Anna
“All of us are grateful for the care Anna received.”
Anna has suffered from a chronic autoimmune disorder and heart disease, but that didn’t stop her from working full-time until she contracted COVID-19 and had to be admitted to a general hospital when she developed acute respiratory failure.
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She was placed on a ventilator and remained at the facility until she could be transferred to Kindred Hospital New Jersey – Morris County. When she first arrived Anna was extremely weak and malnourished, and her family was uncertain that she would be able to survive. Although she depended on the ventilator to support her lungs and her caregivers for all her needs, Anna received aggressive respiratory therapy. She began to show signs of recovery, and as her lungs grew stronger and she became alert and oriented, Anna participated more fully in her recovery and was successfully weaned from the vent. With help from her dietitian, speech and rehab therapists and nurses, Anna continued to improve until she was able to get up from bed and walk short distances with the help of a rolling walker.
“All of us are grateful for the care Anna received and are excited for her to move on to the next part of her journey,” Anna’s family shared before she was discharged.
Carolyn
“I was independent before and I hope to be again soon.”
Carolyn lived independently at home until she developed shortness of breath. She went to a medical center where she tested negative for COVID-19 and was sent home.
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Two weeks later she developed acute respiratory failure and had to be admitted to a general hospital. She was diagnosed with COVID-19 and had to be placed on high-flow oxygen and started on treatment for pneumonia and other medical conditions. When she had been stabilized, Carolyn was able to be transferred to Kindred Hospital New Jersey – Morris County and started on respiratory therapy and physical rehabilitation. She responded very well to her treatments and soon required only supplemental oxygen to support her recovery. Carolyn completed her IV antibiotic therapy and was able to start walking with a rolling walker and doing most of the activities of daily life before she was discharged to continue her journey to recovery.
“I was independent before and I hope to be again soon,” Carolyn expressed before she left Kindred.
Robert D
“I was very pleased with the outcomes during my stay at Kindred.”
Robert was diagnosed with COVID-19 in the fall of 2020 and had to be hospitalized when he began having trouble breathing.
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He was placed on a ventilator when his lungs failed and he remained in the acute care facility where he had been admitted for nearly three months before he was able to be transferred to Kindred Hospital New Jersey – Morris County. Not only was Robert suffering from COVID, he also was experiencing multiple additional medical issues that complicated his course of recovery, including severe lower extremity swelling and pressure wounds on his feet. Completely dependent on his caregivers for all his needs, Robert began to receive respiratory therapy, wound care and ongoing medical treatments to hasten his healing. Although his progress was slow at times, he had a steady recovery and was able to be taken off the ventilator completely, needing only supplemental oxygen as he began to participate more actively in his rehab sessions. With a great deal of support from his family and his entire team of caregivers, Robert steadily got better and stronger, and by the time he was ready to be discharged he was able to stand up and walk with the aid of a rolling walker and was upgraded to a regular diet.
“I was very pleased with the outcomes during my stay at Kindred,” Robert shared before he was discharged. “I appreciated all the support I got from my team and my family – that helped me a lot.”
Bruce
Nearly home again
Bruce was admitted to a general hospital where he underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. He unfortunately developed complications, including respiratory failure, and had to be placed on a ventilator.
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When he had been stabilized he was transferred to Kindred Hospital New Jersey - Morris County and began to receive respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
With help from his respiratory team, Bruce was able to progress to breathing normally once again. He was also able to recover his strength and independence through the diligent efforts of his physical and occupational therapists. His nursing team helped resolve a problem with his skin that he had developed, and he was cleared to start drinking and eating a normal diet by his speech pathologist, enabling him to have his feeding tube removed. Bruce made incredible progress in a few short weeks while at Kindred and was discharged to continue his recovery before returning home once again.
Edward
Looking forward to being able to return home soon
Edward was treated at a general hospital for respiratory failure, hypertension, diabetes and congestive heart failure.
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With a past history of pulmonary disease, Edward faced numerous challenges as he began his journey to recovery, and once he was stabilized he was brought to Kindred Hospital New Jersey – Morris County for respiratory therapy and rehabilitation.
When he first arrived, he was completely dependent on his team of caregivers for all his needs, a ventilator to support his lungs and a feeding tube to administer nutrition. He was started on the respiratory program and began to make progress, becoming alert and oriented and participating with his team of therapists and nurses. Edward reached a major milestone when he was able to be taken off the ventilator completely once he was able to start breathing normally. The feeding tube was also taken out once he was able to start drinking and eating a modified diet. Soon afterwards Edward was up on his feet and walking again, thanks to the great work from his physical and occupational therapists. Edward was able to be discharged from Kindred to continue his recovery exactly one month after being admitted and was looking forward to being able to return home soon.
Jean
Before She Came To Kindred She Was Told She Would Never Recover
Jean was admitted to Kindred Hospital after being treated at a general hospital for pulmonary failure. She arrived weak, lethargic, disoriented, and dependent on a ventilator to support her breathing. She also had a feeding tube administering nutrition as she was unable to eat on her own.
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Her husband shared the difficulties that lay ahead for Jean: “The hospital my wife was in before Kindred told me there was no hope for her to breathe without a respirator, even her own internist had confirmed this and said the outcome didn't look good. The MD's said she would never come back. The pulmonologist at the original hospital said she didn't have the muscle mass to ever breathe on her own again.”
Jean’s care team at Kindred began a ventilator weaning treatment plan that consisted of strengthening Jean’s lungs and helping her regain her mobility and independence. Within a few days she was able to sit on the edge of the bed and began participating more fully in rehab therapy as her strength returned. She was also able to tolerate the weaning protocol as her lungs began to heal, and she reached a milestone when she was able to have the ventilator completely disconnected and breathe on her own with supplemental oxygen.
“They surely know what they are doing at Kindred. Everyone needs to know what Kindred can do to help get someone who is on a ventilator breathing on their own again,” Jean’s husband said.
Jean then began to communicate using a voice valve, and when she was able to have the tracheostomy tube removed she was able to speak with her own voice and begin eating a modified diet. At the time of her discharge to a rehab facility to continue her recovery, Jean was able to walk on her own and climb steps with the aid of a walker and rails. She was also able to eat soft foods and take care of all her personal needs.
Before she left, Jean shared her thoughts about the care she received: “The nurses and physicians – and my family – are my guardian angels. They all brought me back – the people at Kindred are awesome, all of them.”
Jean, all of us at Kindred are amazed by your recovery and determination to get better! You are an inspiration to all of us and we wish you and your family all the best as you continue on your journey to recovery.
Clockwise from left top: Lorraine Ruiz, PT; Marc Rosenblatt, Speech Therapy – program Director; Kathy Horan, RT; David Law, RN
Harriet
From Maximum Assistance To Independence
Harriet came to Kindred Hospital suffering from acute respiratory failure following a surgical procedure. She had a tracheostomy and was dependent on a ventilator to help her breathe.
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On arrival she was also dependent on a feeding tube due to being intubated and unable to feed herself. Understandably, she was also anxious and frustrated as she was completely unable to move and required maximum assistance with even the simplest of tasks.
Under the guidance and support of her care team, Harriet began to make progress and was able to begin communicating via a Passy Muir valve. The next step in her recovery was the removal of the tracheostomy tube as she regained the ability to breathe on her own, and then quickly began to gain more strength as she was able to eat and drink again.
As Harriet progressed towards recovery, her care team helped to keep her focused and motivated and soon she was able to get up and walk with minimal assistance, and to be able to take care of her daily needs. Harriet was discharged to a lower care rehab facility to continue her journey to recovery and gain more strength and independence, with the goal being to return home with her husband.
All of us at Kindred Hospital are proud of Harriet’s recovery and wish her and her husband all the best!