| Amazing Progress |
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by Chris Anderson, Marketing Manager
For the next five weeks, Doris was confined to a hospital bed at Hamot unsure of what the future held or whether she would ever be able to go home again. Her family was contacted twice by the nurses to come and say their farewells as she was not expected to live through the night. Doris was transferred to Erie Specialty Select, a specialized rehabilitation facility, also in Erie, where she spent the next five weeks. The facility recommended she be discharged to a skilled nursing facility in Ohio, which specializes in working with residents with tracheotomies. However, Doris’ daughter-in-law, Sharon Paulson, and other family members, suggested that the discharge planners should discuss the specifics of Doris’s care plan with Krista Roller, Admissions Coordinator for The Heritage Group. Sharon was very familiar with many successful rehabilitation stays by residents of Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing in Jamestown where she is employed as a Therapy Aide. After a great deal of communication, it became apparent that Doris could receive the specialized care she needed close to home and was admitted to Heritage Park on April 13. What transpired over the next two months was nothing short of a medical miracle and a tribute to the human spirit. Living With a Trach For many of us, eating and breathing are essential human functions we never have to think about, until one or both of these functions is taken away. One of the consequences of an inability to breathe on one’s own is the realization that a tracheotomy may become necessary. A tracheotomy is a surgical procedure performed on the neck to open a direct airway through an incision in the trachea (or windpipe). A tracheotomy is generally performed if not enough air is getting to the lungs, if assistance is needed with breathing, or if an individual is having problems with mucus and other secretions getting into the windpipe because of swallowing difficulties. In Doris’ case, the complications from her surgery required that she have this procedure done immediately at Hamot. Not only is an individual forced to live with a trach, but he/she must also learn how to insert his/her own trach as well as provide suction to remove secretions and prevent blockages in the trachea. The nursing staff at Heritage Park is skilled to teach residents how to accomplish these often intricate procedures in a manner that is easy for the resident to comprehend. It makes the process of living with a tracheotomy more successful. Amazing Progress When Doris arrived at Heritage Park Rehab & Skilled Nursing, she did so in a wheelchair. She could not walk, eat, or breathe without assistance. The Therapy Department designed a comprehensive rehabilitation program which included extensive Physical Therapy to help her get back on her feet again. In addition, Doris understandably had difficulty swallowing and breathing, and her ability to eat was severely limited. As part of the rehab process, she also received Speech Therapy. This included traditional dysphagia therapy with speech pathologist Sue Ann Holler, who helped Doris relearn how to swallow. Once Doris regained some of these essential human functions, her attitude changed immensely. Scott Devereaux, Physical Therapist Assistant at Heritage Park, remembers, “Doris’ quick progress was nothing short of a miracle. She did amazingly well in therapy!” When Doris walked out of Heritage Park on June 15, she did so under her own power. In two short months, she can walk, breathe, and change her own trach without any assistance, completing a miraculous recovery. Doris is also expecting the trach to be removed in the near future. Back Home According to Doris, “The staff at Heritage Park was wonderful to me. People need to know that you can receive good care right here in Jamestown.” She always knew she would be going home and never accepted staying in a nursing home the rest of her life. People often think that once they enter a nursing home, they will never go home. Doris is living proof that this is often not the case. Doris states, “I will miss all the really nice people at Heritage Park, particularly in the Therapy Department.” Physical therapy became “social hour” as it gave her a chance to interact with others and monitor her own progress. Doris adds, “The nurses are also wonderful people. Calls were always answered in a timely manner and I was very well taken care of. I would recommend Heritage Park to anyone because the staff treats you with respect and dignity, the facility is clean, and there are a wide array of activities available.” Going home was a special day for Doris. Not only is she able to live in her own home again, but she is also able to get back to the things she loves - porcelain painting and her seven grandchildren! |
July 2007 - Imagine celebrating Christmas with your family and then, two days later, having major cardiac surgery. When Doris Paulson traveled to Hamot Medical Center (Erie, PA) on December 27 to receive an aortic valve replacement, nothing could have prepared her for what she was about to endure. During and after surgery, Doris encountered life-threatening complications which included a blood clot in her neck, the inability to breathe or eat on her own, and the onset of anemia.