Success Stories

She required the assistance of a ventilator to support her lungs and had to have a tracheostomy placed after a she had a major episode at the hospital when physicians attempted to wean her from mechanical ventilation. Soon afterward her condition stabilized and she was able to start breathing on her own and no longer required the ventilator.

Sheila then transferred to Kindred Hospital San Antonio for continuation of treatment, including physical and occupational therapy. With her loving husband at her side every day and the support from her family, Sheila started to make progress toward recovery. Just a few days after arrival, she was able to have the tracheostomy removed and her speech therapist helped her regain the ability to speak and swallow, and she resumed eating a normal diet.

Sheila was determined to succeed at her recovery and put her all into every therapy session, and gradually made progress as her condition improved and her strength returned. Every day she was able to do a little bit more and started taking a few steps with assistance from her therapy team.

“I have had the ‘A’ team here at Kindred,” Sheila shared. “If it weren’t for my caregivers I don’t think I’d be here today. I could not have asked for better nurses, rehab folks or respiratory therapists. I never felt like just another person in a bed – I always felt genuinely cared for and have been so happy during my stay.”

Sheila was discharged from Kindred to a rehab facility to continue regaining her strength and independence and is looking forward to going home where her grandkids eagerly await the return of their grandma.

Unable to breathe on his own, Roman required a tracheostomy to support his lungs, and he started to show signs that the period of time he was in cardiac arrest had affected his brain. Deprived of oxygen, he developed involuntary spasms, high fevers and seizures. In the ICU, he was essentially on life support and his prognosis was not at all good. His physicians began discussions with his family about other options, including palliative care.

Roman’s parents decided that they would continue to fight for his recovery and that is when Roman came to Kindred Hospital San Antonio. Now in the ICU at Kindred, Roman’s condition fluctuated wildly. With his parents at his side every day, Roman slowly began to improve and his lung function recovered to where he was able to be weaned from the ventilator, and shortly thereafter have the tracheostomy removed.

Not long after this milestone, Roman opened his eyes for the first time and began to answer simple questions. His capacity for understanding what was happening improved every day and his family, heartened by their son’s progress, decided to continue his care at an in-patient rehabilitation facility.

“Only God knows about a young person’s recovery,” Roman’s mother expressed just before he was discharged. “Just look at all the wonderful things that happened here at Kindred!”

Roman, on behalf of all of us at Kindred, we wish you a full recovery and hope that you are able to regain your health in full and continue to pursue your dreams. You have been an inspiration to everyone who cared for you and we wish you and your wonderful family all the best.

At the beginning of his stay at Kindred, Albert was very weak and had difficulty weaning from the ventilator, although he was determined to get better as his goal was to return home with his wife.

His multidisciplinary team consisting of respiratory, physical, occupational and speech therapists, dieticians and nurses, prepared a specialized treatment plan for him and began helping Albert to regain his independence. 

It wasn't long before Albert was successfully weaned from the ventilator. He simultaneously worked with his speech therapist and dietician to progress from a feeding tube to a regular diet. At the outset Albert was very weak, but he worked hard in the rehab gym gaining strength each day, and even though he was limited by pain while sitting in the chair, Albert never gave up and always kept trying.

By the time he was discharged to an acute rehab facility, he was much stronger and ready to get more intensive therapy. At the time of his discharge Albert said; "I am very thankful for the great care at Kindred and especially love my respiratory team!"

All of us at Kindred wish Albert all the best as he continues on his journey to recovery and hope that he is able to return to his wife and home very soon!

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.”