Resident Shows Determination in Road to Recovery
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Barbara V. was admitted to Waterview Villa Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in East Providence, Rhode Island in April of 2023 following a transmetatarsal amputation, where all her toes were amputated due to a gangrene condition. When she arrived at the skilled nursing center, Barbara was totally dependent on the staff for all her activities of daily living needs such as bathing, dressing, and toileting. Licensed staff were using a mechanical lift for all her transfers as she couldn’t even bear to sit up at the edge of the bed.
Barbara alongside a team of therapists at Waterview Villa
During late spring, Barbara went through some other medical events where she was transferred back to the hospital and then readmitted back to Waterview Villa for more rehabilitation. She was making progress with therapy upon her return, but it was then in June she was readmitted back to the hospital for an above-the-knee amputation operation of her left leg.
“I never gave up because of my children, my three boys,” said Barbara, who laughed and said they are men now and is a proud grandmother of five grandchildren.
Since her return in June to Waterview Villa following her leg amputation, the staff have been working with her to regain her strength, said Waterview Villa’s Director of Rehabilitation Saint Awurama Adu, MS, OTR/L.
“She is dedicated and a hard worker,” Awurama Adu said. “She is motivated and had a lot of obstacles in her way, but she never gave up. She initially returned as non-weight bearing to her bilateral lower extremities, so we were working on slide board transfers. As she was regaining back weight-bearing strength as tolerated, we began to work on standing, and gaining independence with dressing and bathing herself.”
In November, she reached a level of independence to begin working with a prosthetist to get a prosthetic left leg which she has received, and is only walking with it with physical therapy. Barbara said it will take some time to get used to it.
“It’s a trial out there,” said Barbara, “and we got to try our best to do the will and put trust in god and in your mind and never give up on yourself.”
The staff at Waterview Villa are thankful to be part of Barbara’s recovery and Awurama Adu said, “Barbara will continue to work with therapy to improve her walking and regain more of her independence.”
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