery and returning home again.
Scott
Long Road To Recovery
When Scott had a heart transplant, his recovery plan became more complicated when he developed acute respiratory failure and had a heart seizure. He was transferred from the ICU at the hospital where he had his surgery over 6 months prior to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for recovery and rehabilitation.
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When he arrived at Kindred, Scott was extremely debilitated from extended bed rest and inactivity. He was also still dealing with cognitive issues brought on by swelling of his brain. Scott also was completely dependent on his care team for all his needs and mobility, and although his condition was very serious, he had great support from his family and friends who provided encouragement every day for him to participate in his physical and occupational rehabilitation.
Scott made excellent progress under the guidance of his team of caregivers and he was able to regain the ability to breathe on his own, make substantial progress toward recovering his independence by performing the simple tasks of daily living, and was soon able to walk with the aid of a walker before leaving Kindred.
James
On A Journey To Recovery
James was living at home with his brothers when he developed severe shortness of breath and had to be taken to the ER. He was diagnosed to be suffering from acute respiratory failure and he had to be placed on a ventilator.
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After he had been stabilized at the general hospital, James was brought to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central to receive advanced respiratory care and rehabilitation. When he first arrived, James was unable to sit up on the side of his bed or walk. His respiratory therapists worked diligently with James on a daily basis to improve his lung strength and he made excellent progress – from being totally dependent on the ventilator to successfully being able to wean from mechanical support and breathing on his own.
James was now able to begin participating in daily physical and occupational therapy sessions in the rehab gym and was able to make significant progress toward regaining his independence. Everyone on his care team was always impressed by his positive attitude and his contagious smile, and he readily inspired other patients with his energy and encouragement.
By the time James left Kindred, he was able to stand up and walk with minimal assistance and was looking forward to continuing his journey to recovery.
Mildred
Very Pleased With Care
Mildred, a resident at an independent living facility, started to have difficulty breathing. As her shortness of breath became worse, she was taken to the hospital and diagnosed as suffering from respiratory failure.
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Doctors had to place her on a ventilator to support her breathing and Mildred also needed a feeding tube as she was unable to swallow. At the hospital, Mildred remained on the ventilator as physicians were unable to wean her from the vent.
Mildred then came to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for advanced respiratory care and rehabilitation. When she arrived she required full assistance and was unable to take care of her daily needs. She began to make progress under the care of her team of respiratory therapists, and she was eager to participate with her physical and occupational therapists to regain her mobility and independence through the Move Out of Bed Early program.
As soon as Mildred was able to wean from the ventilator, she made excellent progress in all other areas of her recovery and was soon walking the hallways at the hospital with minimal assistance and the aid of a walker. Her speech therapist helped her regain the ability to swallow and Mildred was able to begin eating and drinking again.
“My daughter and I are both very pleased with the care I received while here at Kindred,” Mildred shared before she was discharged. “I have never been at another facility where everyone – no matter what department they were in – would stop by and say hello and greet me on a daily basis.”
Ronda
So Positive And Supportive
Ronda checked in to a general hospital when a large protrusion in her abdomen began to get worse. She was diagnosed as having a large hernia that required surgery. Due to other health complications, she also required additional operations and developed respiratory failure after the surgery. To complicate matters even more, Ronda was diagnosed to be suffering from diabetes and had to begin dialysis treatments.
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When her condition had stabilized, Ronda came to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for advanced wound care and preparation for the placement of a graft to seal the site of her surgery. At the beginning of her stay, Ronda was extremely depressed by her new diagnoses and her large and complex wound. But with the aid of her team of caregivers and support from her family, she rallied, complying with new dietary restrictions and participating in physical and occupational therapy.
She returned to the general hospital for a couple of days to complete the skin graft surgery and then came back to Kindred to continue her recovery and receive dedicated wound care. Her wound site improved rapidly and she was nearly healed by the time she was discharged from Kindred.
“I didn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel when I first got here,” Ronda recalled. “If y’all hadn’t been so positive and supportive, I don’t know if I could have done this without you. Thank you!”
Keith
Well On His Way To Recovery
Keith came to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central to recover from heart failure and surgery. He was extremely weak and required full assistance for all his needs.
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His care team of nurses, therapists and physicians worked together to help Keith in all aspects of his recovery and, as he began to get stronger, his motivation to participate in rehab increased. He participated in the Early Mobility and Cardiac Rehabilitation programs and started to make significant progress.
Within a short time, Keith was able to walk with minimal assistance and the aid of a walker. He also regained a great deal of his independence and was soon able to perform activities of daily living with help from his occupational therapists.
In a short time, Keith was able to go from Kindred to a rehab facility to continue his journey to recovery and return home with his family.