Mary Bogan' story
Mary “Dee” Bogan's life took an unexpected turn after having a brain tumor removed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Though the surgery went smoothly, swallowing complications caused the 66-year-old to go into cardiac arrest. After six minutes, the medical team was able to revive her, but the ordeal had weakened her body and Dee had a tracheostomy tube inserted into her windpipe to support her airway, was placed on a ventilator to help her breathe and had a feeding tube inserted to provide nutrition.
Dee's husband, Steve, stood by her side as doctors at Johns Hopkins recommended transferring her to Select Specialty Hospital - Wilmington. Without hesitation, Steve agreed, believing it was the best chance for Dee to reclaim her independence.
Dee was admitted to Select Specialty Hospital, but the road to recovery was not without obstacles. She battled delirium, all while trying to come to terms with her new reality. The physician-led team of expert nurses, therapists and clinical staff developed a personalized care plan to help address these issues and help Dee regain her independence.
Working with a respiratory therapist, Dee practiced coughing and deep breathing exercises to prepare for ventilator liberation. She also followed a program of spontaneous breathing trials that slowly increased the amount of time she spent without ventilator support until her lungs were strong enough to function on their own. Once she was freed from the machine and her trach tube was removed, Dee was cleared to begin eating on her own again. She began with pureed food and steadily transitioned to more solid meals.
While working to strengthen her lungs, Dee also engaged in physical and occupational therapy. She began with edge-of-the-bed exercises to increase core strength, balance and endurance. As she grew stronger, Dee progressed to standing trials. She also worked with her occupational therapist to practice self-care activities brushing her hair and getting dressed.
With the support of her entire care team, Dee reached a milestone for her mobility — she took a few steps with assistance. The encouragement from the physical therapy staff motivated her to do more. Soon, she surprised everyone by taking 50 steps in one day.
Now stronger and able to breathe and eat on her own, Dee was ready to begin the next stage of her healing journey by discharging to an inpatient rehabilitation facility. As she prepared to leave Select Specialty Hospital, Dee and Steve shared their appreciation for the dedicated care team, attributing Dee’s progress to the support she received from the nursing staff and therapists.
Dee's husband, Steve, stood by her side as doctors at Johns Hopkins recommended transferring her to Select Specialty Hospital - Wilmington. Without hesitation, Steve agreed, believing it was the best chance for Dee to reclaim her independence.
Dee was admitted to Select Specialty Hospital, but the road to recovery was not without obstacles. She battled delirium, all while trying to come to terms with her new reality. The physician-led team of expert nurses, therapists and clinical staff developed a personalized care plan to help address these issues and help Dee regain her independence.
Working with a respiratory therapist, Dee practiced coughing and deep breathing exercises to prepare for ventilator liberation. She also followed a program of spontaneous breathing trials that slowly increased the amount of time she spent without ventilator support until her lungs were strong enough to function on their own. Once she was freed from the machine and her trach tube was removed, Dee was cleared to begin eating on her own again. She began with pureed food and steadily transitioned to more solid meals.
While working to strengthen her lungs, Dee also engaged in physical and occupational therapy. She began with edge-of-the-bed exercises to increase core strength, balance and endurance. As she grew stronger, Dee progressed to standing trials. She also worked with her occupational therapist to practice self-care activities brushing her hair and getting dressed.
With the support of her entire care team, Dee reached a milestone for her mobility — she took a few steps with assistance. The encouragement from the physical therapy staff motivated her to do more. Soon, she surprised everyone by taking 50 steps in one day.
Now stronger and able to breathe and eat on her own, Dee was ready to begin the next stage of her healing journey by discharging to an inpatient rehabilitation facility. As she prepared to leave Select Specialty Hospital, Dee and Steve shared their appreciation for the dedicated care team, attributing Dee’s progress to the support she received from the nursing staff and therapists.