Success Stories

A bone flap was removed to alleviate the pressure building inside his skull. Once he was stabilized, he transferred to Kindred Hospital to continue treatment for the underlying blood disease that caused the hemorrhage, as well as physical and occupational therapy and rehabilitation.

At Kindred, Mr. L made excellent progress and has regained a great deal of strength and mobility. He walks daily with minimal aid from a therapist and is working toward the goal of discharging directly back home with his loving family, who have always been at his side lending support and encouragement.

Just recently, Mr. L’s family acknowledged the staff and management at Kindred for their care and attention and asked to share their note of appreciation that follows below:

”As the children of Mr. L, we would like to thank Kindred Hospital management and staff for the kind hospitality. In particular, we would like to recognize Nurse Desiree for her outstanding work as a nurse.

“Nurse Desiree has a very strong work and service ethic, as well as high moral standards. Desiree genuinely loves what she does and always does her best to make the patients and family feel comfortable. Words cannot describe the gratitude that we have for her. Her professionalism, knowledge, compassion, kindness, and flexibility set her apart from others in her field. She is an asset to any organization she is associated with. She is the example of first rate professionalism and deserves to recognize for her hard work and big heart.

“Desiree, thank you for the amazing care you provided to one of the most important people in our lives. Kindred Hospital is so lucky they have you, as will all of the patients that will have the honor of being in your care.”

On behalf of Desiree and the entire staff at Kindred Hospital, we want to thank Mr. L’s family for their very kind words and are proud to have been able to help him on his journey to recovery. We are hopeful that he will continue to get stronger and will soon be able to return home.

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.”

Upon admission, Mr. N began immediate treatment not only for acute respiratory failure, but also for a bad case of recurring cellulitis in his lower right leg. He was monitored daily by a primary care physician, a pulmonologist and the wound care team.

In just three weeks, Mr. N was weaned off the vent. By the end of his stay, his required oxygen level was down to 30%.

Mr. N also received IV antibiotic therapy and topical medications as part of his wound care treatment program. Within only 14 days, his painful cellulitis and ulcerations had vastly improved.

With his wounds significantly healed and his new independence from the ventilator, Mr. N began working diligently with Kindred’s rehabilitation staff to get back on his feet.

After just six weeks of medical treatment and physical rehabilitation at Kindred, Mr. N. left breathing on his own and able to walk. Having made huge strides toward recovery at Kindred Hospital, Mr. N was transferred to a skilled nursing facility for continued rehabilitation in the hopes of an eventual return home.