Rigoberto: Recovered and Back Home

Rigoberto lived in Bakersfield, California with his wife, daughter, and son. He had been disabled for five years but worked as a laborer. When Rigoberto began having difficulty breathing, his family took him to a hospital emergency room. He was diagnosed with pneumonia and went into respiratory failure.

In the short-term hospital, Rigoberto had a tracheostomy placed and a gastric feeding tube. He also went into acute renal failure and required hemodialysis treatments. Because of his complex condition and a history of coronary problems, his doctor believed that Rigoberto had a better chance of recovery at Kindred Hospital Brea.

Rigoberto required extensive management from his team of physicians due to his complex medical problems. He was made very slow progress initially and had setbacks, including redevelopment of his pneumonia.

The plan was to wean him from the ventilator, clear his pneumonia and other infections, help him regain his speech and eating ability, and help him return to his prior level of function through physical and occupational therapy.

Rigoberto made slow progress and began working more consistently with physical, occupational, and speech therapy. He was eventually weaned off the ventilator, and had his tracheostomy removed. His renal functioning improved and his dialysis treatments ended. He could start eating again and he was able to have his feeding tube removed. He made great progress with physical therapy to the point that he was able to walk using a single point cane.

Rigoberto was discharged home with his family who throughout his stay had been a great support to him.

“I feel that I have been given another chance at life,” said Rigoberto. “I thought I would not get better but I am doing very well now. Thank you to all the doctors and all the people at Kindred that helped me.”

His wife said, “It is a miracle and I am so glad to my husband is coming home.”