Vinnia’s Story
Vinnia Appling doesn’t remember falling ill.
The 48-year-old retired medical assistant was at home with her grandson, who lives with her, when the young man became concerned that she “wasn’t acting right.”
The teen called his great-aunt, who told him to call 911. Vinnia’s last clear memory is getting into the ambulance.
At the emergency room, she was tested and confirmed positive for COVID-19. Declining quickly, Vinnia was placed in intensive care and connected to high-flow oxygen. The support increased until she hit 100 percent with no improvement. Her family agreed to place Vinnia on a ventilator. Later, a tracheostomy for airway support and feeding tube were connected.
For more than a month, her body battled the viral assault. Slowly, Vinnia began to improve. Once stable, she transferred to Select Specialty Hospital – Cincinnati for additional healing and recovery time.
She arrived on a ventilator, unable to eat, speak, think or move independently. Vinnia struggled to follow basic commands, keep her eyes open or respond to touch.
Her sister and grandson wanted her home, so a physician-led team, including nurses and therapists, created a plan to help Vinnia succeed.
For the first week and a half, her reduced consciousness didn’t allow for respiratory and most physical therapy. However, physical therapists and nurses moved Vinnia’s arms and legs to keep the muscles limber and blood flowing. Nurses also repositioned her to avoid skin breakdown.
On the ninth day, she awoke. Scared and agitated, Vinnia did not know where she was or why she was unable to stand and walk out of the room.
Her care team offered reassurance, relating how much she’d been through and survived and where she was and why it mattered.
With each day, Vinnia’s mental fog cleared more and more until she could respond to commands and gesture as a way of communication.
Physical and occupational therapists began a mobility program – a series of small exercises, such as sitting in bed or standing, designed to re-engage core muscles. At first, therapists focused on resistance and range of motion exercises then advanced to having Vinnia sit at the bed’s edge with assistance.
Meanwhile, occupational therapists led sessions focused on restoring grip, grasping abilities and dexterity. Growing stronger, Vinnia was able to perform basic care tasks, such as washing her face and brushing teeth.
Simultaneously, respiratory therapists began testing whether her lungs could work independently. They led breathing, chest and coughing exercises to increase stamina as the machine’s support was gradually reduced.
Later, Vinnia worked with the speech-language pathologist to use a speaking valve, which redirected air flow to her upper airways and permitted more normal speech. It was a critical milestone, because Vinnia was finally able to tell her care team exactly what she needed. One of those desires was to talk to her grandson over video chat, which buoyed her spirits.
Vinnia’s next goal was the ability to drink water. Up to that point, she was only able to quench her thirst with water-soaked sponges as testing showed she wasn’t quite ready for liquids. Her speech therapist led mouth, throat and jaw exercises to strengthen the reflex and within two weeks, she was able to enjoy a refreshing glass.
Recovery continued to pick up steam and Vinnia was determined to meet her final goal – walking. Despite setbacks that left Vinnia in tears, worrying that she’d never get out of a wheelchair, she rallied. The therapy team cheered every small accomplishment. Finally, she took her first steps. Not long after, she walked the hallways, accompanied by a therapist standing by for assistance.
With all of her key recovery goals met, Vinnia departed for an inpatient rehabilitation facility. There, she spent three hours each day in physical and occupational therapy honing balance, core stability and daily living skills before returning home to her family.