Gary Goes Home After 85 Days Recovering From Cardiac Arrest

When Gary's heart stopped and his organs began failing, doctors weren't sure he'd ever breathe on his own again. After nearly three months at Kindred Hospital Aurora, he walked out the front door to go home.

Gary arrived at the hospital in critical condition after cardiac arrest left him dependent on a ventilator to breathe and feeding tubes for nutrition. His body was fighting multiple battles at once: acute kidney injury, liver shock, an irregular heartbeat racing out of control, and a possible blood clot in his heart.

Early attempts to get Gary breathing independently failed. Doctors performed a tracheostomy and continued feeding tubes while treating his heart with blood thinners and medication to regulate his rhythm.

At Kindred Hospital Aurora, Gary's care team assembled specialists in pulmonary medicine, respiratory therapy, speech therapy, rehabilitation, and nutrition. Day by day, they worked to rebuild what cardiac arrest had taken away. The ventilator settings gradually decreased as Gary's lungs grew stronger.

Then complications struck again. Sepsis from a urinary tract infection and pneumonia threatened his progress. Antibiotics fought off the infections while his care team continued the slow work of healing.

Piece by piece, Gary reclaimed his independence. First, the ventilator came off. Then the tracheostomy tube was removed. Finally, the feeding tubes came out, and Gary began eating regular meals again.

Sunny's Take

Gary's story reminds us that recovery isn't always quick or straightforward. Some victories take 85 days of small wins stacked on top of each other. His care team at Kindred never stopped believing his body could heal, even when setbacks appeared. They celebrated each milestone, from the first successful breath without the ventilator to the first meal eaten without tubes.

After nearly three months of intensive treatment, Gary returned home with home health services to continue his recovery. The man who arrived unable to breathe or eat on his own left the hospital ready to rebuild his life.

Recovery can happen, even when the odds look impossible.