Patient Stories: Rehabilitation
Keith Returns to Work as a CPA after Recovering from Months-long Coma
Keith, a licensed certified public accountant (CPA), has experienced health problems since the age of 19. However, at age 50, Keith’s health problems nearly left him in a nursing home.
At 19, Keith was diagnosed with hydrocephalus (spinal fluid on the brain), which caused pressure in his brain. To remedy the problem, a shunt was installed to drain the spinal fluid and relieve the pressure.
Eight years later, in 1984, Keith had a second health scare. The shunt tube developed adhesions that blocked the flow of spinal fluid. He had emergency surgery to fix the problem.
More than two decades later, in August 2006, Keith experienced major problems with the shunt. On the Friday before Labor Day 2006, he went home from work with a tremendous headache. By Saturday night, he was in the hospital and was comatose. An operation was performed to replace the shunt, but almost immediately, blood clots formed and clogged the shunt. A second shunt was installed, and likewise, blood clots clogged it. Finally, a third shunt was successfully installed.
However, the pressure on the brain was so prolonged that severe brain injuries had developed. Still in a coma two months later, Keith was moved to a rehab hospital where doctors told his family that he would probably not get better. If Keith even lived, he would probably not have the mental capacity to function normally in life. The physicians suggested he be moved to a nursing home.
His wife, Sandra, refused to accept that answer. Keith and Sandra attribute unwavering faith, instead of denial, to her steadfastness in finding answers and help. She worked with the nursing staff in the neurosurgery wing at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, to find an appropriate place that could help Keith. They contacted TIRR Memorial Hermann, and after about a week in a nursing home, Keith was transferred to TIRR.
Keith immediately started improving at TIRR. In a week, he started waking up from the coma he had been in for three months. Once awake, there were indications of brain damage. He could neither walk, nor talk.
Staff immediately started physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Keith was in the gym five days a week. The speech-language pathologist worked on his speech and had him working logic and deduction puzzles on a daily basis. Keith had to relearn how to bathe, feed and dress himself.
Over a three-month period, Keith began to function normally and was released to his home. The rehabilitation process continued through outpatient therapy and continues today with his wife helping with workouts at home.
Keith was recently discussing his brain injuries with his neurosurgeon. The doctor said that Keith’s injuries were as bad as brain injuries can get. He added, however, that those injuries have completely healed.
Keith continues to work as a CPA.