Stevenson Skrzypek, a firefighter and veteran, has always been inspired to help others. In fact, he was training for a charity boxing event in March 2023 when he sustained a severe brain injury. He arrived at Stormont Vail Health in Topeka, Kansas, where doctors held little hope for his survival.
“There was a brain bleed; there were seizures and several infections,” Renae Skrzypek, Steve’s wife recalled. “He ended up with a collapsed lung. If anything could go wrong, it did.”
Three weeks later, Steve’s medical condition had mercifully stabilized enough for him to transfer to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals’ specialized brain injury program. Upon arrival, he couldn’t move or breathe on his own. He also struggled with his speech and swallowing. “Steve’s traumatic brain injury was severe,” Matthew Driewer, M.D., a Madonna hospitalist, said. “He struggled with significant aphasia. So he had a lot of trouble communicating with others and letting his needs be known. When [patients like Steve] come to us, our goal is to get them up and move them. We often tell people ‘Be ready; the first day is going to be a challenge.’”
A Voice Restored: The Integral Role of Speech Therapy
Fortunately, Steve soon proved he was up for that challenge. First, he met with Madonna Speech Therapist Jett Stenson M.S. CCC, who performed a FEES, or a fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation swallowing test.
“It's a camera on the end of a scope,” Stenson said. “And that camera actually allows us to see exactly where food and drink is going. We trialed with ice chips and tiny sips of water to see if he was even able to initiate a swallow. That's kind of the first step to trialing food and drink with a patient.”
Stenson added they tried other liquids and foods as he grew stronger. A lover of cheesecake, Steve saw his progress with delightful hope.
“I love food, so this was an important part of my recovery in the beginning,” Steve said.
Madonna’s care team know that receiving the proper nutrition during medical rehabilitation is a vital part of the recovery process.
“A majority of patients are prescribed diets that include modifications to nutrients as well as texture and consistency,” Jennifer Luhn, Madonna’s director of food and nutrition services and a registered dietitian, said. “Our meals are the outcome of a deliberate, meaningful balance of patient preference and meeting [the health care] provider orders to maximize outcomes.”
Specialized Technology Pave the Way for Success
Eventually, Steve transitioned from Madonna’s Specialty Hospital, a step down from an intensive care unit, to Madonna’s Rehabilitation Hospital. It was here that Steve began rigorous occupational and physical therapy sessions for three hours a day.
“His arm, when he first came down, was very much impaired in the sense of it would grab onto things sporadically,” Betsy Havekost, OTD, OTR/L, CBIS, a Madonna occupational therapist, said. “So, we used the Armeo®Power to help retrain his brain. The technology showed him there's a cause and effect with his arm and it gave him a little bit more feedback.”
Meanwhile, Steve started taking steps with the help of the Lokomat, a robotic, body-weight supported gait trainer. In time, he transitioned to walking with a walker and then just a cane. According to Physical Therapist Karen Eilers, PT, the specialized technology provided the repetition Steve needed to rewire parts of his brain.
“Increasing the intensity of therapy is a huge thing for neuromuscular re-education,” Eilers said. “The more repetitions a person can get and increase that intensity of their therapy, the more benefits in the long-term in their ability to use those muscles to do more functional mobility.”
Steve continued to progress through Madonna’s continuum of care, eventually graduating from Madonna’s Rehabilitation Day Program in August of 2023. He is now home and continues to make gains in outpatient therapy. Steve has also returned to light duty at his beloved firehouse, and he has also recently shared his story with members of his church during a Sunday service. He and his wife remain devoted to each other, and appreciative of Madonna.
“We're just grateful for everybody that's here, and the personal touch that Madonna brings to the care they give,” Renae said.
