David's story
Family is everything to 45-year-old David Jones. Born and raised in California, David moved to Enid, Oklahoma 13 years ago to join family who had moved there previously. An auto mechanic by trade, David worked full-time in a shop repairing vehicles and enjoyed cooking, going to church and listening to Christian music in his spare time.
It was a typical day at work for David when he suffered a fall. A coworker called 911 and David was rushed by ambulance to the local hospital. There, an MRI showed he had suffered a bleed in his brain and would require surgery to relieve the pressure. David was transferred to OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center, which was more equipped to manage the severity of his injury.
Complications from surgery resulted in David being placed on a ventilator – a mechanical device that helps a person breathe by delivering oxygen into their lungs when they are unable to breathe effectively on their own. David would spend over a month in the hospital, healing from his brain surgery before he was ready for the next step in his recovery – inpatient rehabilitation. After reviewing his options, David chose SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Oklahoma City.
Upon arrival, David admits he was nervous but determined and motivated to regain his independence. He was struggling with decreased strength, balance and endurance. He would quickly tire after walking only short distances and unable to shower, dress or use the bathroom without assistance. His primary goal was to be able to attend a family reunion the following month – an event he had been looking forward to attending all year. David’s physician-led team of nurses, physical therapists and occupational therapists collaborated on a care plan that would help him make as much improvement as possible.
David’s physical therapists targeted his balance initially by having him stand on a balance pad, which is a therapy tool made from a soft foam that creates an unstable surface. Standing on the pad challenged his body to maintain balance and improving his coordination and core strength. David was able to progress to bending over to pick up cones while standing on the balance pad, which helped retrain his brain and body to better communicate. David also practiced side stepping while holding five-pound weights to further target his balance and stability.
To help David regain even more coordination, therapists had him use a specialized recumbent cross trainer, a seated elliptical machine that engages both the arms and legs at the same time. Additionally, David and his therapists practiced walking increasingly longer distances, first with a walker and then a cane for balance.
In occupational therapy, David’s therapists focused on helping him become more independent in his personal care tasks. He spent many sessions in the activities of daily living suite, which mimics a home-like environment with a kitchen, bathroom and bedroom. The space allowed him to safely practice functional tasks like reaching into cabinets or standing for long periods of time to cook or shower.
Occupational therapists also had David use a universal gym – a piece of equipment that combines several weight workout stations into one machine, allowing for a variety of strength training exercises. To help improve David’s range of motion and strength in his upper body so he could dress and bathe himself independently, therapists had him use the universal gym’s resistance pulleys. These exercises also helped him regain his strength so he would be able to complete his work tasks as a mechanic.
David’s sister was able to spend time with him during his 13-day stay at SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Oklahoma City, providing reassurance and emotional support. She also underwent hands-on training, attending David’s therapy sessions and so she knew how to best support her brother’s return home.
By the time of discharge, David had progressed to walking over 250 feet independently without an assistive device. He was also able to pick objects safely and confidently off the floor from a standing position, bathe and dress on his own. David says he felt “excited, happy and hopeful” about his progress and plans to continue his recovery with outpatient therapy.
David had glowing feedback for his care team, complimenting their attentiveness, expertise and kindness during an especially difficult and emotional time. “Everything was wonderful,” he said. “I am so much stronger now.”
David was able to meet his goal of attending his family reunion, further raising his spirits and motivating him to continue working hard to make a full recovery.