At Just 27, Janelle Faced Respiratory Failure and an Extraordinary Recovery
Janelle Moore thought she understood her asthma. At 27, she had been managing it for years. As a photographer who was often on location throughout the area, Janelle learned to keep her inhaler close. That included time spent at the Pennsauken, New Jersey, home she shared with her dad, partner and pets. She also knew when something felt off and would quickly start a breathing treatment.
Janelle awoke struggling to breathe. Her go-to treatment didn’t help. Concerned that it might be pneumonia, she drove to urgent care, expecting a stronger prescription and reassurance. Instead, Janelle’s symptoms worsened and she was sent to the emergency department at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes in Camden for further evaluation.
What followed moved faster than Janelle could process.
In the emergency department, repeated breathing treatments failed to bring relief. Janelle was moved to a room where a specialty team was called. Shortly afterward, she was transferred to the intensive care unit with respiratory failure. Her lungs could not supply Janelle’s body with enough oxygen.
Over the next several days, Janelle’s condition worsened. She went into surgery where doctors made an incision in her neck—the trachea—and inserted a tube that connected to a ventilator on the other end. She was in such a weakened state that during the procedure doctors placed her on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device that took over the work of her heart and lungs so those organs could rest. Janelle was taken off ECMO upon completion of the operation. Before she left surgery, doctors also inserted a feeding tube placed through her nose provided nutrition until she could swallow safely.
“When I woke up with the trach and the ventilator, I was a little confused,” Janelle confessed. “I thought it was going to be maybe one or two nights in the hospital.”
Learning to eat and breathe again
Instead, Janelle faced a longer road. She could not speak, eat or stand without help. Those early days felt hazy and overwhelming. After stabilizing at the acute care hospital, Janelle needed a setting focused on recovery and rebuilding strength. Her mom took the charge on researching hospitals and explaining the different options. Together they choose Select Specialty Hospital – Willingboro for continued medical care and rehabilitation.
From her first days at Select Specialty Hospital, Janelle was supported by a physician led team specializing in complex medical recovery. The team assessed and drafted a customized treatment plan for her care. They would focus on rebuilding Janelle’s strength, increasing her mobility and helping her regain the skills needed to return home.
Nursing played a central role in grounding Janelle and helping her feel safe. Nurses managed her overall care, monitored her breathing status and supported her as she gradually increased her therapy activities. “Even people who weren’t assigned to be my nurse or tech would pop in and check on me,” Janelle said. “I felt very cared for.”
Respiratory therapy led the earliest phase of her physical progress with a goal of restoring independent breathing. Janelle was no longer using a ventilator, but still had a tracheostomy tube. Her respiratory therapist approved a downsized tube so she could use a speaking valve. The valve allows air to pass over the vocal cords, making speech possible again while still supporting breathing.
That was a turning point for Janelle. She was thrilled to be able to communicate with the staff and her family with ease. “From there it was quick to capping and the trach coming out,” Janelle said. Capping means temporarily covering the tracheostomy to confirm that a patient can breathe comfortably on their own through the nose and mouth. By the end of the first week, the tube was completely removed.
As her breathing stabilized, speech therapy concentrated on swallowing. Janelle did swallow studies and therapists assessed whether she could safely manage food and liquids. The ability to do this is essential to preventing food or liquid from entering the lungs. Janelle passed the swallow evaluation, and experimented with small bites. She was cleared for a regular diet and within the first week, her feeding tube was removed.
Nutrition supported the next phase of recovery as physical and occupational therapies moved into high gear. Although all therapies occurred concurrently, the milestones followed a clear progression. Physical therapists worked with Janelle on strength, balance and endurance. She did squats, leg raises and hip exercises while standing in her room, walked the halls and was able to practice climbing stairs in the stairwell to prepare for home.
“I hit the ground running when I got here,” Janelle said. “I was able to do so much more, so quickly.”
Occupational therapists focused on daily self care skills. They helped her regain independence with bathing, dressing and other activities needed to live at home. Janelle’s balance was challenged with reaching exercises and completed her activities of daily living each morning, from dressing to brushing her teeth and washing her face. These sessions rebuilt Janelle’s confidence and physical ability.
Janelle’s therapist taught her how to monitor her oxygen saturation and heartrate at home using a smartwatch to help prevent future incidents. Her family was also educated on how to support Janelle at home and recognize any signs that may require medical follow up.
Throughout her stay, Janelle’s family reinforced her progress. Her mother, father, sister and partner visited often, participated in education sessions and helped ease her anxiety during harder moments.
“They were my rock,” Janelle said. “They helped me stay sane. They kept me laughing.”
Returning home
In just a little over a week in SSH - Willingboro, Janelle’s progress was clear. She could walk 50 feet with standby assistance, breathe independently and eat a regular diet. The medical equipment that once surrounded her was gone.
Janelle’s team prepared her for return home. They helped Janelle and her family how to do things safely.
Janelle returned home after nine days at SSH - Willingboro breathing independently, able to care for herself and ready to continue building on her newly regained abilities with follow up therapy as needed. Those closest to her were prepared to help and her confidence had returned alongside her abilities.
She especially looked forward to seeing the pets she missed so much. “Getting to see my animals, all my little gremlins,” she said, smiling. She also looked forward to spending time with her family.
Looking back, Janelle describes her experience at Select Specialty Hospital as reassuring and thorough.
“Everyone is on top of it,” Janelle said. “I wasn’t in any shape to go home when I got here, but I quickly got stronger and now I’m ready to go.” Janelle deeply appreciated the support of her medical team and family. She is looking forward to returning to work and spending lots of time with her family.
Janelle awoke struggling to breathe. Her go-to treatment didn’t help. Concerned that it might be pneumonia, she drove to urgent care, expecting a stronger prescription and reassurance. Instead, Janelle’s symptoms worsened and she was sent to the emergency department at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes in Camden for further evaluation.
What followed moved faster than Janelle could process.
In the emergency department, repeated breathing treatments failed to bring relief. Janelle was moved to a room where a specialty team was called. Shortly afterward, she was transferred to the intensive care unit with respiratory failure. Her lungs could not supply Janelle’s body with enough oxygen.
Over the next several days, Janelle’s condition worsened. She went into surgery where doctors made an incision in her neck—the trachea—and inserted a tube that connected to a ventilator on the other end. She was in such a weakened state that during the procedure doctors placed her on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) device that took over the work of her heart and lungs so those organs could rest. Janelle was taken off ECMO upon completion of the operation. Before she left surgery, doctors also inserted a feeding tube placed through her nose provided nutrition until she could swallow safely.
“When I woke up with the trach and the ventilator, I was a little confused,” Janelle confessed. “I thought it was going to be maybe one or two nights in the hospital.”
Learning to eat and breathe again
Instead, Janelle faced a longer road. She could not speak, eat or stand without help. Those early days felt hazy and overwhelming. After stabilizing at the acute care hospital, Janelle needed a setting focused on recovery and rebuilding strength. Her mom took the charge on researching hospitals and explaining the different options. Together they choose Select Specialty Hospital – Willingboro for continued medical care and rehabilitation.
From her first days at Select Specialty Hospital, Janelle was supported by a physician led team specializing in complex medical recovery. The team assessed and drafted a customized treatment plan for her care. They would focus on rebuilding Janelle’s strength, increasing her mobility and helping her regain the skills needed to return home.
Nursing played a central role in grounding Janelle and helping her feel safe. Nurses managed her overall care, monitored her breathing status and supported her as she gradually increased her therapy activities. “Even people who weren’t assigned to be my nurse or tech would pop in and check on me,” Janelle said. “I felt very cared for.”
Respiratory therapy led the earliest phase of her physical progress with a goal of restoring independent breathing. Janelle was no longer using a ventilator, but still had a tracheostomy tube. Her respiratory therapist approved a downsized tube so she could use a speaking valve. The valve allows air to pass over the vocal cords, making speech possible again while still supporting breathing.
That was a turning point for Janelle. She was thrilled to be able to communicate with the staff and her family with ease. “From there it was quick to capping and the trach coming out,” Janelle said. Capping means temporarily covering the tracheostomy to confirm that a patient can breathe comfortably on their own through the nose and mouth. By the end of the first week, the tube was completely removed.
As her breathing stabilized, speech therapy concentrated on swallowing. Janelle did swallow studies and therapists assessed whether she could safely manage food and liquids. The ability to do this is essential to preventing food or liquid from entering the lungs. Janelle passed the swallow evaluation, and experimented with small bites. She was cleared for a regular diet and within the first week, her feeding tube was removed.
Nutrition supported the next phase of recovery as physical and occupational therapies moved into high gear. Although all therapies occurred concurrently, the milestones followed a clear progression. Physical therapists worked with Janelle on strength, balance and endurance. She did squats, leg raises and hip exercises while standing in her room, walked the halls and was able to practice climbing stairs in the stairwell to prepare for home.
“I hit the ground running when I got here,” Janelle said. “I was able to do so much more, so quickly.”
Occupational therapists focused on daily self care skills. They helped her regain independence with bathing, dressing and other activities needed to live at home. Janelle’s balance was challenged with reaching exercises and completed her activities of daily living each morning, from dressing to brushing her teeth and washing her face. These sessions rebuilt Janelle’s confidence and physical ability.
Janelle’s therapist taught her how to monitor her oxygen saturation and heartrate at home using a smartwatch to help prevent future incidents. Her family was also educated on how to support Janelle at home and recognize any signs that may require medical follow up.
Throughout her stay, Janelle’s family reinforced her progress. Her mother, father, sister and partner visited often, participated in education sessions and helped ease her anxiety during harder moments.
“They were my rock,” Janelle said. “They helped me stay sane. They kept me laughing.”
Returning home
In just a little over a week in SSH - Willingboro, Janelle’s progress was clear. She could walk 50 feet with standby assistance, breathe independently and eat a regular diet. The medical equipment that once surrounded her was gone.
Janelle’s team prepared her for return home. They helped Janelle and her family how to do things safely.
Janelle returned home after nine days at SSH - Willingboro breathing independently, able to care for herself and ready to continue building on her newly regained abilities with follow up therapy as needed. Those closest to her were prepared to help and her confidence had returned alongside her abilities.
She especially looked forward to seeing the pets she missed so much. “Getting to see my animals, all my little gremlins,” she said, smiling. She also looked forward to spending time with her family.
Looking back, Janelle describes her experience at Select Specialty Hospital as reassuring and thorough.
“Everyone is on top of it,” Janelle said. “I wasn’t in any shape to go home when I got here, but I quickly got stronger and now I’m ready to go.” Janelle deeply appreciated the support of her medical team and family. She is looking forward to returning to work and spending lots of time with her family.