Patient’s Name: Bernard Bruen
Patient’s Age: 75-years-old
Admission Date: 01/15/2019
Discharge Date: 07/01/2019
Discharged To: Home
Length of Stay: 166 Days
Reason for Stay: Right leg below-knee amputation and Necrotic Tongue
How did this patient hear about Water’s Edge?: North Shore University Hospital.

Details of Experience:
Mr. Bernard Bruen arrived at our community on the evening of January 15, 2019, from North Shore University Hospital. He came to the Water’s Edge after a right leg below-knee amputation, in hopes he could reach his prior level of function with his new prosthetic. Mr. Bruen also had a necrotic tongue which is a rare manifestation of giant cell arteritis causing slurred speech and the inability to eat. Upon admission, Mr. Bruen was greeted by a number of our interdisciplinary teams who were awaiting his arrival. Our team members were ready to accommodate his needs and ensure the most comfortable stay. Bernard’s one wish was to return home with his wife and he trusted that we would make it happen.

Mr. Bruen was ready to take action. He demonstrated good rehabilitation potential with great motivation to participate, strong family support and very supportive caregivers. After being evaluated for rehabilitation and help from our team, Bernard was able to set goals; both short and long term. Our team of physical therapists worked towards his goals to safely perform bed mobility tasks, transfers, and self propels in a wheelchair independently with his new right lower extremity prosthetic. Our team of occupational therapists worked towards his goals to dress, increase sitting balance and increase activity tolerance for functional activities. All the while, our speech therapist worked with Mr. Bruen to improve his overall oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing to reduce the risk of aspiration and get him eating solid foods!

Bernard started his stay on the 15th of January with max to moderate dependency for nearly all daily functions after a below-knee amputation. After approximately one month, Mr. Bruen and his team of therapists began to see a great improvement in his level of function in all areas. He went from needing maximum assistance in some areas to only needing moderate assistance and in other areas went from needing moderate assistance to minimum assistance. Mr. Bruen began to personally see much improvement and was so gracious for his team.

The journey seemed long for Mr. Bruen, but with a positive attitude and extensive support, he persevered and pushed through knowing he was where he was meant to be. Bernard got the opportunity to work with our Amputee Walking School and stated how “Dennis and Todd were great people and really impacted my stay and life. I will never forget them.” Dennis and Todd came to our community monthly to mentor Bernard and assisted in taking him to the next level.

Mr. Bernard Bruen’s stay was coming to an end and as discharge approached, he continued to persevere, making life-changing efforts to meet his goals. Upon discharge, Bernard has excelled expectations. He met his short and long term goals in physical and occupation therapy, going home performing everyday functions with modified independence. After working with our speech therapist, Mr. Bruen was also able to eat solid food upon discharge. As his discharge date has finally arrived, Mr. Bruen left our community and interdisciplinary team with all smiles. He stated, “I will miss all of the really great people I have met and will definitely be back to visit.”

We wish Mr. Bruen the absolute happiest and healthiest future and hopes he comes to visit us soon!