I couldn't hold a fork
“My fear was I’d end up in a nursing home,” says Jacob Lisman of Mountain Top. In July, he was taken by ambulance to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. A spinal tap confirmed that Jacob had Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare disorder where the body's immune system attacks its nerves. Weakness and tingling in the extremities are usually the first symptoms.
“When I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, I couldn’t stand or use my hands. I had great difficulty in speaking and swallowing. Hour by hour, my breathing got worse,” Jacob says. After more than a week in the ICU, Jacob was stabilized and moved to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.
“When I arrived at South Wilkes-Barre, I could not walk or hold a fork. My secret fear was that I would never recover. However, my doctor, therapist and nurses had a different and very optimistic plan for me. With 3 hours of therapy 6 days a week and 24-hour nursing care, I walked out of the hospital (with my walker) three-and-a-half weeks later.”
“I told my family and my friends — and will continue to tell everyone — that the Geisinger system saved my life. Finally, I must say that in my almost 70 years, I have met many people; however, I have never met until now an entire group of people with such exceptional expertise and genuine compassion. I’m just incredibly thankful.”
“When I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, I couldn’t stand or use my hands. I had great difficulty in speaking and swallowing. Hour by hour, my breathing got worse,” Jacob says. After more than a week in the ICU, Jacob was stabilized and moved to Geisinger South Wilkes-Barre.
“When I arrived at South Wilkes-Barre, I could not walk or hold a fork. My secret fear was that I would never recover. However, my doctor, therapist and nurses had a different and very optimistic plan for me. With 3 hours of therapy 6 days a week and 24-hour nursing care, I walked out of the hospital (with my walker) three-and-a-half weeks later.”
“I told my family and my friends — and will continue to tell everyone — that the Geisinger system saved my life. Finally, I must say that in my almost 70 years, I have met many people; however, I have never met until now an entire group of people with such exceptional expertise and genuine compassion. I’m just incredibly thankful.”
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