Carol Henschke: two weeks to home

Carol was admitted to us following a two-week hospital stay at DePaul Hospital for acute hypoxic respiratory failure and double pneumonia. Carol was also placed on oxygen during her hospital stay, which made mobility and walking difficult.

Upon admission, Carol was able to walk only very short distances with use of oxygen and front-wheeled walker due to shortness-of-breath and fatigue. She required stand-by assistance for all mobility and transfers due to safety concerns.

Carol worked with our therapy team five days a week. Physical therapy associates worked with her on improving her strength and endurance to restore the Carol's ability to walk and function without assistance or oxygen. The occupational therapy team focused on restoring her independence with activities of daily living.

Carol came to our facility with low endurance and strength, but with her hard work and the dedication of her therapists, she was able to return home! Carol was a true pleasure to work with and we are very happy to see her return to prior level of function in the community.

After just two weeks of short-term rehab, Carol returned home with her husband. Carol is now able to walk independently with a walker and without use of oxygen and perform all activities of daily living without assistance.

The whole rehab team is proud of Carol's accomplishments! She deserves a happy and healthy life, and we can't wait to see how much farther she will go!