Pamela Carlsrud

Before her injury, Pamela Carlsrud was enjoying her recent retirement after a long career as a waitress. She lived independently with her husband, spending her days cooking, relaxing at home, and cherishing time with their two children and four grandchildren. But an unexpected accident changed everything.

Pam suffered a ground-level fall that caused a brain bleed, leading to emergency surgery and a craniectomy to relieve pressure on her brain. Her condition became critical when she went into respiratory failure and required a ventilator to breathe.

When Pam was stable enough to begin the next phase of her recovery, her medical team referred her to Vibra Hospital of Fargo, a critical care hospital specializing in treating patients with complex medical needs who require extended recovery and rehabilitation.

When she arrived at Vibra Hospital in August, Pam was still on a ventilator and unable to participate in therapy due to confusion and difficulty following commands. Her care team focused on stabilizing her condition and supporting her recovery. By the next day, she was successfully weaned from the ventilator—a major step forward.

As Pam’s alertness and communication improved, her therapy team got to work. She began sitting on the edge of the bed and gradually increased her activity through physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Speech therapy played a key role in helping her regain her voice and swallowing function, allowing her to transition safely to a regular diet.

Her husband shared that at first, progress seemed slow—but soon, her recovery gained momentum. “It really started to improve when the trach came out and she could start to talk and eat,” he said. “Everyone at Vibra has been very personable, attentive, and answered questions to the best of their knowledge.”

By the time of her discharge, Pam was walking 300 feet with a front-wheeled walker and completing many self-care tasks independently. She no longer needed supplemental oxygen and was strong enough to transfer to a skilled nursing facility closer to home to continue improving her mobility, cognition, and safety before returning home.

Pam, your strength and perseverance are truly inspiring. It has been an honor to be part of your recovery journey, and we wish you health and happiness as you move forward.