Here's What Our Patient Has to Say!

As I write to you today, I am at home, breathing with no ventilator support and able to speak. I want to tell you how much that means to me, and how delighted I am with Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital’s Ventilator Program.

In November of 2009, I was in respiratory failure and a patient at an acute care hospital. In intensive care for four weeks, I was given a choice—undergo a tracheotomy or have part of my lung removed. I chose the tracheotomy, and was placed on a ventilator. I was not able to come off the ventilator at the acute hospital, so they transferred me to a sub acute rehabilitation facility to “wean” myself from the ventilator that had become a part of my life. After 100 days there, I was released but still on the ventilator. Discouraged, I went to see my specialist, and was told that “nothing could be done.” For months, home ventilator care was provided to me by my son and daughter-in-law.

Through the recommendation of a family friend, I met with Dr. Brian McDonald, a Pulmonologist. As my visits with him progressed, he encouraged me to meet with the nurse liaison from Sunnyview to determine if I was a good candidate for treatment—and I was!

Within two days of meeting with the nurse, on January 10, I was admitted as an inpatient to Sunnyview. There, the team immediately began treatments to build up my strength with structured exercises, monitoring my oxygen continuously. For three hours each day, treatments included physical, occupational, respiratory and speech therapies.

Neither I nor my family could believe how quickly I began to improve. First, my reliance on the ventilator was reduced. Within three days of my arrival, I was off the ventilator during the day and on the ventilator at night. As my strength and endurance increased ventilator support was removed. All my son could say was “I waited 14 months to hear my mother talk again.” I was discharged and back home on February 7!

Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital gave me and my family our lives back! Please consider a contribution today to the Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation. Your gift will ensure that Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital continues to deliver the highest quality of care and help patients and their families transition back to their daily lives.

Sincerely,

Sharon Tasso