Colleen Kleinschmidt
Before her hospitalization, Colleen Kleinschmidt was living independently at home with her husband. She enjoyed spending time with friends and being out on the water, fishing from her boat.
When Colleen began having serious breathing problems at home, she became so weak that her family called an ambulance. At the hospital, she was admitted with respiratory failure related to a COPD flare-up and respiratory syncytial virus, commonly known as RSV. Because she could not breathe well enough on her own, Colleen was placed on a ventilator to help her breathe.
After a few weeks in the hospital, Colleen was admitted to Vibra Hospital of Fargo, a critical care hospital specializing in complex recovery. When she arrived, she was still on the ventilator and receiving nutrition through a feeding tube. She needed a mechanical standing lift to help her stand and transfer to a chair, and every time she sat up, she became extremely dizzy.
Colleen poses with members of her care team
Colleen’s care team worked closely with her to support both her medical recovery and her return to independence. As her breathing improved, she made steady progress. After ten days, she was officially weaned from the ventilator. Soon after, she was able to begin eating by mouth again.
As Colleen’s dizziness improved, she became more active in therapy. She started walking, practicing stairs, and completing more of her daily self-care tasks on her own. Each milestone helped her move closer to the life she enjoyed before her illness.
After just 18 days at Vibra Hospital, Colleen was walking more than 500 feet independently with a front-wheeled walker. She was able to complete three stairs, manage her self-care on her own, and enjoy a regular diet. Most notably, she was able to be discharged home.
Her family shared, “Her progress is amazing. At one point, we didn’t know if she’d live or ever be able to go back home.”
Colleen also expressed gratitude for the care she received, saying, “The staff has been wonderful. They did a good job even when I was crabby.”
Congratulations, Colleen, on your amazing progress. It has been an honor to be part of your recovery, and all of us at Vibra Hospital of Fargo wish you continued strength and success at home.
