Success Stories

Diane would go on to be hospitalized two more times, and each time physicians thought she had pneumonia from which she was having extreme difficulty recovering. The last time she was brought in to the hospital, her family felt it might be her last because her condition had worsened dramatically. She was dependent on a ventilator for breathing and a feeding tube for nutrition, and Diane had become unresponsive and extremely debilitated.

However, this time was to be different. Diane was finally diagnosed correctly with a fungal lung disease that requires specific antibiotic and respiratory therapy. She started IV treatments and was brought to Kindred Hospital San Antonio for long-term care and continued medication with antibiotics. Under the care of a highly experienced team of respiratory therapists, nurses and physicians, Diane began to stage a miraculous comeback.

As her lungs recovered and her body grew stronger, she made excellent progress in regaining the ability to breathe and she was weaned from the ventilator. Diane also began to work with her physical and occupational therapists and was very motivated to continue getting stronger in order to be able to return home and start to sew again – her lifelong passion and something she had not been able to do for nearly three years.

“I have had the best experience with medical care and support here,” Diane shared. “Everyone on staff and the doctors are all very attentive. My nurses helped nurture and support me, therapy got me stronger, and respiratory helped get me breathing on my own. God has blessed me and I walk the halls so that patients who are worse than I am can see me, and I pray for them and that they will look at me for strength.”

Her medical challenges led to her developing an extremely high fever, and the infection caused Vickie’s white blood cell count to rise alarmingly. Her delicate condition was further complicated when she became septic and this would become the start of what would go on to be a very long journey to recovery.

During the next six months, Vickie was admitted and released from several acute care hospitals and a skilled nursing facility. Unfortunately she was not able to make progress toward recovery until she came to Kindred Hospital San Antonio Central to receive advanced respiratory therapy and rehabilitation with the hope of returning her quality of life and independence.

At first, Vickie was very weak and she struggled to make any improvements in her condition, but with her daughter at her side every day urging her on and an attentive team of caregivers working together to help her regain her health, Vickie finally began to make small gains. As her condition began to improve, Vickie’s attitude changed dramatically and she started to put more effort into her respiratory therapy sessions. She made excellent progress in physical and occupational therapy as well.

Just before Vickie left Kindred, she shared some thoughts on her ordeal and the care she received at Kindred Hospital. “This has been a long journey,” Vickie reflected. “Sometimes you just have to hold on to the seat of your pants and never give up. My daughter was my biggest supporter and even though she was afraid she might lose me, she was always there for me. And it helped that I had amazing nurses and an outstanding respiratory therapy team too. Now I’m hopeful for the future.”

He was admitted to the ICU at general hospital when his kidneys failed. He started to suffer from numerous complications and had difficulty breathing. His physicians struggled to stabilize him and he was transferred to Kindred Hospital San Antonio Central for long-term care and rehabilitation.

With his wife with him throughout his long hospitalization, Nathaniel slowly began to regain his health. His team of physicians, nurses and therapists guided Nathaniel on his journey of recovery until he was able to reclaim the ability to function independently again and return home with his loving wife.

“I am grateful to my Kindred team and to be going back home,” Nathaniel said. “The staff went above and beyond and I would not trade this experience for anything. I simply put myself in God’s hands with my wife by my side.”

Diana was transferred to Kindred Hospital for vent weaning and further care. Within a couple of weeks, the respiratory therapists were able to successfully wean her from the ventilator and remove her tracheotomy.

Our speech therapist, along with the dieticians, worked with Diana to get her back on track with her speech and eating regular meals again! Thanks to the rehabilitation, she is now able to walk 625 feet with a rolling walker and she is so happy. Upon discharge, she expressed how much she loved the care she received from all the nurses, CNA’s, RT’s, dietary, and rehab. She even requested to take a farewell picture with everyone included! We are so proud of Diana and happy to see another patient going home!

On the morning of December 16, 2015, Antoinette came back to Kindred Hospital – not as a patient, but as the star of a video being filmed to celebrate her successful treatment and rehabilitation. Upon arrival, she was greeted by many staff members who were overcome with joy and emotion on seeing her again. It was a moment that won’t soon be forgotten by anyone there that day.

In early 2012, Antoinette was admitted to Kindred suffering from acute respiratory failure. Dependent on a ventilator, weak and unable to move, she recalls the support she received from staff that helped her face her situation and overcome challenges.

“I was so sick and scared – I didn’t know what was going to happen or if I was ever going to get out of the hospital,” Antoinette said during the video interview. “I had a tube down my throat so I couldn’t speak or eat. My legs didn’t move. I couldn’t even take care of myself. All I could do was pray and hope that I would get better.”

During her stay at Kindred Hospital, Antoinette was touched by the support and attention she received from the people who cared for her. “Patty was like my cheerleader – she was so positive – she would come by every day and tell me, ‘You are going to get out of bed!’ and even though it took a while and I didn’t believe her at first, she was right, because I did!”

“I particularly remember Denise caring for me because she always would go above and beyond to make me feel better and push me to get better. She helped me shower and get dressed before Mother’s Day when my son came up to visit – which he did every weekend I was in the hospital. She would tell her colleagues she was my sister… her genuine love and attention made such a difference.”

Over time, as her breathing continued to improve, it was clear that Antionette was making excellent progress. One particular day that stands out was when her doctor removed the ventilator and she said “hello” for the first time in a long time. She relives the excitement from the days that followed when her “pastor and some friends came to see me and said, ‘The thing is out of your neck!’ and I said, ‘Yes it is’. They were so surprised to hear me speak they screamed – and I did too!”

Antoinette also made strides in rehabilitation to regain her ability to walk and eat on her own. She remembers “Veronica from rehab telling me, ‘You’re going to walk again’ and even though I didn’t think I could, she convinced me to try – and I did! I was able to stand with assistance, and soon began to take little steps. And Patty helped me to eat again – slowly at first, and then the wonderful staff in food services brought me special treats and things I liked to eat.”

Reflecting on her time with Kindred, Antoinette shares that “Laura down in reception was also wonderful – she told me ‘You’re going to walk out of here’ and you know what? I did. I am so grateful for Kindred – I don’t know what would have happened to me if I hadn’t come here. I got my life back and it’s because of the care I received from everyone – I was treated like I was part of their family. I couldn’t have asked for better treatment. Thank you.”