Paula has had many health difficulties in the past and she was managing her illness until she developed respiratory failure.
She had to be rushed to a short-term hospital, where physicians placed her on a ventilator and began to treat her. Paula’s kidneys were also failing, causing her to develop extreme swelling all over her body and she began dialysis treatments. Doctors also had to place a feeding tube.
When her conditions were stabilized, Paula was able to transfer to Kindred Hospital Riverside to receive advanced respiratory treatment and rehabilitation in the hopes of being able to return home with her family. On arrival, she was in a very delicate condition and needed full support from her entire team of caregivers. Understandably, Paula was also very frustrated and demoralized and struggled at first to make progress, but her nurses, therapists and physicians persevered and helped her stay focused on her recovery.
When Paula’s respiratory therapists were able to fully restore her lung function, she was able to wean successfully from the ventilator. It was this milestone that provided her with the encouragement she needed to begin to see that recovery was possible and she made excellent progress with her physical and occupational therapists. Paula went from lying in her bed, unable to breathe on her own or eat by mouth, to being able to walk with the assistance of a walker, drink and eat a normal diet again, and claim her independence once more.
“I am excited to be able to return with my family,” Paula said before she left Kindred. “I want to thank all the staff for everything you did for me. And I know that even though rehab was hard work, it was worth it!”