Success Stories

Mark was admitted to Kindred Hospital on full ventilator support settings. His care team developed a plan and he started on Kindred’s weaning protocol the next morning, and in only six days was able to be weaned off the ventilator completely. 

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His respiratory therapists were impressed with his quick progress, and as became more comfortable breathing on his own, his need for supplemental oxygen decreased. Within a couple of weeks he was able to have the tracheostomy removed completely.

Mark expressed how motivated he was to get back to walking and even transferred out of bed to a chair during the PT evaluation while still on the ventilator. Once he weaned from the ventilator it was possible for him to come to the therapy gym and start walking short distances with a walker. As his strength returned he soon was able to climb a full flight of stairs and walk outdoors on uneven surfaces using a cane.

Thanks to Mark’s dedication and the support from his physicians, nursing staff, respiratory therapists, and rehab team, we are thrilled to report that Mark was discharged to home with his wife. All of us at Kindred wish Mark continued success on his journey to recovery!

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He was immobilized with broken bones, fractured ribs and a punctured lung. “Somehow I was able to wiggle around and get the cell phone out of my pocket,” he said. He called his wife, and within an hour a medical helicopter was taking him to a short-term acute care hospital. He stayed there in the Intensive Care Unit for seven weeks and was then admitted to Kindred Hospital. “Really, by that point he was still in critical condition,” his wife said. “He was totally dependent on a ventilator to breathe. The people at the hospital had done everything they could – we just needed to go somewhere where they had expertise in caring for vent patients.” Almost immediately, the caregivers at Kindred Hospital began rehabilitation therapy and the process of weaning John from the ventilator. “He had been on his back for seven weeks, and gradually they kept having him do a little more at a time,” his wife said. “The walking helped him strengthen his lungs.” “I felt like I was making progress, absolutely,” John said. “I’d heard of Kindred before, but I didn’t really know what they did.” Six weeks later, John was released to home care to fully recover. “By the time we left, he was walking, breathing, swallowing and eating,” his wife said. “And it was the teamwork that was great.” “The care was excellent,” John said. “Everybody knew what they were doing and everybody worked together.” “Just excellent.”

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