Howard's story
Howard Webb was just 59 when his wife passed away. To deal with his grief, he left a job of 23 years at a long-term care facility to focus on caring for himself, his house and beloved dogs, Trixie and Buddy. Despite his loss, Howard remained active, attended church and often helped his neighbors.
However, when Howard hadn’t been seen for a few days, a neighbor thought something might be wrong and called authorities for a wellness check.
Emergency responders found Howard at home incapacitated with a brain bleed, an intracranial hemorrhage which occurs when vessels rupture or leak, causing pressure on the brain. It can be fatal. Howard had lain unattended for four days, unable to call for help.
Howard was rushed to the local hospital and where life-saving surgery relieved the pressure on his brain. However, it rendered Howard unable to stand, walk, feed or take care of himself.
Howard’s care team recommended specialized rehabilitation to help him recover. For that, his family chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR) – Marlton.
Upon arrival to KIR-Marlton, Howard’s physician-led team of therapists created a plan to help him with his primary goal – to walk and regain some independence. For that, he required physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Initially, Howard was unable to get out of bed unassisted. Physical therapy focused on getting Howard on his feet again. Aware that Howard’s blood pressure dropped dangerously low when he tried standing, his therapist used a tilt table to slowly help him stand upright. A tilt table helps patients to acclimate to being in an upright position in gradual increments to help the body adapt to changes in blood pressure and circulation. Once Howard’s blood pressure stabilized, he relearned to stand with the help of mechanical lifts that supported his weight. Eventually, he was able to take steps with help.
Meantime, occupational therapy (OT) helped him strengthen and regain range of motion in his arms. In OT he regularly did upper body exercises and progressed to using weights. Virtual reality technology was woven into his therapy sessions – it was used to help balance by simulating shopping for groceries. He was able to prepare meals, which brought all of his skills together, from planning and sequencing to fine motor skills. OT also introduced Howard to mindfulness through yoga and meditation.
Brain injury can cause cognitive issues which Howard’s speech therapists helped address. They engaged Howard in therapeutic games and activities that both challenged and strengthened his problem solving, memory and math skills.
A motivated patient, Howard embraced his therapy sessions and felt well-supported by the staff which he commended for their teamwork. That went for the hospital leader as well, "I never met a CEO who goes around to patients to make sure they are okay," he said.
Over his 39-day stay at Kessler, Howard made steady progress in all areas of his recovery and exceeded his own goals and the goals of his therapists. He remembered how his therapists always encouraged him to “move forward.” He took special joy in walking on his own, and could walk over 700 feel in a 6-minute timed test, and completing daily tasks such as dressing, washing and navigating the kitchen.
Throughout his recovery, his sister and brother-in-law played key roles. They cared for Howard’s dogs while he was hospitalized and participated in family training sessions prior to his discharge in anticipation of his return home. Howard looked forward to spending lots of time with his dogs, getting back to church and attending community events.
Throughout his stay, Howard made people smile and extended support to other patients and staff. When asked what advice he would give to another brain injury survivor, Howard stated, “The most important thing [for recovery] is to listen – that's what I did."
However, when Howard hadn’t been seen for a few days, a neighbor thought something might be wrong and called authorities for a wellness check.
Emergency responders found Howard at home incapacitated with a brain bleed, an intracranial hemorrhage which occurs when vessels rupture or leak, causing pressure on the brain. It can be fatal. Howard had lain unattended for four days, unable to call for help.
Howard was rushed to the local hospital and where life-saving surgery relieved the pressure on his brain. However, it rendered Howard unable to stand, walk, feed or take care of himself.
Howard’s care team recommended specialized rehabilitation to help him recover. For that, his family chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR) – Marlton.
Upon arrival to KIR-Marlton, Howard’s physician-led team of therapists created a plan to help him with his primary goal – to walk and regain some independence. For that, he required physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Initially, Howard was unable to get out of bed unassisted. Physical therapy focused on getting Howard on his feet again. Aware that Howard’s blood pressure dropped dangerously low when he tried standing, his therapist used a tilt table to slowly help him stand upright. A tilt table helps patients to acclimate to being in an upright position in gradual increments to help the body adapt to changes in blood pressure and circulation. Once Howard’s blood pressure stabilized, he relearned to stand with the help of mechanical lifts that supported his weight. Eventually, he was able to take steps with help.
Meantime, occupational therapy (OT) helped him strengthen and regain range of motion in his arms. In OT he regularly did upper body exercises and progressed to using weights. Virtual reality technology was woven into his therapy sessions – it was used to help balance by simulating shopping for groceries. He was able to prepare meals, which brought all of his skills together, from planning and sequencing to fine motor skills. OT also introduced Howard to mindfulness through yoga and meditation.
Brain injury can cause cognitive issues which Howard’s speech therapists helped address. They engaged Howard in therapeutic games and activities that both challenged and strengthened his problem solving, memory and math skills.
A motivated patient, Howard embraced his therapy sessions and felt well-supported by the staff which he commended for their teamwork. That went for the hospital leader as well, "I never met a CEO who goes around to patients to make sure they are okay," he said.
Over his 39-day stay at Kessler, Howard made steady progress in all areas of his recovery and exceeded his own goals and the goals of his therapists. He remembered how his therapists always encouraged him to “move forward.” He took special joy in walking on his own, and could walk over 700 feel in a 6-minute timed test, and completing daily tasks such as dressing, washing and navigating the kitchen.
Throughout his recovery, his sister and brother-in-law played key roles. They cared for Howard’s dogs while he was hospitalized and participated in family training sessions prior to his discharge in anticipation of his return home. Howard looked forward to spending lots of time with his dogs, getting back to church and attending community events.
Throughout his stay, Howard made people smile and extended support to other patients and staff. When asked what advice he would give to another brain injury survivor, Howard stated, “The most important thing [for recovery] is to listen – that's what I did."
