Patient’s Perspective

DON’T LET DOUBT WIN

The Patient’s Perspective section is authored by Laura Kolaczkowski. She is active in the multiple sclerosis community, particularly with iConquerMS, a patient led research initiative organized by the Accelerated Cure Project for MS. You can find out more at www.iconquerms.org and how to participate in MS research. 

We can all agree that 2020 was quite the year – we started the year with great hopes and expectations and ended up in a global pandemic and quarantined. If you were fortunate, you avoided contracting the novel coronavirus COVID-19, and you adapted to new ways of working from home or in a safe workplace environment.

Some of us weren’t so fortunate, and contracted COVID-19. Almost 600,00 Americans died from this disease and millions more contracted the virus. I was among the latter and I became ill with COVID-19 from my husband, who was exposed in a work environment. I spent 13 long days and nights in the hospital, the first six in the COVID intensive care unit, being tended to by a wonderful medical staff. But mainly I was in the solitary quiet, alone with my doubts.

The day before I was moved from ICU to the pulmonary unit, I had two very special visitors. I almost squealed with delight when these two came into the room and introduced themselves as a physical therapist (PT) and an occupational therapist (OT). If you know me, you already know I am not the type to get overly excited, but seeing these two therapists made my heart skip a beat.  “I am thrilled to see you,” I said breathlessly, which was partially due from the COVID impact on my lungs and not solely my emotional state.

“I am thrilling to see you.”

Their response? “Wow! Most people are not happy to see us like this.” All I could do was smile and tell them I am not like most people, because I know the value and importance of therapy in healing. I’ve watched other family members benefit from the dedication of OT and PT workers, and believed I would receive the same benefit.

On my second Sunday in the hospital, I was feeling abandoned, alone without a visit from any therapist. But that feeling of gloom and doom lifted on Monday morning when my new friend, the OT, showed up in my room at 7:30. I am not a morning person, but as you know hospital care knows no time constraints. After a few pleasantries were exchanged we got down to the business of brushing my teeth, trying to comb my rat’s nest of hair and she helped me do a sponge bath. These little things I ordinarily take for granted, gave me hope that my COVID journey would end well.  The PT also returned, and gave me a workout of walking the halls, climbing a few stairs, and a bedside routine of a few light exercises. They both gave me generous doses of encouraging words.

I have multiple sclerosis and know the importance of having a thorough evaluation performed to fine tune my activities of daily life and my hospital encounter with these therapists was not my first time to have PT or be evaluated for OT. I was especially grateful to have PT and OT assigned to my home care team as part of my discharge plan, although it was different people than I first encountered in the hospital.

Certainly, the pulmonology doctor, the infectious disease specialists, and countless nurses were essential to my physical well-being, but the therapists took the time to make me feel better and much more. They gave me encouragement and hope that a daily routine beyond COVID was an achievable goal and erased most of my doubts.

I write this to encourage you to never doubt as a member of the rehabilitation medicine field the impact you have on the lives of your patients. We may not always act like we want to be with you and sometimes even balk at working with you, but deep down we know you are true partners in our health journey.

Wishing you well,
Laura