Dillon Schuman, an 18-year old college student, never thought he would be back in the rehabilitation center after he left 3 years ago following a car accident. His first brain injury brought him to Immanuel ilitation Center in 2006 where he made a full recovery, finished high school, and held several jobs. After high school, Dillon chose to attend the University of Nebraska taking general courses working towards finding a major. Dillon was driving to a friend's house on November 21st, 2009 when he was hit by a car which resulted in his fourth brain injury and required another inpatient rehabilitation stay. While at Immanuel ilitation Center, Dillon worked with a variety of therapies including physical, occupational, speech and aquatics to regain his ability to walk, climb stairs, maintain attention and problem solve. Dillon's goal is to return to UNL to resume his coursework as he decides on a major. Julie Harms, a physical therapist that worked with Dillon throughout both of his rehab, says "Dillon was a blast to work with. He was so motivated and was willing to work hard in therapy. I wish him well in the future!" Read Dillon's letter to the staff at the Immanuel ilitation Center.

I was discovered one evening with my head in my dinner plate, completely unconcious and paralyzed. With in one hour at Immanuel Hospital I was given the miracle drug that gave me new life.  After three weeks of wonderful care in the rehab unit, I walked out of the hospital.  After many weeks of out-patient therapy I reached a point where I could be discharged. A few weeks after that I was sent to another hospital for heart surgery.  Having left there too soon, I was sent back to Immanuel hospital for further recovery.  During my second hospitalization at Immanuel, I received the same fine care that I previously had, but in another department.  Upon dismissal I was sent home with Home Health Care from Alegent.  I could not have had any finer care than what I received from all of the staff at Immanuel, including every one from the valet service employee to the housekeepers and the nurses who came to my home and continued my therapy.  At present I am in the cardiac rehab program and receiving the finest care there as well. I am a walking testament to surving a stroke and heart surgery to coming back full circle with good health thanks to all who helped me through these events.

-Ronald

One day, three years ago, I was driving home from work. Alegent Health was advertising on the radio their aquatic rehab program and the fact that they work with a variety of diagnoses. I have a daughter, Holly, who was born at 29 weeks in 1992. As a result, she is multi handicapped, with cerebral palsy as her main diagnosis. She has a mixed pattern of cerebral palsy which makes her battle with both spasticity and weakness.

Holly has always struggled with outpatient therapy, even though she has had countless therapy sessions. The pain is overwhelming at times, but she never gives up on a challenge.

Holly loves swimming so I decided to call and see if they would be willing to spend some time with Holly and to see if they thought this might be of benefit to her. We have been there ever since. It is amazing that she can last up to one hour in the pool for therapy and only 20 to 30 minutes at a time in the gym. She is able to excise in the pool with little to no pain.

The therapists were so kind and gentle with Holly and really took time to get to know her and where her pain comes from. They also spent time with me and taught me things to help her along. Holly has improved so much in her gait, transfers, and in the amount of tone throughout her body. She has also had a major spine surgery within the last three years due to scoliosis. Her recovery has been remarkable and she has been able to do many more things with less pain.

The pool has not only been a major key to her ongoing success and recovery, but the therapists have made her feel so special and have given her so much encouragement to not give up. I have seen this kindness with everyone who comes into the pool. Holly loves water and thinks of the pool as her very own sport.

We are now part of the independent swim program and we both absolutely love it. The pool staff has now become a part of our family. We are so glad we made that call and we can’t thank them enough for all they have done for us.

—Mary Beth

In March of 2008, Gina was in a car accident in Wayne, Nebraska. The car flipped, and Gina was ejected from the car, but partially pinned by it. She was taken to the Wayne hospital, but was life-flighted to a Sioux City, Iowa, hospital where they performed surgery. Gina had a broken back and is now paralyzed from the waist down.

Her family had several rehabilitation programs come to visit them in Sioux City to determine the best place for Gina. One of those programs was Alegent Health Immanuel ilitation Center. Gina and her family felt a strong connection because of the way that Alegent therapists took the time to get to know Gina. They focused on her personal well-being in addition to her medical needs.

Gina had always been very fit and active. She was a tumbler and had started her own business in Wayne teaching tumbling to kids aged 4 to 14. She has maintained the business after the accident, and now teaches from her chair.

She lives independently in an apartment in Wayne, and will graduate from Wayne State College in May, 2010. Her hometown of Glenwood, Iowa, held a fundraiser for her after the accident. They purchased a truck with a lift system that allows her to get her wheelchair into the vehicle and drive herself.

She has an amazing, positive outlook and is determined that whatever she wants to do, she will find a way to do it. She believes that her life hasn’t changed much since the accident. She does everything she did before, just from a chair – and now she gets much better parking.

 

 

In December 2007, a healthy Tracy Harter and her family were spending the night at a hotel in Lincoln. During the night, Tracy had a bad headache that she thought was a migraine. In the morning her husband, Matt, couldn’t wake her. She was transported to a Lincoln hospital where her family learned that she had suffered an aneurysm and stroke. Tracy remained in a coma for about two months.

After another two months in long-term acute care, Tracy was admitted to inpatient rehabilitation at Immanuel Medical Center. The rehabilitation staff helped Tracy learn to eat, talk and walk again. But beyond their physical care for Tracy, they also gave the Harters a great deal of hope and support.

Matt and Tracy’s 15th wedding anniversary was during Tracy’s stay there, and the nurses helped Tracy arrange a formal steak dinner for Matt. They even ordered a cake so she and Matt could celebrate together. They brought in a stylist to cut and color Tracy’s hair. And, they let the Harter’s four children bring Tracy’s beloved cat for a visit.

The Harter’s now consider Tracy’s caregivers to be close friends. They also appreciate the support of friends and family.

Tracy can now walk with the help of a cane, and continues to do Physical Therapy at Lakeside Hospital. Her goal is to walk without a cane by September 21, 2009, when she and Matt go to see her favorite team, the Boston Red Sox, play in Kansas City.