Dolis' Story
Dolis Perez, 62, had retired from her work as a dressmaker and seamstress, living a quiet life at home with her dogs. When her home caught fire, Dolis was fortunate that a neighbor noticed the smoke, called 911 and ran inside to find her.
Dolis inhaled smoke and while she was responsive when medics arrived, she was disoriented and incoherent. She was taken by ambulance to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, where doctors diagnosed her with acute respiratory failure. To help her breathe, she was connected to a ventilator. Three weeks later, when she was still unable to breathe without the ventilator, Dolis transitioned to Select Specialty Hospital – Miami to continue her recovery.
At admission, Dolis had a tracheostomy – a tube in her windpipe that connected to the ventilator. She couldn’t walk, talk or eat. A feeding tube provided her nutrition.
A physician-led, multidisciplinary team developed a personalized treatment plan to help Dolis regain her independence.
“I was so weak,” she said. “I could barely move. I was unable to even wipe my face.”
The respiratory team, led by a pulmonologist, conducted daily breathing trials, gradually increasing the time Dolis spent off the ventilator, breathing on her own. Six days later, she could breathe on her own again. Two weeks later, her tracheostomy tube was removed, and she only needed supplemental oxygen through her nose.
At the same time, Dolis participated in tongue and throat exercises so she could eventually safely eat again. Ten days after her arrival, a special study confirmed she could swallow without aspirating. She started eating pureed foods and drinking mildly thick liquids, then progressed to minced foods. Two weeks later, she was eating a regular diet and her feeding tube was removed.
Dolis’ physical and occupational therapy teams played an important role in rebuilding her strength, range of motion and balance. She began progressive exercises to walk again, starting with holding herself upright on the edge of the bed, then standing and eventually taking steps with a walker and a cane. Once she could walk on her own, she began “heel-to-toe” exercises where she walked in a straight line placing the heel of one foot directly in front of the toes of the other foot, to improve her balance.
As part of her occupational therapy, Dolis practiced washing herself, brushing her teeth and even picking cones up off the floor to ensure her ability to safely care for herself and maneuver at her home.
With each accomplishment, big or small, Dolis’ motivation grew. The first time she breathed without the ventilator, when she heard her voice for the first time in weeks and when she took her first steps, she knew recovery was possible.
“When I felt that I was able to walk without any assistive device and not get short of breath, this was the moment I knew I would go back home,” she said.
Throughout her stay, Dolis praised the staff, especially her therapists and nurses, for their patience and support.
“Everybody was ready to cheer me on,” she said. “I can breathe on my own now. I can eat, talk and walk again. It’s amazing how I got this far.”
The support of her daughter and sister also played an important role in her recovery.
“They were with me throughout this journey,” she said, adding that she looked forward to spending the upcoming holiday at home with her family and dogs.
Nearly six weeks after her arrival at Select Specialty Hospital, Dolis could walk 200 feet on her own. She had reached her goals and went home.
“I can’t thank enough the staff who helped me get to this point,” she said. “It was an amazing experience. I definitely recommend this hospital to anybody. This is a healing place.”