Victor
“Faith heals all.”
Victor has been battling advanced cancer and he recently began having difficulty breathing. He
was admitted to a general hospital where he was diagnosed with acute respiratory failure and
dangerously low oxygen levels that were affecting all of his organs.
Learn more about Victor
He began treatment and
was successfully stabilized and then transferred to Kindred Hospital El Paso to receive
respiratory therapy and rehabilitation. Weak and easily fatigued by any level of exertion,
Victor depended on his caregivers for all his needs and began respiratory therapy to
strengthen his lungs. His rehab therapists helped him recover his strength and mobility and
Victor made steady gains toward his goal of returning home. By the time he was ready to be
discharged to continue his journey, Victor was well on his way to reclaiming his independence
over the daily tasks of life and was back on his feet and walking with the help of a rolling
walker.
“Faith heals all,” Victor shared before he left Kindred. “Put God in your heart and see his
miracles.”
Melissa
“I am grateful for the care I received while at Kindred.”
Melissa was transferred to Kindred Hospital El Paso after being hospitalized at an acute
care facility when she developed respiratory problems and was diagnosed with COVID-
19.
Learn more about Melissa
When she first arrived, Melissa was extremely weak and depended on a ventilator to
support her lungs and on her caregivers for all her needs. Her respiratory therapists
began to work with her and Melissa responded well to her treatments, reaching her first
milestone when she was successfully weaned from the ventilator. She was now able to
work with her rehab therapists who helped her regain her strength and mobility, and she
progressed from being able to only do rehab in her bed, to doing her therapy sessions in
the rehab gym. Always positive and motivated, Melissa never let her situation
overwhelm her and worked hard every day to get better. By the time she was discharged
to return home to continue her recovery, Melissa was able to stand with assistance and
do more of the tasks of daily life.
“I am grateful for the care I received while at Kindred,” Melissa shared. “The staff
attended to all my needs, treated me with respect, and provided a warm and inviting
atmosphere in which I could recover.”
Kiengsak
“I appreciate that everyone pushed me to get better, and because of my team I was able to go home again.”
Before he began to have difficulty breathing, Kiengsak was independent and active. He was
admitted to a general hospital due to acute shortness of breath and was diagnosed with
COVID-19 and tuberculosis.
Learn more about Kiengsak
He was started immediately on IV antibiotic therapy and placed on
a ventilator when his lungs failed. Once he was stabilized, Kiengsak transferred to Kindred
Hospital El Paso where he could receive ongoing medical care, respiratory therapy and
rehabilitation. From the beginning of his stay Kiengsak was alert and oriented, although he still
depended on the ventilator and required significant levels of assistance from his caregivers. He
rapidly improved as his respiratory team worked together with his rehab therapists to
strengthen his lungs and help him get back on his feet. In just one week after he was admitted
Kiengsak was successfully weaned from the vent and able to speak with a voice valve. He then
had the breathing tube removed and regained the ability to speak normally and begin a
regular diet. Once he was independent again with the tasks of daily and walking with a rolling
walker, Kiengsak was ready to go home.
“I am very grateful for the care that was provided to me by the entire team at Kindred,”
Kiengsak shared before he was discharged. “I appreciate that everyone pushed me to get
better, and because of my team I was able to go home again.”
Jacob
“You guys have been fantastic – thank you for everything!”
Jacob was admitted to a general hospital for arterial stent surgery and had to be
placed on a ventilator when he developed respiratory failure.
Learn more about Jacob
He was successfully
stabilized and was taken off mechanical respiration before he was transferred to
Kindred Hospital El Paso. Jacob was still dependent on a high volume of
supplemental oxygen when he first arrived and would tire quickly with even
moderate activity. With help from his respiratory and rehab therapists, Jacob
improved his strength and mobility and was able to walk and take care of the tasks
of daily life with minimal assistance before he left the facility.
“You guys have been fantastic – thank you for everything!” Jacob shared before
going home.
Luis
“I am grateful to my therapists for helping me achieve my goals.”
Luis was hospitalized after he began to develop difficulty breathing and felt progressively weaker.
Learn more about Luis
He was diagnosed with COVID-19 and placed on a ventilator. Luis began to receive treatment at the acute care
facility until he could be transferred to Kindred Hospital El Paso. When he first arrived, Luis was dependent on
the vent and on his team of caregivers for all his needs. His respiratory and rehab therapists worked to help
him regain his lung strength and mobility. Luis steadily began to improve, progressing until he was able to be
taken off the vent and needing only supplemental oxygen. In addition to therapy, Luis learned energy
conservation techniques to help him reclaim his mobility and independence and he made great strides. Now able to
transfer in and out of bed and do more of the tasks of daily life, Luis was able to be discharged to continue
his journey to recovery.
“I am grateful to my therapists for helping me achieve my goals,” Luis shared. “The friendly
environment and their encouragement to put effort into the hard work required made coming to therapy enjoyable
and really was the only way for me to get better.”
Rafael
I always looked forward to going to my therapy sessions!”
“I was active in my community, living and loving life until I began to have trouble breathing,” Rafael
recalled.
Learn more about Rafael
He had to be admitted to a general hospital and was placed on a ventilator when he developed acute respiratory
failure. He remained in a delicate condition until he was transferred to Kindred Hospital El Paso where he could
receive respiratory therapy and rehabilitation. At the beginning of his stay Rafael was severely debilitated and
dependent on the ventilator and on his caregivers for all his needs. As his respiratory therapists worked with
him, he began to recover and steadily improved until he was weaned from the ventilator, needing only
supplemental oxygen. His speech pathologist helped him regain his voice and the ability to swallow, and Rafael
began to make excellent progress with his rehab team. As his strength and mobility returned, Rafael improved day
by day until he was able to begin walking with moderate assistance, and reclaim his independence over the tasks
of daily life.
“I am thankful and appreciate that everyone treated me well and looked out for my best interests and
recovery,” Rafael said before he was discharged to continue his journey to recovery. “I always
looked forward to going to my therapy sessions!”
Melissa
“I really don’t want to leave – I love you guys!”
Melissa was transferred to Kindred Hospital El Paso after undergoing delicate spinal surgery that led to acute
respiratory failure.
Read more about Melissa
When she arrived at Kindred, Melissa was fully dependent on the ventilator, and due to her status as a
quadriplegic patient, also required maximum assistance from her team of caregivers. Her respiratory team began
to work with her and overcame several setbacks until Melissa was finally able to be weaned from the ventilator
and required only supplemental oxygen. With constant support and encouragement from her team, Melissa’s
outlook improved and by the time she was discharged she had become very attached to everyone who cared for her.
“I really appreciate it when staff would take the time to do my hair and help me put on lipstick,”
Melissa shared before she left. “I really don’t want to leave – I love you guys!”
Ramon
A Rapid Recovery
Ramon was admitted to a general hospital for emergency treatment of a subdural hematoma – a very serious
medical condition in which a blood vessel in the brain is ruptured and can lead to death.
Learn more about Ramon
After surgery and when his condition was stabilized, Ramon came to Kindred Hospital completely dependent on a
ventilator for breathing assistance. He was extremely weak and unable to move on his own, requiring maximum
assistance from his care team for all of his needs. His multidisciplinary team developed a plan to wean him from
the ventilator and begin rehab with the goal of progressing to a lower care rehab facility and then home to his
family.
Within a matter of days he began to make progress and Ramon was able to begin communicating with a speaking
valve. He started a course of rehab therapy to improve his strength and mobility. Over the course of a few weeks
he went from being unable to move on his own to being able to transfer from his bed to a wheelchair and to walk
on the parallel bars with assistance. Ramon was also able to completely wean from the ventilator and, with his
voice intact, he began to sing songs and have conversations with family and staff.
“I’m extremely thankful to everyone who cared for me,” Ramon said as he was discharged to a
rehab facility to continue on his journey to recovery. All of us at Kindred wish Ramon the best and have no
doubt he will be able to recover his health and quality of life.
Billy
Improving Every Day
Billy, 49, was admitted to our facility with a diagnosis of respiratory failure. He had an extra large tracheotomy
requiring continuous management of a high-concentration ventilator.
Learn more about Billy
Within one week of working with our staff at Kindred Hospital El Paso, Billy was able to perform vent trials
during the day. During the second week we worked to get him mobile since he required 10-15 liters of
supplemental oxygen. Soon Billy was able to discontinue his tracheotomy and only needed oxygen and Bi-PAP at
night. Initially he required maximum assistance with all activities of daily living, including getting in and
out of bed. After several weeks of working with our therapists, Billy was able to sit in a wheelchair
independently and walk 100 feet with a walker. By the end of his stay at Kindred, Billy was independent with
self feeding/grooming and hygiene, and needed only minimum to moderate assistance with dressing. After only 28
days with us, he was transferred to a skilled nursing facility to continue his rapid recovery.
Laura
Praise For “Emotional, Uplifting Care”
Before she came to Kindred, Laura
thought she’d never walk again.
Learn more about Laura
Laura came to Kindred Hospital for treatment of respiratory failure and to wean from the supplemental oxygen on
which she was dependent. She was very weakened by her condition and required full assistance with all her daily
needs. Her team of respiratory therapists and nurses helped to reassure Laura and her family, who were very
apprehensive at first. But within just two days Laura was able to be weaned from the oxygen completely, and just
two days after that she was able to have her
tracheostomy removed. She continued to do respiratory therapy to improve her lung function and to participate in
physical and occupational therapy as well to regain her independence. Laura made great progress and at the time
of her discharge to her home with home health she was able to walk with the assistance of a walker. When she
first came to Kindred Laura thought that she would never be able to walk again. “This is the best place
anyone could be to get the medical, physical, spiritual and emotional uplifting care that is needed,”
Laura said. “I thought I would never walk again.”
Joseline
Gaining Strength And Stamina
Joseline, 45, was admitted to Kindred with a diagnosis of respiratory failure. She was very apprehensive and her
anxiety made it difficult to wean her from her trach or attempt any trials with a Passy-Muir speaking valve.
Learn more about Joseline
On July 8 we began hyperinflation therapy and from July 9-11 she was able to stay off the ventilator and begin
Passy-Muir trials. We were able to cap her trach on July 20 and she was successfully weaned off oxygen on July
23.
Initially, Joseline required maximum assistance for mobility and all activities or daily living. She worked with
our rehab therapists to regain strength and stamina and upon discharge she had made significant progress with
her ADL skills.
After 22 days at Kindred, Joseline was discharged to inpatient rehab to continue her recovery.