Mario's story
Mario Vega hasn’t slowed down since retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps almost 25 years ago. After golfing for five years, he unlocked twin passions – building orphanages in Bolivia and cooking.
By his count, he’s rescued nearly 300 children from destitution and made numerous trips to the country.
In the same timeframe, he spent 70-hour weeks as the kitchen manager for the original Ford’s Garage, a popular Fort Myers restaurant. However, after two heart attacks, Mario hung up his apron for good.
He continued his philanthropic efforts, working as a translator for a medical transport company. It was during one of those transports, Mario believes, that he contracted COVID-19.
In late March, the 62-year-old went to his local hospital short of breath. The only thing he remembers is calling his brother from the triage area, saying “I can’t breathe.”
Shortly after, Mario was intubated and placed on a ventilator. Later, he had airway support and a feeding tube inserted.
In all, Mario was initially hospitalized for a month fighting for his life. When he stabilized, his wife chose Select Specialty Hospital – Fort Myers for its experience treating medically complex patients on ventilators.
“The next thing I remember, I woke up here at Select,” he said.
Mario longed to return to his family and community. His biggest goal was to speak again. The tube in his throat was frustrating. He could see his wife at the window, but could not hold a conversation with her.
A physician-led team of nurses, therapists, pharmacists and dietitians created a plan to help Mario return to the people and places he loved.
Respiratory therapists assessed Mario and began gradually reducing the amount of help his ventilator provided. They led him through deep breathing, coughing and chest exercises to expand lung capacity. He graduated to a special collar, allowing him to draw in more air. By the middle of May, Mario was liberated from the ventilator and airway support was removed.
The first time he spoke to his wife, “we both cried,” he said. From that point on, he enjoyed routine video chat calls that the hospital arranged. His children and grandchildren sent enough cards and pictures to paper the room’s walls.
Physical and occupational therapy also began on day one. Therapists helped Mario sit up in bed, roll and work on sitting at its edge. They guided him into a chair that supported redevelopment of his core muscles.
Dietitians and speech therapists created a meal plan to transition Mario back to regular food. The therapist also led him through mouth, tongue and jaw exercises to help him swallow safely.
Throughout his stay, pharmacists monitored Mario’s medication, optimizing it for maximum efficiency.
Mario brought a Marine’s spirit to his therapy, pushing himself to stand, sit or walk a little farther each day. Sometimes, he joked, the therapists were almost as persistent as drill sergeants. They had a much nicer approach, however.
Being in isolation was emotionally difficult, he said. Mario appreciated each time someone took a moment to make him feel seen. From the nursing assistant who “would just stop by my door, and say ‘Hey Mario!’” to the nurses who checked on him every half hour, being at Select made him feel less alone.
He said he enjoyed our new intercom system, and was surprised that the first time he pushed his call light, the voice overhead immediately answered.
“They were always very quick to send someone, too,” he added.
The staff loved Mario. One of his nurses called his “sweet” and noted it was truly rewarding to see him progress. Another nurse said he was “one of the hardest-working patients I’ve ever seen.” He frequently asked about the nurse’s father, who was also ill. “He was the thinking of others despite his severe illness,” the nurse said.
Through his hospitalization, Mario lost 80 pounds. The leaner physique is appreciated, but the route taken to it is “one I would not recommend to anyone.” He’s hoping to keep it off because “my heart is better off without it.”
After a month with Select, Mario departed for a short stay in an inpatient rehabilitation hospital.
“You should be very proud of your staff,” Mario said. “They took great care of me physically and emotionally. I will be back to visit once COVID restrictions lift. Why? Because I have a lot of friends here and I care about them.”