Publication

In February 2025, 18-year-old Lance Giesbrecht was in the prime of life—fishing, hanging out with friends and pursuing a career in emergency services. He was halfway through an EMT certification course and already held his fire certification when everything changed.

What began as a sore throat quickly spiraled into a life-threatening medical emergency. Within four days, Lance went from being healthy to critically ill—struggling to breathe, eat and see. He was rushed to the Emergency Department at Cass Regional Medical Center, where providers immediately recognized the severity of his condition and transferred him by ambulance to The University of Kansas Hospital.

What happened next, his mom says, felt like something out of a medical drama—dozens of staff members swarmed him, sedated and intubated him, and placed him on life support. He was diagnosed with pneumonia in both lungs and encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain often caused by viral infection. His body was also battling acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, a rare neurological condition that causes swelling in the brain and spinal cord. As if that wasn't enough, he experienced a stress-induced heart attack during his hospitalization.

Hope and humor

For weeks, Lance's condition remained critical. He was unable to walk, speak, eat or even swallow, relying entirely on machines, feeding tubes and round-the-clock care. Gradually, his care team was able to ease him off the ventilator and stabilize his condition. Though still unable to eat solid food, he could finally sit up and communicate with his family—a turning point that gave them hope.

It was during this fragile stage of recovery that one of the family's favorite memories occurred. Craving anything with flavor, Lance begged his aunt Anjel to sneak him something—anything—he could enjoy. Against orders, she carefully let him swish fresh fruit and pickle juice in his mouth before spitting it out, just so he could taste it. That small act of love made her his instant favorite. "Bring me some more of that pickle juice!" he told her—a line that still makes his family smile.

After more than a month in the ICU, Lance was strong enough to transfer to inpatient rehabilitation. At first, he could take only a few steps with a walker and a gait belt. With relentless effort, he pushed himself, working to regain his strength until he was well enough to return home—still dependent on a feeding tube, a walker and 24/7 care.

That's when Lance began outpatient therapy at Cass Regional's Rehabilitation Services.

Swift and steady

"When Lance came to us in outpatient therapy, he had just been released from KU Medical Center. He was very weak, dependent on a walker to walk and a feeding tube for nutrition," said Nora Dahman, his speech-language pathologist. "His dream of completing EMT training after graduation had been put on hold, and his flat facial expressions spoke volumes about how deflated he was feeling."

Coming to Cass Regional was a decision based on proximity—but quickly proved to be the best possible choice. Lance worked with an incredible team of therapists, including Nora, as well as Daryl, his occupational therapist, and Shelby, his physical therapist. Lance took part in rehabilitation twice a week for four hours each time. Progress was swift and steady. Within three weeks, he was walking on his own.
"Even after the first week of therapies, Lance began to make good progress, and you could see the light come back into his eyes," Nora recalled. "His quirky sense of humor revealed itself, and before long he was feeling confident again. At times we would even have to say, 'OK, slow down just a little bit, Lance!'"

"Every week brought noticeable improvements," his mom said. "He got stronger, more independent and more like himself."

Nora shared that one of the most memorable moments came on the day Lance graduated from therapies: "Smiles came across our faces as we watched him walk independently down the hospital sidewalk with his mom, almost leaving her behind. He even had a little pep in his step. It was a great feeling—especially reflecting on the condition he was in when we first met him."

She added: "The amount of grit and determination it took for Lance to be patient and dedicated in his course of therapy was tremendous, especially for a young man of his age. As a therapist, you have such an admiration of this kind of determination, because we know it can really make the difference in a patient's outcome."

Love and perseverance

Lance completed his therapy and received great news—his latest scans show only minimal residual swelling in his brain and spinal cord. He's now back to being a normal 19-year-old, riding his motorcycle, studying for his paramedic license and enjoying time with friends.

Even after finishing therapy, Lance makes it a point to visit his care team and share updates. "Since his discharge from outpatient therapies, we have had the true pleasure of him coming back to visit to let us know how well he was doing and sharing some of his latest adventures," Nora said. "We are thrilled to see his success and look forward to seeing what the future holds for him."

Throughout his journey, Lance's best friend since kindergarten, Austin Calvin, never left his side. From beating the ambulance to the ER to sleeping in his hospital room, Austin missed school and work just to be there. Their bond was—and still is—unbreakable.

"Lance wouldn't have made it through this mentally if it hadn't been for Austin being there and keeping his spirits up," his mom said. "Austin was always my first call—whether it was 4 o'clock in the morning or the middle of the day, he showed up without hesitation. Whatever Lance needed, he was there. You couldn't ask for a better friend. He will always be so much more than that—to us, he is family."

No one knew if Lance would live, let alone graduate—but just a few months after being hospitalized, he walked across the stage to receive his high school diploma.

Lance's story is a remarkable reminder of the strength of the human spirit; the power of friendship and family; and the impact of compassionate, skilled rehabilitation. We are proud to have played a part in his recovery and honored to share his story.

Left Photo: Lance's friends from high school visiting him while he was on life support

Right Photo: Lance and his brother, Weston, during Lance's stay in inpatient rehab.

Left Photo: Shelby, Lance's physical therapist, showing him how to do a dynamic resistance stability drill to improve balance.

Right Photo: Lance and his mother, Amie; sister, Alivia; and brother, Weston, following graduation.

Categories: Rehabilitation