Janet: The Story of a Fighter

Janet had been ill for some time, suffering from coronary heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. For months her health declined and she suffered four episodes of congestive heart failure. Each time, she was sent home, and each time she grew weaker. Working as a notary, she got to the point where she could no longer gather the strength to squeeze her embosser to do her job.

One cold winter morning, Janet woke up and knew something was very wrong. She immediately called her cardiologist and scheduled an appointment for later that morning. As she walked into the lobby, though, she went into cardiac arrest and collapsed.

Janet was rushed into surgery, where she underwent double bypass surgery. Her heart stopped twice on the surgery table and although she pulled through, she was in very bad shape and on complete life support. Bob, her husband of 37 years, was told to prepare for the worst.

But Janet was a fighter, and although she experienced numerous setbacks at the hospital, she began to make progress and was discharged to a long-term acute care facility. However, she developed pneumonia and a kidney infection, and eventually ended up back at her original hospital. There, she developed serious complications from a minor procedure and she was given three blood transfusions before she stabilized.

After recovering, her family was told she would always require a ventilator and recommended they transfer her to a skilled nursing facility for ventilator patients. Dissatisfied with this option, Janet’s family connected with Kindred, and Bob toured Kindred’s Milwaukee hospital in the spring on Flag Day. As a Navy veteran, he was deeply moved by the special ceremony conducted by the staff and knew by the end of the tour that this was the right place. But Janet was frightened to try another facility. Bob reassured her and said, “This place is different. They will take care of you and you will get better here. I promise.”

Janet was admitted to Kindred Milwaukee in very poor condition. In addition to her surgery complications, she was suffering from respiratory failure, acute renal failure, and was unable to eat or drink due to her ventilator dependence. Bob kept a journal of Janet’s entire ordeal and noted that as soon as she got to Kindred, things improved. Within two weeks, she was weaned off the ventilator. At three weeks, she was eating and drinking on her own and was finally able to converse with Bob. Within a month she was walking with no assistance or devices and could climb up and down four stairs in rehab.

Exactly one month after she came to Kindred, she was discharged home.

On a beautiful summer day shortly after her discharge, Janet sat outside of her home sipping a cup of coffee with her husband and telling their story. She said of her experience at Kindred, with Bob nodding in agreement, “That place was just wonderful. I wish I had gone there first.”