Christopher's Story
Christopher Marzett, 54, was delivering a box of chicken to a restaurant on his route when a sudden pop and intense pain signaled that something was wrong. Christopher called his supervisor who took him to the emergency room at the INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
Doctors discovered that Christopher had multiple joint infections. He was taken into surgery, but his condition kept him in the hospital for a month. Unable to move, he developed a stage four pressure ulcer, a deep tissue wound that occurs when pressure is constantly placed on an area of skin, and it opens up.
Though medically stable, Christopher required IV antibiotics to treat his infected joints and ulcer. Unable to walk and needing extended healing, Christopher transferred to Select Specialty Hospital – Oklahoma City.
"My goal upon admission was to treat my infection, be able to move my joints again, walk and take care of myself," Christopher said. His physician-led team of expert nurses, therapists and clinical staff developed a treatment plan to help Christopher achieve those goals.
Wound care was essential to his healing process. Christopher’s wound care nurse made sure that the affected area was kept clean and properly bandaged while ensuring he changed position often enough to relieve pressure on the site so it did not worsen. A sand bed that uses warm air forced through tiny silicone spheres to create a surface that redistributes pressure around the body was also used for Christopher.
Through the work of physical and occupational therapists, Christopher began regaining strength in his limbs. Range of motion exercises that tested and stretched his stiff, unused muscles, gave way to him being able to sit upright on the edge of the bed to do even more exercises. He also practiced self-care activities such as transferring between surfaces, brushing teeth and getting dressed to further improve the use of his limbs.
Christopher then reached a big turning point. "I took a day off from therapy to think about things and decided that I could get better and go home again." With renewed focus, Christopher was able to begin standing trials until finally, after more than a month, he was able to take his first steps.
Throughout recovery, his family's support was a comfort. Visits from siblings and treats from his mother helped to keep Christopher’s spirits high.
Stronger and beginning to walk again, Christopher discharged home with his mother. Reflecting on his overall experience at Select Specialty Hospital, Christopher said, “I could have died – but everybody treated me so well and so kindly.”
For others facing a similar journey, Christopher shared: “Work hard and push yourself every day.”