Kelly expresses profound gratitude to the UAB CTI team , including the inpatient nursing staff , physicians , physical therapists , and everyone who played a role in his recovery .
He was back at UAB in late February 2022 . “ I ’ ll never forget Dr . Hoopes coming into my room ,” Kelly said . “ He told me that it was time , that I couldn ’ t go home anymore .” After a few days , Kelly had to go on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( ECMO ), a heart-lung machine that removes carbon dioxide from the blood .
“ Mr . Kelly was in cardiogenic shock , and his heart couldn ’ t pump enough blood to his organs ,” Dr . Hoopes said . “ ECMO took over his cardiopulmonary support .”
Kelly took seriously his team ’ s instructions to keep moving . With the ECMO line near his left shoulder , Kelly brought his ECMO machine with him as he walked the UAB corridors , accompanied by a nurse . “ Walking
Kelly expresses profound gratitude to the UAB CTI team , including the inpatient nursing staff , physicians , physical therapists , and everyone who played a role in his recovery .
kept the fluid off of my heart and legs ,” he said . “ I wasn ’ t ready to quit , and having the nurses talk about how much I walked motivated me .”
A difficult road During one of his walks , Kelly ’ s ECMO line came out of his chest . His medical team had to perform emergency surgery and reattached the line to his groin area , making it impossible for Kelly to walk . Thus began his nearly impossible wait . “ It hurt so bad , and I got very emotional ,” he said . “ I ’ d look for Dr . Hoopes every day , and every day he ’ d tell me they didn ’ t have my heart and lungs .”
At one point , Kelly was ready to let go . “ I told Dr . Hoopes that if I didn ’ t get a donor by Monday , they should take the ECMO port out of me ,” he said . “ I was ready to throw in the towel .”
Thankfully , Kelly received his donor match that weekend and had his surgery on April 16 , 2022 . After 12 hours of surgery and two days of sedation , though , Kelly found that he couldn ’ t walk or talk . “ I couldn ’ t move my left side or feel my legs ,” he said .
Dr . Hoopes says that Kelly likely had a mini stroke , called a transient ischemic attack , or TIA . “ A micro-embolism isn ’ t common , but it ’ s not rare ,” he said . “ Most resolve relatively quickly over a few hours .”
Bouncing back Kelly did bounce back and was up and walking on his own in less than a week . In fact , walking was his lifeline . Every day in the hospital , he walked at least four laps around UAB Hospital ’ s West Pavilion . Since he ’ s been home , Kelly walks a mile each day . “ What you can do and what you can ’ t do is a mind thing ,” he said .
Today , Kelly is dedicated to easing the way for others who are considering or awaiting transplant . Connecting with other patients has become his calling . “ If someone had come to talk to me and walk me through this process , it would have been easier ,” he said . “ I want to be that person for others .”
Kelly recently spoke to three patients and has given permission to the UAB CTI transplant coordinator to give other patients his phone number . “ I share my story and tell them not to be nervous ,” he said . “ Talking to them is a blessing .”
Kelly expresses profound gratitude to the UAB CTI team , including the inpatient nursing staff , physicians , physical therapists , and everyone who played a role in his recovery . But he is especially thankful for one man . “ Dr . Hoopes is a very good doctor who wants the best for you ,” Kelly said . “ He tells you what ’ s wrong and tells you what ’ s right . I thank God that He put Dr . Hoopes in my life .”
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