Carolyn White

Carolyn White was inspired by her therapists to take her recovery one day at a time.

Carolyn White has been a caretaker to her husband since he was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in his 50s. They love spending time with family, especially their grandchild and great-grandchild. In her spare time, Carolyn enjoys crocheting and knitting items for babies like sweaters and hats. She worked for Genesis as an assembler on and off for ten years until she had a stroke and aneurysm.

Quickly going from caretaker to patient, Carolyn found herself at a hospital in Chicago. Seeing her progress there, Carolyn’s family knew she needed extended care. Her daughter and husband toured a few different facilities. They ended up liking Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana the most and trusted the employees they met.

After 12 days at RHNI, Carolyn wanted to go home even though she had more to accomplish. Her care team talked her into staying a few more days. Carolyn explained, “I’m so glad I did! The last few days didn’t feel like therapy. Ashley and Mariah are very sweet girls. They came to my room and helped me with some of the things I still needed help with, like walking.” At times, recovery was frustrating for Carolyn when she didn’t see progress as fast as she wanted. Her family supported her through the difficult times. They gave her the motivation to keep pushing.

Carolyn’s care team helped her realize that recovery doesn’t happen overnight. They told her with time, patience, and hard work, she could accomplish her goals. Her speech therapist taught her to speak slow and easy. She said, “I learned that patients need to listen and pay attention, and they will make it out stronger. I don’t consider myself a success. I see myself as being grounded in hard work.”

Now in the comfort of her home, Carolyn looks forward to continuing her recovery. Her goal is to independently maneuver around her house. She’s been able to get up the stairs with help from her daughter and husband. She started outpatient therapy with RHNI with hopes to get even stronger. She also plans to join the stroke support group to hear other people’s stories and the struggles they faced.

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Robert Swank

Robert Swank has dealt with back issues since childhood. He avoided the problem, and when life got busy with his family, he learned to live with it. As a former football player, he enjoyed playing catch with his six kids. He also worked full-time as a forklift driver. Robert would find workarounds to mask his condition allowing him to function day-to-day.

As the pain started getting worse, it became harder to hide. Robert finally gave in and saw his doctor. The visit resulted in immediate surgery. Post-op, Robert knew that he would need continued care. His physicians recommended Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana. After learning more about RHNI’s intense therapy program, he decided it would be the best choice.

From the start, Robert’s family has been there for him. His mom offers emotional support, his fiancé, Erica, stays on top of details in his life, and his son hangs out at the hospital to lift his spirits. Another layer of support comes from the RHNI staff. He stated, “Mariah (OT), Ashley (PT), and Chris (PT) push me. They try new things and push me to my limit. With my football background, ‘I can’t’ and ‘no’ aren’t an option. I’m used to pushing.”

While in recovery, Robert stopped smoking and wants to continue avoiding it when he gets home. Aside from that, his main goal is to walk again. He feels that the more independent he can be, the less stress there is on his family. Being independent for him means going back to work and providing for his family. The thought of playing catch with his kids again brings a big smile to his face.

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Stanley Mason

Stanley Mason is usually up by 6:00 a.m. and out the door by 7:00 a.m. on his way to his job working for Michigan City Schools. When he’s not working, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Andrea. They both enjoy watching movies and going to dinner. Their favorite spot is Kelsey’s Steakhouse where they are known by name.

After undergoing back surgery, Stanley knew he needed intense therapy to return to normal life. He wanted the best recovery and required dialysis. The hospital gave him several facilities to choose from and suggested that he visit with the SBO doctor who told him about Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana. They said, “RHNI is the best!”

Andrea looked into RHNI and found rave reviews and success stories. This research made them both confident in choosing RHNI for Stanley’s extended recovery. With the help of his wife, Stanley developed his recovery goals. His main goal was to be able to walk again. When he arrived at RHNI, Stanley’s therapists and nurses pushed him to work hard and supported his recovery through close care and attention.

“My nurse, Kelly, noticed sores on my feet. She noticed right away and paid personal attention to every detail of my care. Louis in therapy was a major player and all the staff has been a blessing,” Stanley shared.

Throughout his recovery, Stanley’s wife was consistently a source of strength. “She was my rock.” With all his support, Stanley worked hard at his recovery. He is now returning home excited to relax in his own space. He looks forward to spending time with Andrea without having her travel to visit him.

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Cindy Roettgen

Cindy put her trust in RHNI and is looking forward to a healthy life after experiencing a bad fall.

While Cindy Roettgen loved her job working as a full-time phlebotomist, she also made time for her hobbies. Outside of work, she enjoyed traveling, especially to Las Vegas, and also likes to make jewelry. After suffering a bad fall, she had to put her life on pause and focus on her recovery.

Working in the medical field, Cindy knew that a rehabilitation hospital would be her best option. After driving past Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana almost every day for work, she became familiar with their inpatient program. As the only facility of its kind in the area, Cindy chose RHNI to give herself the best chance to get back to better. She explained, “At my age, it’s harder to heal. I needed a place focused on getting me back to normal.”

With a team of supportive therapists, Cindy started her rehabilitation program. “The therapy team is positive and motivating. All of them. Your personal progress is their priority.” Some of her obstacles included a foot injury, her weight, and upper body weakness making any mobility difficult. Despite these challenges, she put her trust in RHNI.

“Louie pushed me to use my arms and I worked hard. It has made all the difference. He pushed me to strengthen the core parts of my body, so now I want to lose weight and be a healthier person. My journey does not stop here.”

Cindy stays motivated by focusing on the reward of physical health and living her best life. As she continues her recovery, Cindy is most excited about being able to walk and drive again. “I’m ready to get back to work, travel, and just enjoy life.” Her long-term goal is to develop a physical activity routine so she can make her body stronger and her life better.

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James Sumption

As a previous patient at RHNI, James returned for continued care after he was diagnosed with a neurological disorder.

Before his illness, James Sumption spent his time outdoors, camping and marine boat watching. He enjoyed doing activities with his wife, Sue, and their large family. They have three grown children, two sons and one daughter, and eight grandchildren. But his entire lifestyle changed when James received his neurological diagnosis.

After spending time at Memorial Hospital, James’s physician knew that he would need to continue his recovery at another facility. As a previous patient of Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana, he knew he would receive a great level of care. He was transferred to RHNI where he started inpatient therapy.

Upon arrival, James had a lot of anxiety about falling, but the staff helped him overcome this fear. “Louie and Chris were the most helpful. They made me walk when I was afraid to and told me no slumping,” he explained. This helped him gain the confidence he needed to start walking again.

James worked on different exercises that would prepare him for independent living once he was discharged. Using the simulated vehicle in the therapy gym, he practiced getting in and out of the car. Thinking of being able to walk outside kept him motivated to complete these exercises. He continues to work hard so he won’t have to use assisted devices like his lift chair.

While staying at RHNI, James loved the food and was impressed with his meals every day. The street steak burrito was his favorite. “I want to thank everyone at RHNI for treating me well and helping me recover,” he stated. Another great thing about the facility is the ability to have visitors. It was so important to see his wife every day and to have her encourage him to do therapy. “RHNI is the #1 rehab in this part of the state,” he added.

Ready for warm weather, James looks forward to sitting on his front porch with Sue. His goal is to stay in shape and keep his bad days to a minimum. He wants to avoid any future trips to the hospital so he can spend time with his family and enjoy life.

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Barbara Allen

Barbara Allen regained her strength at RHNI after suffering a stroke.

Barbara Allen lived a full and comfortable life with her family. Her daily routine consisted of working and raising her children with her loving husband. The life that she built was interrupted after she suffered a stroke.

Barbara was taken to Saint Joseph Hospital where she received her initial care. As she progressed, Barbara’s physician knew that she would need extended care before returning home. The staff explained to Barbara that she could get the therapy she needed at Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana.

Upon arrival at RHNI, Barbara’s therapy started right away with different exercises. She worked hard with her team of physical, occupational, and speech therapists on things like regaining strength in her arm. Her family provided a constant source of motivation, and getting back to her old life kept her going. Barbara also credits her progress to the RHNI staff.

“They helped me most by listening, having a good attitude, providing comfort, motivation, and most of all, making me feel welcomed.”

As Barbara continues to recover, she looks forward to returning home to her family and normal life. “I’m most excited about getting back to working, feeding myself, and learning to appreciate the little things in life like texting on the phone.”

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Margaret Adams

Margaret Adams chose RHNI to help her regain her independence after back surgery

Margaret Adams and her husband, Robert, have built a life of which they are proud. They have four children and enjoy spending time with all their grandkids. Margaret attends church and loves taking care of her garden. A few years ago, she was diagnosed with lumbar myelopathy. This is an injury that occurs due to severe compression to the middle area of the spinal cord. Because of her condition, she couldn’t keep up with all the activities in her life.

After her lumbar surgery, Margaret’s family knew she needed to continue her recovery at a rehabilitation hospital. One of her daughters, Stacey Clay, is the unit secretary at Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana. Stacey knew that RHNI would keep her mother comfortable and provide her with a positive experience. She was hesitant at first, but her loving daughter was adamant about the great services they provide.

With God and family by her side, Margaret chose to be admitted to RHNI. Each day, she thought about her family to keep herself motivated. She worked hard with the staff to achieve her recovery goals. “The therapy staff really motivated my cognitive thinking, especially Beth and Allana.”

Margaret looks forward to getting back to the activities she enjoyed most, like gardening. “The grandkids are taking care of my flowers now, and they’re still green!” She also remains motivated to take care of her health. “God has been good to me, and I want to live a long and healthy life, to see my grandkids grow up and graduate.”

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Jerry Zaplinty

Losing your independence due to injury is never easy. That has been particularly true for 92-year-old Jerry Zaplinty. Jerry is a true family man, married 60 years with two children and two grandchildren. Jerry definitely enjoyed keeping busy! Though Jerry noticed that his mobility and balance seemed off, he ignored the signals his body was sending him. After enough time disregarding his symptoms and not utilizing adaptive equipment like a walker, Jerry found himself in the hospital.

After extensive testing, Jerry was diagnosed with subdural hematoma, a type of bleeding that occurs within the skull but outside the brain tissue. Working through a therapy program at another facility, he realized that it was not a good fit and was looking for more. He was referred to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana by a family member. Jerry connected with Dr. Blendonohy, the medical director at RHNI, who explained how the rehabilitation process worked.

Jerry’s motivation comes from being able to gain back his independence, like talking and walking freely, and getting back to handling things around the house like finances, cleaning, and opening mail. He is very appreciative of RHNI’s generosity and the support from staff members including Rachel, Louie, Tiffany, and Chris who went above and beyond to support his recovery. He felt valued that the hospital CEO, John Day, took the time to get to know him. “He gave a firm handshake,” he noted.

Jerry also shared how special the staff made his last day. “The ‘Priority One’ was really touching,” he said. During a “Priority One,” all available staff line the hallway and clap for a patient as they discharge from the hospital on their last day.

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Kim Maybee

Kim Maybee prepares to discharge home from Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana

Kim Maybee prepares to discharge home from RHNI in time to spend Christmas at home with his family

Kim Maybee was always busy. For the last 27 years, Kim worked full-time as a supervisor at LyondellBasell. He spent his free time enjoying his swimming pool, working in his yard, going to car shows, and traveling to Indianapolis to watch drag racing.

That was before Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). Guillain-Barre syndrome is a rare neurological condition where the body’s immune system attacks the nerves.

For Kim, it began with two weeks in bed, followed by admission to a local acute care hospital. GBS took a major toll on Kim’s independence. While at the acute care hospital, Kim required assistance just to transfer from his bed to a chair.

As Kim and his family began to plan for discharge from the acute care hospital they spoke with Dr. Blendonohy. “Dr. B” suggested Kim consider a transfer to the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana. Kim and his wife felt Dr. B was very sincere about the potential for improvement Kim could see from intensive inpatient rehabilitation. They chose to continue Kim’s recovery at RHNI. And they’re glad they did.

At RHNI, Kim made great progress in regaining his independence. He credits the staff for helping him achieve his goals. “Sarah and Jane have been great!” Kim said of his main therapists. He also recognized Louie, Cece, the nurses, and PCTs for being wonderful. “I have nothing but positive things to say about the staff,” he added, always saying to them “you are my angels.”

But above all, Kim credits his wife, Debbie, for helping him the most on his journey recovering from GBS. He said Debbie was his biggest supporter. He also noted that “God and all of the prayers have allowed me to make the progress I have made.”

Kim is excited to be able to walk again and independently complete his normal, daily activities. Kim stated that returning home with his family “is the best Christmas gift ever!”

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Robert Rogers

Robert Rogers chose RHNI to help him recover from a broken hip.

Before suffering a broken hip, Robert Rogers enjoyed an active life at the independent living facility where he resided. Robert’s daughter and granddaughter visited him frequently. He enjoyed watching westerns, driving around in his RAV4, and visiting Lake Michigan. He played golf two to three times per week and traveled to many courses, including his favorite, Pebble Beach.

After being treated for the hip fracture at Memorial Hospital, Robert needed rehabilitation. He heard about the Rehabilitation Hospital of Northern Indiana from the staff at Memorial. Robert’s daughter was determined to get her father the best care. Working with the case management team at Memorial, they chose RHNI.

Robert and his daughter are happy with their choice. “Everyone, everyone is very nice and is always happy to help,” he said of the staff at RHNI. He noted the impact physical therapy has made on his recovery, specifically thanking his therapists, Chris and Louie.

Each day, Robert drew on his desire to get back to life before the hip fracture. Robert continued to progress and looks forward to gaining enough strength to do things with his family again, which includes six grandkids and eight great-grandkids.

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