Mr. R: Recovery Despite the Odds

Mr. R, 54, was admitted to Kindred Hospital St. Louis – St. Anthony’s from a short-term acute care hospital in December. He was born with acromegaly, more commonly known as gigantism. This disease caused Mr. R to grow to a height of seven feet, seven inches and he required specialty equipment and care, including a ventilator.

Mr. R had been to multiple facilities and tried numerous times to become liberated from the ventilator. In addition to his respiratory problems, he had limited mobility because of a recent hip surgery and his size. Things were not promising, but Mr. R was hopeful. He had come 200 miles to Kindred Hospital and he had a huge following of supporters.

Despite having acute respiratory failure, his goal was to be weaned from the ventilator and then to be discharged to a rehab facility and ultimately home.

At many prior facilities, Mr. R had been told that he would always be ventilator dependent. But within days of admission, Mr. R began to show significant improvement and had many successful weaning trials. Mr. R was soon removed from the ventilator and participating in as much as three hours of speech, occupational and physical therapy each day.

With Mr. R breathing on his own and able to be more ambulatory and a hospital, he and his friends got their wish.

After just a month at Kindred Hospital, Mr. R was transferred to a rehab facility for continued rehabilitation, and is currently making progress to be able to go home. The staff still hears from Mr. R and his attitude is one of hope and determination, as well as gratitude for the care he received within our facility.