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Jean "Shirley" Watson
Hello, My name is Jean “Shirley” Watson and I came to Island Oaks a “basket case”
on August 15 th, 2006. I had spent several weeks in the Roper ICU following congestive heart
failure. At Roper I had a tracheotomy, was on a ventilator, and in a coma for
about 8 weeks. When I arrived I was unable to feed myself or swallow, could not
use my hands, and could not walk or even move my feet.
I was turned over to the Rehabilitation team here at Island Oaks who worked their
miracles on me. In the beginning, they used a Sara lift to get me out of bed
and I was terrified of it. After I realized that they would not drop me my fears
subsided and I got used to using it for toileting, dressing, etc.
In therapy I got to meet all sorts of interesting people including people who
had no legs, grown men who could not stand pain, many patients with Alzheimer’s
disease, and others too numerous to name. The other patients were encouraging
to me and I to them.
These therapists are totally dedicated people. They have succeeded in a few
weeks to teach me to walk again, feed myself, and dress myself. Hopefully, after
I go home on October 14 th I will eventually learn to walk without the walker and will not need the wheelchair.
So…if you need therapy, turn yourself over to Bridget, Erin, Valerie and Su Saye.
They will do everything they can to put you back together again. Shirley
Greta Cartledge
When I came here, I did not know what I was coming into. I had never been to
a place like Island Oaks Living Center before. As the days progressed I learned
more and more; things that were going to be useful to me for the rest of my life.
I learned how to sit and stand, to walk, and dress myself. The things I needed
to be able to do to get back to being a normal person after my fall. I found that
the facility was great and I have never been treated so well by so many people.
They are all so accommodating to my specific needs.
In the Rehab dept there are three girls that have taught me so much. They were
very knowledgeable, gracious, helpful, and kind. In another facility where I had
been for therapy, it was much different. They brought you down and put everyone
in a circle and had everyone do the same thing. Here, I get individualized attention
and learn what I need to learn. They give me positive feedback and correct me
when I need to improve my techniques.
I have mixed feelings about leaving. I do want to…. I feel comfortable with returning
to my home and have no worries, but on the other hand I have been treated like
family and it makes me sad to go. Everyone has been really nice, accommodating
to my needs and attentive day in and out. Greta returned to her home and beloved
dog Muffin after her rehabilitation. |
