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Early last December, Harrisonville resident and Cass Regional Medical Center trustee Amy Catron started feeling ill with a fever and congestion. As a registered nurse, she suspected she might have COVID-19, so she stayed home and treated her symptoms. Her condition worsened, prompting her husband to call 911. She was taken to Cass Regional's Emergency Department, where she was diagnosed with COVID-19 and transferred to a COVID-19 treatment unit at a Kansas City hospital.

Catron's blood oxygen level was precariously low, and at first she was given supplemental oxygen through a nasal cannula. As her health continued to deteriorate, she progressed to high-flow heated oxygen, a BiPAP machine, and finally to a ventilator.

"I needed continuous oxygen"

Catron was hospitalized for 111 days, 68 of which were spent on a ventilator. She had a tracheotomy and a feeding tube and lost 30 pounds, most of which was muscle loss. When she came out of sedation, she was unable to move most of her extremities. The medical staff weaned Catron off the ventilator over a month's time. It took an additional month of intensive rehabilitation for her to regain enough muscle strength to sit up, stand and walk short distances with a walker.

"I was discharged home using a walker and a stair chair. I needed continuous oxygen and was frequently short of breath," said Catron. "When I first started pulmonary rehab at Cass Regional in April, my lung function was severely impaired. I had less than half of normal lung capacity."

At that time, Catron could only walk 150 feet with a walker while using 4 liters per minute (lpm) of oxygen.

A "kind and supportive" program

Catron went to pulmonary rehab twice a week.

"Amy came into our program with determination," said Christine Graves, RRT, pulmonary rehabilitation coordinator. "She was encouraging to others in the program as well, always showing kindness and compassion."

Catron gradually worked her way up to exercising an hour each session, in addition to undergoing physical therapy.

"After a few months, I was able to walk laps around the department," said Catron.

Her lung capacity had improved slightly, but her overall endurance greatly improved, allowing her to return to most of her normal activities and go back to work.

"If you have significant breathing problems, Cass Regional's pulmonary rehab program can help you regain the strength and endurance you need to lead a more active life," said Catron. "The pulmonary rehab staff understand the challenges that come with exercising with breathing difficulties. They are very kind and supportive throughout the program."

Catron was discharged from rehab in late August.

"When Amy graduated our program, she walked a mile and only had to wear 1 lpm nasal cannula!" remarked Graves.

"I am thankful for the excellent care I received from both the pulmonary rehab and physical therapy teams," said Catron. "I recently spent several days caring for my new granddaughter. I wouldn't have had that pleasure if they had not helped me in my recovery."

Categories: Community stories