Terry's Story
After selling his successful insurance business in Michigan in 2007, Terry Riley, 88, and his wife, Charlotte, retired to the warmth of Casa Grande, Arizona. Married for 67 years, Terry and Charlotte are proud parents of two children, son Kevin and daughter Yolonda.
Following a vacation to Michigan, Terry began experiencing shortness of breath. When it worsened, Charlotte took him to the local emergency room. Terry was found to be suffering from pneumonia, with the infection covering about 70% of his left lung. He was also diagnosed with sepsis, which is the body’s extreme response to an infection.
Terry remained hospitalized for nearly two weeks before he was stable enough to return home. Just four days later, however, he returned to the emergency room and was readmitted with COVID-19. Terry would spend an additional three weeks in the hospital. After his weeks-long battle with pneumonia, sepsis and COVID-19, Terry’s physicians recommended inpatient rehabilitation at Banner Rehabilitation Hospital East to help him regain his strength and mobility.
Upon admission, Terry was only able to take four steps before he had to stop and rest. He also required assistance to complete his personal care tasks. After eight days of intensive, physician-led physical and occupational therapy, Terry had improved enough to return home.
Unfortunately, Terry’s condition would worsen over the next few weeks. After experiencing a cough, shortness of breath, weakness and fatigue, Terry returned to the emergency room. Not only did he still show signs of pneumonia, but Terry was also suffering from sepsis again. The source of the sepsis was an infected wound on his left hand that had developed cellulitis, a skin infection that can become life threatening without antibiotic treatment.
Because his ongoing illness had resulted in reduced mobility and increased weakness, Terry returned to Banner Rehabilitation Hospital East. However, his stay would be short-lived; his care team quickly determined that the wounds to his hand were worse than originally thought and required immediate attention. Terry was sent to an acute care hospital where a hand surgeon performed a skin graft and wound closure on his left hand.
Six days later, Terry returned to Banner Rehabilitation Hospital East for the third time. By this point, he was severely weakened, unable to stand, walk or perform any of his daily self-care tasks. Despite the pain and discomfort he was experiencing because of his hand surgery, Terry’s therapists said that he “approached his rehabilitation with a positive attitude and determination to recover.” Terry’s care team developed a treatment plan that addressed his specific needs and goals.
Physical therapists worked with Terry to increase his strength and endurance so he could progress to walking. As he began to feel better and stronger, Terry was able to practice walking using a platform walker, which has arm supports to help people with limited hand or arm strength. “Terry would always check with us about how far he had walked compared to how far he had gone during his previous therapy session. He always wanted to beat his distance from the day before,” noted his physical therapist.
In occupational therapy, Terry worked on increasing his independence with his self-care. His therapists introduced adaptive equipment, including tools to help him groom and dress himself. As Terry’s endurance improved, he was able to stand to brush his teeth and shave. “Every day he would tell everyone how much he appreciated being in rehab. He was so thankful for every little thing that was done for him. He didn't want to be a burden on his wife and daughter,” his occupational therapist said.
Terry’s family was actively involved during his stay at Banner Rehabilitation Hospital East. Charlotte and Yolonda participated in family training prior to his discharge so they knew how to better care for him at home. Terry will continue his recovery with home health care. He’s looking forward to spending time with his wife and children and resuming the activities he enjoyed before becoming ill.
The saying “third time’s the charm” is true for Terry’s time in inpatient rehabilitation. Reflecting on his three stays, Terry expressed his gratitude for the exceptional care he received. "Banner Rehabilitation Hospital East was a milestone in my life," Terry said. He left an impression on his care team as well. “Terry had a great sense of humor and was always joking with the staff. He made it a point to learn everyone’s name,” his therapist recalled. “He had so many medical complications; it's amazing how great he did. He didn't quit though – not once.”