Success Stories

During his stay at the general hospital, Dale began to improve. He was taken off the ventilator and had the feeding tube removed as well. He was then transferred to Kindred Hospital Mansfield to receive physical, occupational and speech therapy to help him regain his strength, coordination and communication skills.

When he first arrived, Dale was still experiencing significant difficulty comprehending words and simple commands. His speech therapist immediately began to work with him to improve his cognitive abilities and begin to use his voice to articulate his needs and feelings. His physical therapists also started James out on the Life Gait device in the therapy gym that supported him as he began to regain the use of his legs and reclaim his balance and, in just two days, Dale was able to walk on his own with the aid of a walker. He also made excellent gains with his occupational therapist who started him on the path to recover his fine motor skills and successfully perform the activities of daily life.

In just over three weeks after being admitted, Dale was able to be discharged from Kindred so he could continue on his journey to recovery. He was now able to walk on his own, manage many of the tasks he couldn’t when he first arrived, and was making daily progress toward regaining the faculties of speech and comprehension, answering simple questions and following commands. “Thank you for everything you all have done for our brother,” said Dale’s sisters, who had been constant companions during his stay.

After several weeks at the general hospital, Paul was able to be transferred to Kindred Hospital Mansfield to receive respiratory therapy and rehabilitation. When he first arrived he had been taken off the ventilator, but he had to be placed back on mechanical ventilation to support his lungs. His respiratory therapists enabled Paul to recover the ability to breathe without assistance and he was soon off the ventilator for good. His speech pathologist helped him regain the ability to speak and when he was cleared to begin drinking and eating a normal diet, Paul celebrated this milestone with a chocolate chip cookie.

When he first arrived at Kindred, Paul needed significant assistance with all his needs and mobility and was unable to walk on his own. His physical and occupational therapists helped Paul regain his strength and fine motor skills and by the time he was ready to be discharged he was completely independent again and able to get up from the floor and walk unassisted; he no longer needed supplemental oxygen or a feeding tube.

“My team helped to keep me motivated,” Paul shared before he was discharged from Kindred to return home. “I am grateful to everyone for helping me recover, you all have been so great – I am very pleased with the care I received. I told my speech therapist I really wanted a steak and a chocolate chip cookie just before I had my swallow test. I guess getting one out of two isn’t too bad!”

He was rushed to the ER where surgeons tended to his brain injury and multiple fractures in both of his arms, repaired his lower jaw and, due to respiratory failure, had to place Brandon on a ventilator and give him a feeding tube.

Right from the start Kenneth was very motivated, even though he experienced a few setbacks along the way. His respiratory therapists worked with him to strengthen his lungs and successfully liberated him from the ventilator. Kenneth was also assisted by his speech pathologist to relearn how to swallow and use his voice again after the breathing tube was removed. His nurses, assistants and physicians oversaw his recovery from cellulitis and pneumonia and administered medical care. His physical and occupational therapists helped Kenneth begin to regain his independence through strengthening and mobility exercises, and by the time he was discharged from Kindred Kenneth was back up on his feet, able to walk with a rolling walker and gaining more strength and mobility every day.

“I have really enjoyed my stay,” Kenneth shared before he left Kindred. “I came here with one foot in the grave and my team got me back on track – thank you all! I especially am grateful to Rebecca and Ling in respiratory as well as Lewis and Allen, Molly and Theresa, and Thomas who always stopped by to see how I’m doing and always took the time to make things fun. As good as a hospital can be, this one is really the best.”

Jose was barely able to sit up at the edge of his bed during his first physical therapy session and required maximum oxygen flow. During the course of the next few days he received aggressive respiratory therapy to strengthen his lungs and made slow but steady progress. He also regained greater mobility and strength from his sessions in the rehab gym and no longer required a full oxygen mask, needing only a nasal cannula to administer supplemental oxygen.

By the time Jose was discharged from Kindred he had achieved significant recovery goals, largely in part to his motivation and willingness to do the work required to improve. From the first day he arrived when he could barely sit up, Jose progressed to being able to stand and walk with just the aid of a walker and minimal supervision.

Just a month after the accident and hospitalization, Alberta came to Kindred Hospital Mansfield to continue her recovery and receive advanced wound care and rehabilitation. At the beginning the greatest challenge her team of caregivers faced was managing her severe pain and to continue aiding the recovery of her wounds and fractures. Alberta completed a course of antibiotic therapy to resolve her infections and slowly but steadily healed both on the inside and out with diligent care from her team. Motivated, determined and hard-working, Alberta made excellent progress and in just under two months after arriving at Kindred, Alberta’s wounds were closed, she had regained the ability to take care of her daily needs and was beginning to walk with the aid of a walker.

“The people here have taken such good care of me,” Alberta effused before she was discharged to return home. “I was a mess when I came here, and now I am walking out the door!”