Julie: Healing Toward Home

Julie is a 33-year-old mother of two with a long medical history highlighted by 21 years of insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus, CVA at 16, and chronic renal insufficiency.
 
She was admitted to the emergency room of a short-term acute care hospital with elevated blood sugar, fever, and altered mental status. Julie went into respiratory failure quickly, was placed on a ventilator and transferred to ICU and started on antibiotics.
 
Seventeen days later, Julie was transferred to Kindred Hospital Atlanta for continued high intensity medical care and extended recovery time.
 
Upon admission, Julie had a diagnosis of acute viral meningocephalitis of unclear origin. Julie was trached shortly after arrival and soon went into renal failure. Hemodialysis was begun. Consults in ID, neuro, endocrine, and gastro were called in to continue the work on Julie’s complex case. A West Nile panel was ordered and the results confirmed a positive diagnosis.
 
Some of her caregivers stand out in Julie’s mind. She said that all the respiratory therapists were “wonderful,” and her doctor's sense of humor and the way he took time out of his busy day to drop in on them just to talk encouraged them.
 
“The nurses here really care and understand how scared you are," said Julie.

Julie especially appreciated those ice chips and comforting smiles that came in the middle of the night.
 
Rick’s (RN) polite, professional manner and Michelle’s (CNA) ability to “tickle” her every time she would come into her room stood out in her memory.
 
“The PT, OT and ST teams were great too," said Julie. "They knew just how much I could do and never pushed too hard.”
 
Julie was discharged to an acute rehabilitation facility on October 22. While she continues to require dialysis and is waiting for a kidney transplant, she is very grateful to be home with her husband Steve and her two daughters.
 
Her final comment was, “The staff here at Kindred give it their all and go out of their way to take care of you.”