Laura's Story
Laura Griggs, 63, has always been driven to work hard. Whether it was the 30 years she worked as an accountant for a school district or when she stepped away from her career to care for her ailing mother, Laura’s commitment to do her best never wavered. That determination proved valuable when the Missouri woman faced a challenging health situation.
Laura developed a urinary tract infection that worsened to the point of hallucinations. After a fall that injured her tailbone, she suffered from excruciating sciatic nerve pain that lasted for months. As additional health issues piled up, she was in and out of several hospitals and eventually a skilled nursing facility for rehabilitation before her insurance denied further payment for therapy and she was sent home.
“I ended up back at home stuck on a couch, unable to care for myself,” Laura said.
She returned to a hospital two days later.
Diagnosed with critical illness myopathy, a condition that causes muscle weakness in critically ill patients, her care team recommended Select Specialty Hospital – Springfield for its specialized care. Unlike the dozens of skilled nursing facilities that had previously declined her admission, Select Specialty Hospital offered the advanced care Laura needed to regain her independence.
Upon admission, Laura needed maximum assistance to walk, transfer and care for herself. Determined to walk out of the hospital with a walker or cane, she worked with her physician-led interdisciplinary team to develop a personalized plan that focused on that goal.
In her physical and occupational therapy sessions, Laura worked hard to improve her strength, range of motion and balance. Early on, Laura couldn’t stand on her own and needed help getting from her bed to a wheelchair. She practiced sit-to-stand exercises from an adjustable table that was gradually lowered each time to challenge Laura. Once she could stand, she practiced pivoting so she could move from one place to another without help.
Next, Laura started walking between parallel bars, then with a walker, increasing the distance each day until she could walk the length of her own home without needing to sit and rest.
“I enjoyed all the activities, and I feel they helped me. I went on a cone hunt, I moved furniture while walking with a walker and I enjoyed doing everyday activities,” she said. “The physical and occupational therapists didn’t just push me to succeed, they gave me the tools to succeed.”
Laura knew she had turned the corner in her recovery when she could push off from her walker with her hands and stand on her own. She also credited the staff’s positive energy and “you-can-do-it” attitude with motivating her.
“I learned that if you put in the work, you can succeed,” she said, reflecting on her journey. “I also learned a lot about my body,” Laura said, explaining that she lost significant weight by eating a healthier diet and planned to continue that journey at home.
Slightly more than three weeks after she was admitted, Laura achieved her goal and walked out of the hospital using a four-wheeled walker. Supported by her family, she headed home to continue her recovery with the help of home health services.
“I loved it here,” she said, describing her experience. “I will recommend Select to anyone who needs your services. You are amazing and the best!”