Ida's Recovery from Respiratory Failure, Severe Infections
When Ida arrived at Kindred Hospital, she was dependent on a ventilator. After working with her interdisciplinary care team, she was able to discharge to an Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit.
A Patient Success Story from Kindred Hospital Melbourne
Ida is a mother of three who spent most of her working life as a teacher and guidance counselor, specializing in physical education and wellness. She is also passionate about nourishment and organics.
Ida was diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 18 years old while living in Trinidad. Doctors performed a total thyroidectomy, chemo, and radiation. Years later, she was told her “cancer” was more likely a goiter from an iodine deficiency.
Unfortunately, over the years, the side effects from her original treatments were slowly causing her airway to narrow, which finally required the placement of a tracheostomy tube. Ida had complications on and off with her airway, even requiring the treatment of hyperbaric medicine in 2018. She chose to retire just prior to the peak of the COVID pandemic and continued with treatments and speech therapy.
In January, Ida was hospitalized with aspiration pneumonia, discharged home, but then re-admitted 10 days later with further pneumonia complications. She was progressively getting weaker and needed a feeding tube placed for nutrition. Ida had several complications, including recurring sepsis, bradycardia (abnormally low heart rate), and delirium.
In February, Ida was admitted to Kindred Hospital Melbourne, where she continued to have difficulty with her airway and ongoing infections. She was sent back to a short-term acute care hospital for another trach revision and readmitted to Kindred three days later, in the CCU on mechanical ventilation.
When Ida had complications with her tube feeding, the dietitians were able to fit her with an organic formula that was appropriate due to her organic lifestyle prior to artificial feedings. She eventually was able to transfer out of the CCU and wean from the vent. Ida continued to gain strength and fight her infection. She was able to discharge to a Kindred acute rehabilitation unit (ARU). She has done well at the Kindred ARU and will soon be discharged home.
Learn more about: Respiratory Care
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