Three Hospitals, Two Cardiac Arrests and One Relentless Comeback
Terry Jones had always been the center of his family’s world. At 60, he was retired from car detailing and school board work, spending his days fishing, barbecuing ribs—his specialty—and enjoying time with his wife, Muriel, their five children and 14 grandchildren. Family was everything to Terry.
One night, that world nearly slipped away. Terry sat up in bed, struggling to breathe.
“I need to go to the hospital,” he told Muriel, who was recovering from neck surgery and wearing a brace. He dialed 911 himself. EMS rushed him to Boone Hospital, where doctors diagnosed pneumonia and admitted him to the intensive care unit. Initially he needed a ventilator to breathe, although later he improved enough to only need CPAP, a mask that delivered air pressure to keep his lungs open.
What followed was a cascade of crises. After discharge to a rehabilitation facility, Terry’s heart stopped and he had to be resuscitated, then it happened again after his transfer to the University of Missouri Hospital. An MRI suggested global brain injury. Doctors warned Muriel that if Terry survived, he might never recover. “They kept telling me to pull the plug,” she said. “His whole body shut down. He was swollen everywhere.”
Muriel refused. “One night as I was sleeping, God spoke to me and told me Terry was going to be okay,” she said. “I told the doctors that I understood what they were saying, but God is the ultimate doctor.”
“Everything happened so fast”
Terry spent three months at that hospital, undergoing life-saving care. When he finally stabilized, he transitioned to Select Specialty Hospital – St. Louis. There, a physician-led, multi-disciplinary team created a plan tailored to Terry’s needs.
Terry arrived dependent on a ventilator, breathing through a tracheostomy—a surgical opening in the neck—and receiving nutrition through a PEG feeding tube. He also had a wound that required careful nursing care and renal failure that complicated his recovery.
“He could do nothing,” Muriel said. Terry couldn’t breathe, speak, eat, walk or think clearly.
Respiratory therapy became the first focus. Therapists began breathing trials in which Terry came off the ventilator for increasing amounts of time, which rebuilt his lung strength. By the end of the first week, Terry was spending 16 hours breathing on his own and only eight hours on the ventilator. Two days later, he was fully liberated from the machine. Within two weeks, his tracheostomy tube was removed. Terry was breathing independently.
Speech therapy worked in parallel. While Terry still had his trach, therapists used a speaking valve—a small device that fits onto the tracheostomy tube and lets air pass over the vocal cords -- so he could talk again. This helped him practice vocal control and start sounding like himself. They guided him through swallow exercises and performed a study to check his ability to safely swallow. About 10 days into his stay, Terry began eating soft, bite-sized foods and thin liquids. Two days later, he advanced to a regular diet.
“Everything happened so fast,” Muriel said.
Back on his feet
Physical therapy focused on mobility. Terry arrived bedbound. He began by moving from one surface to another using a sliding board—a smooth board that acts like a bridge so he could scoot across safely. Next, he learned squat pivot transfers, where he partially stood and turned with help from two therapists instead of just sliding. After that, he was able to sit upright in a special tilt wheelchair that supports posture and comfort. By the end of his stay, Terry was standing with assistance—a huge step forward that seemed out of reach just weeks before.
Occupational therapy worked on independence. Weighted utensils helped Terry feed himself. He practiced grooming and oral care while sitting at the edge of the bed. One moment stands out: Terry hugged and kissed Muriel for the first time in months. “That was everything,” she said softly.
Nurses were constant throughout—managing wounds, monitoring renal function and offering calm reassurance. Muriel noticed their dedication. “The entire staff at Select is awesome,” she said. “They will take care of you and your family member.”
Terry and Muriel were also grateful for the support of family, friends and their church community, especially all the visitors who prayed for Terry.
Terry discharged to an inpatient rehabilitation facility stronger, breathing without machines, eating regular meals and standing with assistance. He made it home one month later.
Muriel looks forward to seeing him back at the grill, cooking ribs and laughing with the people he loves.
“We’re thankful,” Muriel said. “Thankful that Select accepted him when others wouldn’t. Thankful for the care, the kindness and the hope everyone gave us.”