Larry
“My advice to others is to always keep trying and never give up.”
Larry was recently hospitalized for complications resulting from pneumonia and had to be placed on a ventilator when his lungs failed.
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He faced significant challenges due to the fact that he had been diagnosed with ALS and leukemia the year before, but he had strong family support. Larry was stabilized and then transferred to Kindred Hospital Los Angeles where he could receive respiratory therapy and rehabilitation. The first goal of his interdisciplinary team was to liberate Larry from the ventilator and he accomplished this milestone with diligent work from his respiratory therapists. Now free of mechanical respiration, Larry was able to participate more fully with his rehab team and started to recover his strength. Always highly motivated and supported by his family and a positive attitude, Larry was determined to recover so he could return home and he pushed himself to reach new goals, steadily improving until he was back up on his feet, walking with a rolling walker and able to take care of the activities of daily life with minimal assistance.
“My advice to others is to always keep trying and never give up,” Larry shared before he was discharged to return home with his family. “I would also like to say, trust the process.”
Cullein
“You’re in good hands here.“
Cullein has had a long history of illness due to a rare blood disease that required frequent transfusions and constant monitoring. Prior to July 2019, he had been living at home and managing his condition until he developed additional complications and respiratory failure.
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He was hospitalized as he required the placement of a ventilator to support his lungs. He was also diagnosed with septic shock and abnormally low blood pressure and started to receive treatment to arrest the infection and stabilize his condition, a process that unfortunately proceeded slowly due to the severity of his illness. When he was finally stabilized he was transferred to Kindred Hospital Los Angeles to begin respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
Cullein was completely dependent on his caregivers for all his needs at the beginning of his stay at Kindred. He was unable to move on his own, extremely weakened by his long convalescence, and still reliant on the ventilator and a feeding tube to support his vital functions. His respiratory team began the process of strengthening his lungs to decrease his need for mechanical respiration with the goal of liberating him completely so he could breathe on his own. He also began to receive physical and occupational therapy to increase his mobility and strength and allow him to reclaim his independence, while his nurses and assistants monitored his condition, cared for his needs, and provided comfort and companionship.
The journey to recovery for Cullein was slow but steady, as he continued to make small gains during his stay at Kindred. He was first able to be taken off the ventilator successfully and then helped to regain his voice by his speech pathologist, who also cleared him to begin to eat and drink again. And much to the delight of Cullein and all his caregivers and family, his therapy team helped him go from being bed-bound to walking with the aid of a rolling walker. Cullein also regained his independence over the tasks of daily living and continued to improve as he got stronger and more able.
“When I was first admitted to Kindred I thought I would never go home again,” Cullein recalled. “You’re in good hands here – just trust in the process and these guys will take care of you! Now I’m returning home to my family after being in hospitals for nearly a year. Thank you.”
Robert
“Their support really helped me understand that I was going to be okay.“
Robert is a heavy equipment operator who began to develop a cough that progressively got worse until he had to be admitted to a hospital where he was diagnosed to be suffering from acute respiratory failure, pneumonia and a septic infection. He was placed on a ventilator, started on a course of IV antibiotics and remained at the acute care facility for two weeks. Then he was taken off the ventilator and was able to be transferred to Kindred Hospital Los Angeles for respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
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When Robert arrived at Kindred he was still dependent on supplemental oxygen and required maximum assistance form his caregivers for all his needs. He was started on a soft diet and began to regain his strength thanks to the diligent efforts of his respiratory and rehab teams. With support from his fiancée, Rea, and his family who were constantly at his side, Robert made steady gains and he was able to finally get up from bed and start walking with the aid of a walker. He also regained his independence over the activities of daily life and by the time he was ready to be discharged, Robert was ready to return home and continue his recovery.
“I was somewhat nervous about my situation and my condition, but was continuously reassured by my rehab team, Rea, and my family,” Robert shared. “Their support really helped me understand that I was going to be okay, but what really made a difference is when I was able to stand up again for the first time – that was a major turning point for me. It gave me hope and I just want everyone to know how grateful I am for their help. My goals are to completely recover, marry the love of my life, and get back to work!”