Cellulitis patient walking again after therapy at The Heritage Center

Komas Bryant was in bad shape when he arrived at The Heritage Center in Morristown, Tennessee, on May 27, 2021.

Komas had been hospitalized for cellulitis on both lower limbs. In the hospital, he was also diagnosed with acute exacerbation of congestive heart failure, neuropathy, kidney disease and respiratory failure with COPD.

When he started physical and occupational therapies at The Heritage Center, “Mr. Bryant could only move his right hand,” shared Sonya Fisk, his physical therapist assistant. “It took two to three people to get him out of bed.”

Besides being pretty much bedbound, Komas needed total assistance for lower-body dressing and maximum assistance with bathing. He needed some help with grooming as well and with upper-body dressing.

But Komas was determined to get better and go home to his wife, and he worked hard in therapy every day to reach his goals. Therapists worked with him on strengthening exercises, often using free weights, dowel rods or the OmniCycle^® exercise bicycle with arm cranks to recondition him.

“The therapists were hard, but they had to be,” said Komas. “They love you and they want you to live and go home. The therapists and nursing were good, loving and kind. The food was good.”

Komas reached his goals and was able to go home on June 10. He can now walk, get in and out of bed and dress himself.