On the Road to Recovery - Frank's Story
On the Road to Recovery - grateful for my hospital and my community.
Frank Fiorenza, Potosi
“It’s so true when you hear the saying that life can change in the blink of an eye. One day I was living my life, happy and healthy and busy in my own world… the next day my life would change drastically,” explained Frank Fiorenza of Potosi.
“I was picking up a heavy box when I felt an instant pain like I had pulled a muscle,” said Frank. “At the time, I didn’t realize how serious it would turn out to be.” Frank thought he’d wait it out a few days, until the pain became so unbearable that he asked a neighbor to call the rescue squad and get him to the hospital. Fast forward to the Emergency Room; Frank said he received excellent care by Grant Regional’s ER team. “They were able to stabilize me and literally saved my life!” Frank explained. “It was discovered that an abdominal aortic aneurysm had ruptured. “I was transferred to a hospital in Madison and had a 9.5-hour surgery to repair it. Following surgery, the hospital in Madison had suggested I could go to a skilled rehab facility in Wausau for recovery. I quickly told them that I’d much prefer my local hospital in Lancaster that is 10 minutes from my hometown instead of 4 - 5 hours from my home.” Frank went home instead, without a rehab stay, and returned after Christmas in need of a second stay at a Madison hospital for serious problems. After that discharge, he transferred to Grant Regional Health Center for a time of rehabilitation and skilled nursing in the Swing Bed program.
Throughout several hospital stays and recovery, Frank lost strength in his arms, legs and overall stamina and stability. “Three and half weeks ago, I thought my life was over,” shared Frank. “But with the help of Grant Regional’s Swing Bed program, I am feeling stronger and so much better. My wife passed away 10 years ago, and people were asking me, ‘are you going to be ok’? I told them how much it means to me to have the support and help from my community and my hospital. They will take care of me.”
“Until you experience the difference between being at a 'BIG' hospital to your own 'local' hospital, there is simply no comparison,” Frank shared. “It’s the personalized care, the familiar faces, and the visitors that have made such a difference to me. Grant Regional’s doctors, nurses and staff are so good, so thorough, and so patient.”
“When he came to us, his hemoglobin was critically low and he was having difficulty standing, caring for
himself and walking,” said Annette Jepperson, Physical Therapist Assistant. “After several weeks in our Swing Bed program, he's now doing most things by himself and starting to feel better again. He will continue to have a long road ahead of him and our Swing Bed program is the perfect place for him to be right now.”
Dr. Eric Stader, Frank’s primary care provider, says “From the first ER visit to time we met on Christmas Eve until now, Frank has had a remarkable clinical journey. It's a miracle he is alive and on the road to recovery.” Sometimes miracles need a little extra help and that is exactly what our Swing Bed team provides, collaborating to ensure a comprehensive plan of care for patients like Frank with the goal of strengthening and healing and ultimately returning home. Swing Bed patients receive individualized care including nutrition consultation, and occupational and physical therapy to help them regain strength and return to normal function and independence.
Grant Regional is proud to offer physical, occupational, and speech therapy services in the inpatient, swing bed, home health, and outpatient realm. Each area provides specialized care to meet the goals of any individual. Swing bed therapy focuses on improving the person’s ability to safely care for themselves following an injury or medical event, allowing the individual to regain their independence. Home health and outpatient services are a continuation of that exceptional care, focusing on continued recovery and return to community activities.