Joyce's Story
Joyce Bridges already had a weakened immune system from battling breast cancer, so when the Detroit resident began feeling ill, her primary care physician sent her straight from that appointment to the emergency room at Ascension St. John Hospital.
She was admitted and diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia, and physicians focused on clearing the inflammation and infection in her lungs.
Five weeks later, Joyce still needed high levels of oxygen through her nasal tube. Her heart rate remained high and she was so weak from the prolonged hospitalization that she feared she might never walk again.
A physician recommended that she transfer to Select Specialty Hospital – Gross Pointe because of its expertise in helping patients restore lung strength and stamina.
Joyce, who previously had been living independently and drove herself to the grocery store and church, had only one goal: to get back home.
The physician-led interdisciplinary team put together a plan to help make that happen, with respiratory, physical and occupational therapy simultaneously playing key roles in her recovery. In respiratory therapy, Joyce focused on improving her lung capacity. In physical therapy, her priority was increasing her strength and mobility. Occupational therapists taught her how to safely take care of herself again.
To improve her breathing, therapists started by gradually lowering the amount of oxygen Joyce received while carefully monitoring how she tolerated the change. Initially, she tired easily and sometimes wanted to give up. She progressively needed less oxygen and began exercises that strengthened her lungs and diaphragm, such as deep breaths that are slowly exhaled.
She also participated in daily exercises with stretching, resistance bands and range of motion to strengthen core muscles. She progressed from sitting in a chair, to supporting herself on the edge of her bed to eventually being able to stand. Soon, with assistance, Joyce began doing things that had once been so easy at home, such as showering or getting dressed.
A turning point in Joyce's recovery came when she defied her own expectations by taking her first steps again.
“When therapy was able to get me up and walking again, I really felt like a recovery was doable,” she said.
Therapy was hard work, but throughout her month-long stay at Select Specialty Hospital, Joyce was grateful for the team that cared for her.
“I was convinced I was too weak and too sick but my respiratory therapist was so encouraging,” she said. “He told me he knew I was going to get better and I could do it.”
Twice, one of the nurse aides stayed past her shift to help Joyce with her hair.
Her daughter and son were also by her side, motivating her to work hard and bringing her favorite foods.
Four weeks after admission, Joyce was on her way to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital to continue her recovery and ultimately get back home with her cats, Fearless and Rain.
“I am so happy I came to Select,” she said. “I don’t think I could have recovered without all of the help of the staff here.”
She was admitted and diagnosed with COVID-19 and pneumonia, and physicians focused on clearing the inflammation and infection in her lungs.
Five weeks later, Joyce still needed high levels of oxygen through her nasal tube. Her heart rate remained high and she was so weak from the prolonged hospitalization that she feared she might never walk again.
A physician recommended that she transfer to Select Specialty Hospital – Gross Pointe because of its expertise in helping patients restore lung strength and stamina.
Joyce, who previously had been living independently and drove herself to the grocery store and church, had only one goal: to get back home.
The physician-led interdisciplinary team put together a plan to help make that happen, with respiratory, physical and occupational therapy simultaneously playing key roles in her recovery. In respiratory therapy, Joyce focused on improving her lung capacity. In physical therapy, her priority was increasing her strength and mobility. Occupational therapists taught her how to safely take care of herself again.
To improve her breathing, therapists started by gradually lowering the amount of oxygen Joyce received while carefully monitoring how she tolerated the change. Initially, she tired easily and sometimes wanted to give up. She progressively needed less oxygen and began exercises that strengthened her lungs and diaphragm, such as deep breaths that are slowly exhaled.
She also participated in daily exercises with stretching, resistance bands and range of motion to strengthen core muscles. She progressed from sitting in a chair, to supporting herself on the edge of her bed to eventually being able to stand. Soon, with assistance, Joyce began doing things that had once been so easy at home, such as showering or getting dressed.
A turning point in Joyce's recovery came when she defied her own expectations by taking her first steps again.
“When therapy was able to get me up and walking again, I really felt like a recovery was doable,” she said.
Therapy was hard work, but throughout her month-long stay at Select Specialty Hospital, Joyce was grateful for the team that cared for her.
“I was convinced I was too weak and too sick but my respiratory therapist was so encouraging,” she said. “He told me he knew I was going to get better and I could do it.”
Twice, one of the nurse aides stayed past her shift to help Joyce with her hair.
Her daughter and son were also by her side, motivating her to work hard and bringing her favorite foods.
Four weeks after admission, Joyce was on her way to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital to continue her recovery and ultimately get back home with her cats, Fearless and Rain.
“I am so happy I came to Select,” she said. “I don’t think I could have recovered without all of the help of the staff here.”