Fred: “Kindred Worked a Miracle”

In July, after losing his job, Fred was determined to better his life for himself and his son. Fred began taking classes at a local technical school, and during an exam he suffered an intracerebral hemorrhage. His mother Clara and son DeShaune found him with EMS when they arrived to pick him up from class.

Fred was rushed to The Cleveland Clinic. His attending physician at Kindred Hospital (also of Cleveland Clinic), described Fred’s medical condition upon arrival at The Cleveland Clinic as unresponsive. He was placed on mechanical ventilation.
 
During Fred’s course at The Cleveland Clinic, his hemorrhage persisted and his overall prognosis became more complex. While there, Fred’s mother Clara was told that generally, a patient with her son’s prognosis had little chance of survival. Clara said her son was a fighter and refused to accept that fate. She was certain that Fred would speak again and would fight to recover in order to be with his son.

Following two weeks at The Cleveland Clinic, Fred was transferred to Kindred Hospital Cleveland for continued care.

Upon arrival at Kindred, Fred remained on a ventilator displaying little response. Kindred’s interdisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, specialists and therapists evaluated Fred and designed a treatment plan tailored to his medical needs. Fred began making progress.

With the help of respiratory therapy he was weaned from the ventilator. With physical, occupational and speech therapies Fred regained the ability to follow commands and began responding to medical staff and family members. He used his good hand to communicate with the sign language his Kindred caregivers taught him.

Fred’s young son DeShaune danced in the downstairs lobby of Kindred Hospital when his dad opened his eyes for the first time.

“The therapists were beautiful,” said Clara. “The nurses were awesome, and I wish I could take the Social Worker, Nicki Prowell, with me! Nicki was the best.”

On September 14, Fred no longer required high intensity medical care and was discharged to a Cleveland skilled nursing facility for continued rehabilitation.

His mother left praising the Kindred staff for the care given her son, forever grateful to his doctor and the Kindred physicians for their collaborative efforts.

Today Fred’s fight continues and according to his mother, his progress is attributed to the good care he received at Kindred Hospital Cleveland.

“Kindred worked a miracle in my son,” Clara said.