Dana's Story
Dana Knight, 50, from Washington, Pennsylvania, was enjoying a Sunday afternoon motorcycle ride with her husband when a car collided with their bike, sending them both to the hospital with critical injuries. Dana has no memory of the accident, but recalled the voice of an EMT. She was rushed to Allegheny General Hospital where she was diagnosed with multiple injuries, including a lacerated liver, fractured ribs and an acute kidney injury.
Dana, who juggled roles as a school bus driver, a paraprofessional for students with special needs and mother and grandmother to a blended family of five children and six grandchildren, was facing one of the biggest challenges of her life. As a survivor of breast, cervical and thyroid cancers, she was prepared to fight for her life.
Dana required intubation, a tracheostomy to protect her airway and provide breathing support, hemodialysis to support her kidneys and a feeding tube for nutrition. A month after the accident, Dana was medically stable and transferred to Select Specialty Hospital - McKeesport to continue healing.
Upon arrival, Dana's treatment began by stabilizing her blood pressure and reducing agitation so she could be liberated from the ventilator. Dana was minimally alert, able to shake her head yes or no, but could not consistently follow verbal directions. She was also mobility dependent, requiring a full team of nurses and therapists to reposition her body and extremities and complete activities of daily living, such as bathing to ensure she maintained a stable blood pressure.
Working alongside her respiratory therapist, Dana focused on practicing deep breathing and coughing exercises. A steady decrease in the amount of time she used the ventilator for support returned her to breathing on her own and free of the ventilator.
Now it was time for the speech-language pathologist to teach Dana how to swallow again. Exercises to strengthen her tongue, mouth and jaw were all essential to resume a more regular diet. Dana successfully reached that milestone, too.
The initial focus of her physical and occupational therapies was on low-impact exercises and resuming self-care activities. In the beginning, Dana required maximal assistance for all movement. Over time, she progressed from assisted leg lifts and arm curls to standing with assistance. After a month, Dana took her first steps since the accident, her tracheostomy was removed and she was ready to be discharged to an inpatient rehabilitation facility.
Reflecting on her recovery journey, Dana acknowledged the care she received at Select Specialty Hospital, highlighting the staff's caring and compassionate approach. Dana’s family support, including virtual visits from her dog, also played a big role in keeping her spirits high and determination strong.