News About Kindred People and Places
Here are some current happenings at Kindred facilities across the country.
A Special "Thank You" to My Nurses
By Melissa, a former Kindred patient
I was 27 and in very good health. I had just become engaged and was pretty much on top of the world. One night, while playing fetch with my dog, I snapped my head around to follow the ball and instantly became dizzy and nauseous. I had a painful headache and barely made it to the bathroom. My legs felt heavy and I couldn't hear very well. My fiancé came home from a basketball game and found me on the bathroom floor. He convinced me to go the local hospital where I stayed for 8-10 hours.
In the middle of the night, I found I couldn't speak, so the hospital staff transferred me to Presbyterian University Hospital. It was discovered later that day that I had had a brain stem stroke and that I was "locked in". I was in and out of consciousness for several days, only remembering certain instances.
The first person I remember was a nurse in the ICU. She told me she was going to give me a bath. I don't remember her name or what she looked like, but I remember being so soothed by her voice and happy she was informing me of what was happening.
After a week in the ICU, I was moved to a step-down floor, where I actually met Carol, a nurse that spoiled me and made me feel less anxious, both by her voice and her actions. I felt like she was treating me like the adult I was, but also as a little girl that I felt I was at that time. Two nighttime nurses on that floor also stand out. They painted my toenails and even though I couldn't see me feet, I felt prettier just thinking about my toes.
It came time to move me to Kindred Hospital Pittsburgh, an acute care hospital in Oakdale. The first night I got there, Barbie was at the end of her shift. She stayed late to make sure my admittance went smoothly. Later, Charlene threatened to kiss me all over if I didn't stop crying, which was all I could do then. Al gave me a back massage to try and wake up my "sleeping muscles". Kathy was in charge of braiding my long hair to get it off my face, while Suzie was the one who could always make me giggle when I wasn't crying. My family became very friendly with Terri, a nurse's assistant, who took the time to clean my face with my "girlie soap" instead of the bland soap the hospital used.
I was then able to transfer to Healthsouth Harmarville, where my nurses and I would discuss my upcoming marriage and gossip about all the TV shows we watched. They would bring me pudding to take my plethora of pills with, since I wasn't good yet at swallowing them with water. I am now moving everything on my body and walking with a cane. I am also healthy again, thanks to all the incredible nurses I came into contact with throughout my hospital stays. I want to thank them for taking such good care of me in all stages of my recovery. I couldn't have done it without them.
Dale Delivers Message on Alzheimer's to Congress
Boise, ID --- If current trends continue, by the middle of the century 14 million of today's baby boomers could have Alzheimer's disease. By the time the boomers reach 65 years of age, one in every 10 Americans could have the disease. After 85, half of all Americans could have it.
"The U.S. healthcare system is about to implode, and Alzheimer's disease will be the detonator." This was the message delivered to Congress by Karen Dale, Director of Nampa Care Center's Alzheimer's Special Care Unit during her visit to Washington March 28-April 1. While there she met with congressional leaders and called on President Bush to make conquering Alzheimer's a key federal health priority.
Karen and representatives from all over the country attended the 15th Annual Alzheimer's Association Public Policy Forum to lobby Congress to provide $1 billion for research to stave off an epidemic.
"We are in a race against time," Karen said. "It's a race we can win, but only if congress and the President lead us to the finish line."
