Barry Adams' story
Barry Adams, 76, was already being treated for lung cancer when he started feeling lightheaded while climbing the stairs at home. Barry, a man who cherishes the simple joys of gardening and sports, was rushed by ambulance to the emergency room at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus. There, doctors discovered that Barry was experiencing hypoxic respiratory failure — his blood was not getting enough oxygen to keep his body going.
Barry was in the hospital for three weeks, during which he spent time on a mechanical ventilator until he was deemed capable of breathing on his own. Barry was then discharge to home.
Three days later, Barry was rushed back to the hospital. His chest was tight and he couldn’t catch his breath. Then Barry, already facing down a serious health issue, had a heart attack. Doctors were able to get his heart pumping again, but they discovered that there was air in Barry’s chest cavity. The medical team used a small chest tube, referred to as a pigtail catheter, to purge the air.
Over the next two weeks, as his doctors tried to get Barry to breathe on his own, he intubated and extubated four more times before his medical team decided that he need a longer-term solution. They placed a tracheostomy tube in his windpipe to support his airway and put Barry on a ventilator. Barry also received a feeding tube to give him nutrition while he healed.
Barry's life had taken a drastic turn. He was unable to perform basic self-care activities and was reliant on hospital staff for every need. Barry's path to recovery led him to Select Specialty Hospital - Wilmington, which had been recommended by Bayhealth Hospital. A meeting with the Select Specialty Hospital clinical liaison convinced Barry and his wife, Denise, that this was the best place to rebuild his strength and independence.
Barry's goals were clear: to return home, garden with his wife, walk independently and regain his former life. His physician-led care team of nurses, therapists and clinical staff at Select Specialty Hospital worked tirelessly to help him reach for those goals.
A respiratory therapist began Barry on breathing exercises and spontaneous breathing trials that tested his ability to breathe without ventilator support. Soon thereafter, Barry was free from the machine and was ready to undergo a Flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. This is a specialized assessment, conducted by a certified speech-language pathologist, to determine if Barry begin eating again. He passed and began on liquids, eventually graduating to a routine diet.
Barry wanted to walk again, so when his physical therapist came to him with exercises that would strengthen his body, Barry was ready to go. Because he was so weak from his time in the hospital, the exercises began small with range-of-motion focus such as stretching while he lay in bed to help reinvigorate his extremities. Then with the help of his care team, Barry was able to sit at the edge of his bed and participate in more vigorous arm and leg movements. With strength returning, Barry moved to standing trials followed by taking his first steps with the assistance of a walker.
Denise, his wife of 25 years, played a pivotal role in his recovery, alongside his daughter Tara and two stepdaughters. Together, they ensured Barry received the inspiration and support he needed.
As Barry prepared to discharge home, he looked forward to resuming his gardening. He, and his family, were thankful for expert care of his Select Specialty Hospital team.
To others facing similar challenges, Barry offered this insight: "Never underestimate the strength within you, and never underestimate the love of your family. Together, you can conquer any obstacle life throws your way."