When Lizette was five, she was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which left her with a weakened immune system. Now thirty-eight years old and living with her parents, she continues to need immunosuppressants to help her survive. However, even with the aid of these, there is a greater likelihood that an infection might lead to a serious illness.
On December 18, 2020, Lizette lost consciousness several times. She was taken to Brampton Civic Hospital (BCH), suffering from respiratory distress and an abnormally low level of oxygen in the blood. When she arrived at BCH, she was immediately tested for COVID-19. “When the result came back positive,” says Lizette, “my heart began to race.” The health care staff told her that she would be put into a medically induced coma so they could intubate her and that she would be put on a mechanical ventilator to stabilize her.
A short time later, Lizette was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Toronto General Hospital. She was brought out of her induced coma on January 5 — Lizette recalls the attending physician wishing her a Happy New Year’s when she awoke. Her condition improved, and she was transferred from the ICU to a medical ward, where she was successfully weaned off supplemental oxygen.
Lizette was then transferred to the General Internal Medicine (GIM)/COVID-19 unit at The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre (TGHC), where patients dealing with a complicated post COVID-19 recovery receive further care and rehabilitation before they are discharged home.
When she was first admitted, Lizette was assessed by the TGHC’s interprofessional health care team to determine her plan of care. The dietitian/wound care specialist during examination discovered a pressure injury on her tailbone, and so Lizette received treatment to heal it.
Lizette was visited by a physician/rheumatologist every morning, and as part of her rehabilitation, five days a week by a physiotherapist (PT) and an occupational therapist (OT), they helped Lizette work toward gaining back her independence. She worked hard and learned how to properly transfer from her bed to her walker, and after two weeks, she was able to transfer without assistance. At first, she was only able to take a few steps, but soon she was walking further. Knowing that Lizette would need to climb stairs independently when she returned home, her PT worked on exercises with Lizette to ensure that she would be able to do that when the time came. Lizette did so well that she was able to climb thirteen steps in a very short period of time. Lizette also practiced with her OT the activities of daily living, such as getting in and out of a bathtub, and independently using a commode.
A psychotherapist provided therapy for Lizette twice a week. Lizette was able to share her feelings about her mental health and learn strategies to help her successfully achieve her goal of returning home.
Lizette’s parents were somewhat skeptical of the care Lizette would receive at the TGHC. “The ICU doctors at TGH told us that her recovery, if she survived, would be a very rough road,” said her mother, Cindy. “But when we saw her improvement from week to week, we realized that the Grace supported our daughter with the right care beyond just rehabilitation. We’re thankful she had a good health care team.”
When Lizette was discharged on February 18, 2021, she no longer required any supplemental oxygen, and was walking independently without any supports. Lizette believes her interprofessional health care team was amazing. “Everyone was very caring.”