Gary's story
Gary Desjadon, a Morristown, NJ native, feels that he dodged death.
He went for a routine colonoscopy, which revealed a mass in his transverse colon. He was scheduled for a colectomy to remove the part of his colon with the mass, but he started to feel extreme pain and nausea before the surgery. His doctors soon discovered a perforated bowel in his small intestine. Gary not only required a colectomy, but emergency surgery to repair the perforation and create an opening in his abdominal wall to divert waste from his body (known as an ileostomy).
“I spent the next four months in the hospital… virtually on the brink of death,” Gary recalled. His stay in the hospital left him severely atrophied, unable to walk and requiring total assistance for self-care and mobility.
When he was medically stable, he chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation - Chester to help him rebuild his life. Gary had one primary goal.
“The thing written on my board was ‘I want to walk,’” he said.
He was motivated by a long-standing family tradition of meeting at Walt Disney World, and determined to make the trip, he set his sights on regaining his strength and independence.
Gary’s rehabilitation involved a physician-lead team approach, including physical therapy, occupational therapy and nursing care. Physical therapists focused on improving his strength, endurance and balance. He vividly remembers his first days in therapy. “I could barely shuffle my feet 12 inches forward…,” he said, noting how the fear of falling felt overwhelming. But with time, his confidence grew, and he began to make significant strides. Gary soon progressed to walking four steps with total assistance on the parallel bars. He moved on to the ARJO lift that supported his weight while walking and soon advanced to a rolling walker.
Occupational therapy was crucial in helping Gary adapt to his new reality. Therapists worked with him on functional performance in tasks such as bed mobility, standing tolerance and functional transfer training. They also educated him on managing his ileostomy bag, conserving energy and using assistive devices to maximize his participation in daily routines.
Given the complexity of Gary’s condition, his rehabilitation nurses focused on several key areas. These included medication management, infection control and maintaining skin integrity. They also prioritized fall prevention, sleep hygiene, ostomy care, specialized wound care and providing caregiver support and training.
Gary’s progress was steady, hard-earned and uplifting. “The first time I took a 100-foot lap around the mats… everyone was applauding,” recalled Gary. “It was a great feeling.” His pushed through the physical and emotional challenges in every session to move forward.
Beyond the physical aspects, Gary appreciated the emotional support from the Kessler team. “The willingness of people there to listen, to put a hand on your shoulder and say, ‘it’s okay,’ is heartwarming and incredibly thoughtful,” he said. This encouragement was vital in helping him stay focused on regaining his strength.
Gary’s wife also played an essential role in his rehabilitation, attending training sessions that prepared them for his transition home.
After he was discharged, Gary continued occupational and physical therapies at his home. And just in case you are wondering, he did take that trip to Disney World, a goal that once seemed impossible. Reflecting on his experience, he said, “I’d recommend Kessler… to everyone. I’ll be a lifelong advocate and salesman.”
For anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation, he advised: “Keep your chin up... stay focused on whatever your prize is and don’t get despondent. Work hard to get to where you want to be.”
Gary was awarded Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation's Triumph of the Human Spirit Award. It is awarded to a patient who has overcome the challenges of an illness through determination, inspires those around them and represents the potential of the human spirit.