Obrien's Story
Obrien Robertson said it was “love at first sight” when he and his wife, Denise, met as undergraduates at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. In the more than five decades since, they’ve built a life together, raising five children and welcoming 23 grandchildren. Following a career with the Social Security Administration, Obrien, 73, retired 11 years ago and has filled his days with family gatherings, visits with friends and peaceful hours in his garden.
But that quiet life was interrupted when Obrien collapsed at home from a massive heart attack. Denise called 911.
Emergency responders shocked Obrien’s heart twice to resuscitate him before rushing him to Henry Ford Rochester Hospital. Doctors shocked him three more times before taking him into emergency surgery, then two more times during surgery. They successfully placed stents to open two critical blockages – one 100% blocked and the other at 80%.
Obrien was then transferred to Henry Ford St. John Hospital in Detroit for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a treatment for critically ill patients in which a machine takes over the work of the heart and lungs to give them time to rest and heal. After 19 days in that hospital, Obrien’s condition finally stabilized and he no longer needed ECMO, but he was unable to breathe, talk, walk or eat on his own.
Wanting a hospital close to home, he and Denise decided he would transition to Select Specialty Hospital – Oakland, a critical illness recovery hospital that specializes in caring for medically complex patients. Shortly after Obrien arrived, his physician-led multidisciplinary team developed a treatment plan that included respiratory, speech, physical and occupational therapy, all focused on helping him regain his independence.
Obrien was still on a ventilator, but now had a tracheostomy – a slit in his windpipe with a tube that connected to his ventilator. Under the guidance of a pulmonologist, the respiratory therapy team began daily spontaneous breathing trials that involved lowering his ventilator settings or turning it off completely for increasing amounts of time each day.
Simultaneously, Obrien’s speech therapist connected a special valve to his tracheostomy that pushed air through his vocal cords, allowing him to speak again while also helping him to rebuild lost core strength. She guided him through swallowing and tongue exercises to strengthen his throat muscles to prepare him to eat again.
In addition, in physical and occupational therapy sessions, Obrien worked hard to regain strength, balance and mobility. When he first arrived at Select Specialty Hospital, he needed someone to help him roll over in bed or stay upright when he sat on the edge of his bed. But through progressive exercises, he soon was standing, transferring from one place to another and eventually, taking his first steps.
“I never realized how weak I was until I started working with rehab,” he said.
Therapy also included practicing activities of daily living such as grooming, feeding himself, dressing and using the toilet.
It didn’t take long for Obrien to see his progress.
“My first milestone was when the speech therapist used the speaking valve, allowing me to communicate,” Obrien said. “The second was when the ventilator was removed from the room, and the third was when I was able to eat again.”
Twenty-six days after admission, Obrien had regained his ability to breathe, talk, eat and walk 150 feet. He transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation hospital to continue his journey toward independence.
“I’m very happy with the great progress I’ve made here,” he said. “So many people made a difference. Everyone who came into the room with a smile brightened my day.”
A key part of Obrien’s recovery was the strong support from his family and community. Regular visits and home-cooked meals made the difference.
Following a successful nine-day stay in inpatient rehab, Obrien returned home where he continues to improve with outpatient therapy several times a week. He’s now well on his way to getting back to the “normal life” he had hoped for.