Mike was a very active 67-year-old. He was still employed as a full time lab supervisor. He drove 60 miles to work. He played golf every weekend that he could. Mike also enjoyed working in his yard. It was during this yard work he started having chest pains. He was rushed to the ER where he suffered a massive heart attack and coded in the cath lab. During the cath procedure after he was revived he aspirated in both lungs. He was placed on a ventilator. He had several complications and was sedated. It took mike a month before he was responsive or awake. Because of the amount of time he was in bed he had lost over 35 lbs and most of his muscle mass. The day he was to be transferred to Kindred, Mike woke up. He began moving his arms and legs but not following commands. The first days at KCL, respiratory began weaning him off of the vent. By the next week they had him on a trach collar and the following week after that they removed the vent completely.
The Physical Therapy group had him up and moving in just a couple of days. Mike felt blessed that his niece Jo was one of the PTA’s that helped in his recovery. She had him sitting on the side of the bed in just a couple of days! The whole PT group was great with him. Fernando helped him with the neuro chair. Larry, Alex and Paul with OT helped him with his grooming.
Mike took his first steps 45 days after his heart attack with the help of the exo-suit. A few days after that Jo had him walking with a walker. By the time he left Kindred he was walking at a fairly fast pace with the walker. After a brief stay at an intermediate rehab facility, he is now home and improving every day! His goal is to go back to work and to be able to play golf and teach his grandson how to play. Mike took 4 golf swings last week and hit all 4 balls! He is on his was to recovery thanks to Kindred!
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