Christina: A “Remarkable” Recovery

Christina, 59, is a retired social worker and a dedicated wife and mother to her husband Roger and her 17-year-old daughter. Christina collapsed at home one evening. She was admitted to a short-term hospital and placed on a ventilator.

On May 13, 2011 Christina was transferred to Kindred Hospital South Florida – Hollywood for continued respiratory weaning, medical management and care due to cardiopulmonary arrest, severe anoxic brain injury and hypertension, among others. Her initial rehab evaluation indicated that Christina was dependent in all mobility needs, had poor interaction with family and staff, had no sitting balance and poor eye contact.

Kindred’s physicians and interdisciplinary team of nurses, specialists and therapists initiated a treatment plan tailored to her complex medical needs including ventilator weaning, respiratory treatments, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, physical, occupational and speech therapies and laboratory studies.

Christina was encouraged by her family’s constant presence and actively participated in her treatment. Her positive attitude helped her to recover.

On June 18, 2011 Christina was weaned from her ventilator with 50% oxygen via trach. On July 10, 2011, Christina was decannulated. By July 19, she was discharged to a rehabilitation hospital with only a nasal cannula needed. She had much improved attention to tasks and interactions with family and staff. She was able to appropriately respond to simple commands and was able to tolerate being out of bed and sitting in a chair.

Today Christina has tremendously improved. On August 1, she took 60 steps while one of the rehabilitation hospital therapists held onto her. She continues physical and speech therapy, as well as ergonomics to help her to grab things.

“My wife’s recovery has been really remarkable,” says Roger. “Kindred did its job by weaning her from the ventilator and getting her over to the rehab center where she is now. Good job.”
A Kindred Success Story