Peter: Healing from Near Tragedy

On June 28, Peter, an avid motorcyclist, was struck by an automobile. He was transported to the trauma unit at a short-term acute care hospital, where he was admitted with a traumatic brain injury and subarachnoid hemorrhage. He required intubation and ventilator assistance. He also suffered multiple fractures to his cervical vertebra, jaw, right clavicle and left distal radius.

During Peter’s stay at the short-term acute care hospital he developed a deep vein thrombosis, the formation of blood clots in a deep vein, which required treatment with anticoagulation medication. Peter could not be weaned from the ventilator, so the doctors performed a tracheostomy. In addition to the tracheostomy a gastric tube was placed to supply nutrients.

On August 7, Peter was transferred to Kindred Hospital Los Angeles for continued care and weaning from the ventilator.

At Kindred Hospital Los Angeles, our respiratory department evaluated Peter’s condition and established a plan of care to wean him off the ventilator. After a few weeks, Peter was weaned. Then his tracheostomy was removed.

Peter worked daily with the physical therapy department in building his upper and lower body strength. He also worked with speech therapy and regained his ability to eat regular food. Peter’s wife and father visited daily, actively participating in his rehabilitation and recovery.

With the care provided by Kindred Hospital’s respiratory, rehabilitation, and nursing departments Peter was improved to the point he was able to transfer to UCLA’s neurological rehabilitation unit for continued rehabilitation and recovery.

On November 27, Peter returned to Kindred Hospital Los Angeles to visit. He was able to walk with a cane and showed minimal residual neurological deficits in his physical strength and speech abilities. Peter and his wife were very appreciative of the care and treatment he received at Kindred Hospital Los Angeles.