Don's Story
All Don Howard knew was that he couldn’t feel his legs.
The retired police officer, who had served and protected his community for 48 years, was on his way to municipal court. At a traffic light, he was rear-ended by a motorist who was texting and driving.
“Private citizens were checking on me and the other driver,” he said. “First responders were trying to remove me from my truck.”
Don was airlifted by helicopter to SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital.
When he arrived at the hospital, Don heard these three, life-changing words from his doctors: spinal cord injury. The accident left him unable to walk or have any feeling below his ribs.
Following multiple x-rays, scans and examination, it was determined that two vertebrae, located in the middle of his back, were fused together. Surgery was necessary. Pressure was relieved in his spinal cord through a laminectomy, a surgical incision into the backbone to get access to the structures associated with the spinal cord.
After achieving medical stability, his doctors recommended a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program to support his recovery of mobility and independence. Don was admitted to SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Bridgeton for his next level of care.
Upon admission, his physician-led team worked with Don and his family to map out his care plan to his individual needs, goals and hopes. Indeed, Don required total assistance for rolling and sitting balance, as well as self-care tasks. He also required a Hoyer lift for all of his transfers, which is an apparatus that assisted hospital staff with safely moving Don from surface to surface. Don also struggled to use his phone and communicate his needs with hospital staff.
Despite his symptoms, Don had modest, but important goals he wanted to accomplish by the end of his rehabilitation stay. “To be more independent, to help my wife, to return home and start living my life,” Don explained. “I want to watch our grandkids grow up and maybe travel a little.”
With his goals set, Don was determined to work hard in his therapy sessions.
His team of physical, occupational and speech therapists focused on building Don’s independence and strength. In physical therapy, Don focused on learning how to get out of bed, roll from side to side and transfer from surface to surface. He was pleased and resolved to build back his strength. He saw how little things added up quickly.
“I’m trying to be able to sit up on my own, strengthening and core exercises, working on balance and reaching … I learned to pull myself up,” Don said.
Don also made great strides in occupational therapy. A motivated and eager worker, Don progressed from needing full assistance with self-care tasks to dressing and bathing with minimal assistance when he was discharged.
One of his therapists marveled at Don’s state of mind. “After experiencing such a traumatic injury, Don still had such a zest for life,” she said. “It was always a pleasure to work with Don.”
His positive attitude extended to speech therapy as well, where he learned about his deficits due to his spinal cord injury. Through targeted exercises that strengthened his tongue and facial muscles, Don showed marked improvement in swallowing function and cognitive communication skills. Through this process, Don became an advocate for himself.
He also had outstanding family support. “My wife came up for family training,” he said. “My family are helping with financials, building the ramp at home and doing bathroom modifications, and making a concrete path.”
He was especially proud of all of the little triumphs that occurred throughout his rehabilitation: “Building my upper body strength, so I have capability to sit in an upright position, learning to roll and learning to dress and undress myself.”
As he looked back, Don was also thankful for the experience he had at SSM Health Rehabilitation Hospital – Bridgeton. “The physical therapists and occupational therapists have been outstanding,” he said. “The speech therapy has been productive. The nursing staff are professional, compassionate and understanding. I have high regards to all of the staff at this facility.”
In the midst of his challenging journey, Don also learned new things about himself. “As a person, my personality has changed to be more understanding, compassionate, not to hold a grudge and to be more of a decent human being,” Don reflected.
After 34 days and a new outlook on life, Don was discharged and looked forward to continuing his rehabilitation as an outpatient.
“Even though you may feel that you can’t or don’t want to do it, give your best effort and you will be surprised at what you can do,” he said.