Success Story - Denise Wilson

In Her Words...

“In 2011, my life changed. Call me Jane Doe. I was admitted to the ICU at Reading Hospital with no legs and missing my left arm, with major trauma to my head. After recovery from that, I transitioned home, where I slipped into a dark depression. For years, I stayed in my room with no hope. I reached out to God and began to believe, I knew this wasn’t the end for me.

Even though I had doctors who doubted me and family members holding me back. I met my prosthetist crew, and they let me know they believed too. I landed here on [the acute rehabilitation unit]. While working with wonderful nurses, PCAs, PTs, STs, OTs, and Dr. Mei to be able to stand again. After four weeks, I made it to the next level, which is outpatient therapy. I just want to thank this incredible down-to-earth team for making this all possible”

The Full Story

Denise was originally admitted to Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing after a serious motor vehicle accident, resulting in triple amputation and traumatic brain injury. Later, she was readmitted to the acute rehabilitation unit for prosthetic training with bilateral above-the-knee prostheses. Denise had been functioning at wheelchair level and was unable to ambulate at all after the accident.

After participating in our intensive inpatient rehabilitation program, Denise was discharged home at a contact guard level with ambulation. Denise now attends outpatient therapy at Reading Hospital Rehabilitation at Wyomissing. She is also training to become an inpatient peer visitor for amputee and brain injury patients on the acute rehabilitation unit!