On Wednesday, September 18, Jen was transitioned from the NYU Langone Health ICU to their physical therapy (PT) rehabilitation program and began working with her PT team the very next day.
In the ICU, she walked about 15 feet with the help of two PTs and a giant machine-like walker with handles, armrests, and a built-in seat.
Today, September 25, Jen walks 44 feet unassisted and does other gym exercises three hours a day! Jen’s workout routine includes steps, getting in and out of a fake car, bicycling, and exercises to strengthen her upper and lower body. It’s incredible how far she’s come after a second double-lung transplant just one month ago!
Today was also noteworthy for Jen as she had her first shower in a long time, sat in a chair, and received assistance from her RUSK team. Sometimes, it’s just the little things that we take for granted that provide us with small pleasures.
Regarding pleasures, the NYU integrated health team comes by weekly to give patients the stress-free help they need, such as massages, reiki, meditation, and other relaxation techniques and services. This is an outstanding solution that NYU provides patients as an integrated health service—healing of both the mind and body. Very progressive!
Jen’s doctors have given a tentative discharge date of October 1! Jen and her family will return home to the greater Philadelphia area to continue her physical therapy outpatient and recover while she’s taking the highest doses of her immunosuppressive medications and is most at risk of viral and bacterial infections.
Jen and her friends will continue her fundraising efforts so she can move to the New York area and secure New York State Medicaid to help pay for medical and prescription expenses that primary insurance doesn’t cover since her pulmonary transplant doctors and surgical teams only practice in NY.
If there’s one thing Jen and her mom have learned, it’s that things can and will happen quickly, and she must be near her doctors to recover successfully, especially in her critical first-year post-transplant.