Your Life Can Change in the Blink of an Eye

He began to shut down emotionally. He was upset and angry and admits that for the first two months of his care at CSH he was mean to his family, hospital staff, and anyone else he came into contact with. Isaac went from being an extroverted and independent kid to being in a wheelchair and needing help with even the most basic tasks such as bathing, using the bathroom and brushing his hair. It was too much for him to bear. “I didn’t want to talk to anyone and I took my anger out on people who did not deserve it,” explained Isaac. “I had accepted my fate and I just wanted to lay where I was forever.”

What Isaac needed desperately was hope. And he found it when he saw another patient who had arrived at CSH in a coma up and walking within a few months. “That was a game changer for me,” said Isaac. “I said to myself, okay, if he can do that, so can you. You have to push and move forward.” From that day forward Isaac began to work hard. He began to push himself in therapy, socialize with staff and other patients, and adopt a more positive outlook on his future.

“My care team at CSH was definitely a team of angels in disguise,” said Isaac. “They never gave up on me, even when I would lash out. They were the ones who stuck it out with me.” Isaacs’s doctors, nurses, and therapists pushed him and constantly reminded him that he is more than just a kid in a wheelchair. They took the time to show him examples of others who were once in his position and are now thriving and living their lives to their full potential.

Isaac values the friendships that he made at CSH, especially since his stay was during the peak of the pandemic and visitors were limited. . “Being in the hospital during the COVID19 pandemic was hard because the safety precautions meant that I could have very few visitors--especially since all of my friends were under 18,” said Isaac. “Talking to the nurses and other patients really helped me get through the isolation of not having my friends there.”

Isaac’s family took turns staying with him during his four month inpatient stay at CSH. “The staff hugged us and became like family,” said Daniela. “Children’s Specialized Hospital felt like home, which meant everything to us in that moment.” Day after day Daniela watched Isaac’s care team motivate him to keep working and began to see improvement in her son, both physically and emotionally.  “All the nurses were so gentle, I never had one complaint,” continued Daniela. “When we left it was a very sad day.“We felt the same scared feeling that we had coming in, but now about going home. Children’s was our safe place.”

Upon leaving CSH, Isaac was fitted for a state-of-the-art wheelchair by the Rehabilitation Technology department. “Rehab Tech,” as it is more commonly known in the halls of CSH, uses a team approach to conduct a detailed evaluation of each patient with regards to seating, positioning and mobility needs. The specialists then help patients who are currently using or in need of specialized equipment enhance their strengths and abilities. The new standing power wheelchair that Isaac received has helped him gain some of his independence back. He is now able to participate more fully in family, school, community and recreation activities.

Going back to the life he had before his injury has not been easy for Isaac. Seeing his friends enjoying the things that they all used to do together is hard for him. “After being in treatment for so long I didn’t know my friends anymore,” said Isaac. “Adapting and learning who we all are now has been a challenge. This journey has definitely shown me who my true friends are.”