Kelly's story
Fifteen years ago, Kelly Hirsh beat lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. The experience taught the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus nurse to trust her body’s signals. When the now-35-year-old began experiencing shortness of breath and chest discomfort, she went to the emergency room.
There, testing uncovered a pair of tumors pressing against the carotid arteries on both sides of her neck. Surgery removed the left-side mass.
During recovery, Kelly had difficulty swallowing, she aspirated as a complication from surgery. She went into respiratory failure and was placed on a ventilator with a chest tube to remove fluid.
A tracheostomy and feeding tube were connected for long-term support. Kelly’s stay was complicated by septic shock, delirium, seizures and kidney failure. A speaking valve was inserted to help her communicate, but she struggled to tolerate and use it.
Once stable, her family was able to look into the next stage of care. On the recommendation of her doctors, Kelly transferred to Regency Hospital Cleveland East for continued recovery.
She arrived unable to stand, walk and needing help to perform self-care.
Kelly was thrilled to discover the woman who hired her into the Cleveland Clinic system, Judy McCoy, was now Regency East’s chief nursing officer. The familiar face put her at ease.
A physician-led team, including nurses and therapists, created a plan for independence.
Occupational and physical therapists began a mobility program to improve her strength and dexterity. Within days, she went from sitting at the bed’s edge to walking with supervision.
Kelly’s primary motivator was getting home to her four-year-old daughter, so she pledged her stay would be “short.”
Kelly only spent 11 days undergoing rehabilitation; in that short period of time both her trach and feeding tube were removed, she learned how to walk and eat again, she was able to wean off most of her medications and regained her full mental capacity.
Speech therapy taught her focused breathing exercises to combat anxiety, which gave her better tolerance for the speaking valve.
Growing stronger, Kelly practiced walking the hall with a walker, dressing and other personal care activities with minimal supervision.
After passing a swallowing evaluation, she transitioned to a liquid and soft food diet. Speech therapists ensured Kelly was comfortable using safe swallowing strategies and techniques to avoid choking.
One of her first “real meal” requests? A bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios, which she gleefully fed herself.
Kelly’s biggest milestone came when, after weeks apart, the Regency Hospital team and her family coordinated a visit with her daughter. Both burst into tears of joy, happy to see one another.
Not long after, Kelly transitioned to a regular diet and stepped down her level of airway support.
True to her word, Kelly went home after just two weeks. She continued outpatient rehab for eight months and was able to return to the Special Transplant Unit in January, working 12 hours shifts just like she did pre-surgery.
In Kelly's words, "Being a critically ill patient was the most humbling experience of my life. It renewed my passion in nursing and made me understand that we as nurses are an integral part of patient care. Patients endure every emotion, they are terrified, vulnerable, and in need of special care. I know firsthand through my experiences that it is the nurse who holds your hand in the middle of the night, wipes the tears off your face, makes you laugh, and brings you that first cup of ice chips after months of nothing to eat or drink. I'm grateful to all the members of the Regency East health care team who cared for me during my time as a patient. I will never forget you and be forever grateful for your amazing care.
At a follow-up appointment, her airway support was removed. She continues to improve with outpatient therapy and looks forward to resuming her career and active life. Most importantly, she has returned to her career at the Cleveland Clinic as a Registered Nurse.