8 Sunday, October 28, 2018 Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Developments at Ka‘u Hospital and Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua
COMING TO HALE HO‘OLA
HAMAKUA TO HEAL
The dedicated staff at Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua, a
77-bed facility in the heart of Honokaa, cares for
family and friends close to home. Our hospital
provides critical access care, rehabilitation
care and long term care. Above, Sally Ramos,
a certified nursing assistant, cares for resident
Davilee Harrison.
CONTACT THE KA‘U HOSPITAL CHARITABLE FOUNDATION to see how you can
help improve health care services in the district by emailing kauhcf@gmail.com,
sending your donation to P.O. Box 773, Pahala, HI 96777 or staying informed by
liking the foundation’s Facebook page.
John Gray was struck with a
severe case of Guillain-Barre
syndrome, a rare neurological
disorder in which the body's
immune system mistakenly attacks
part of its network of nerves
located outside of the brain and
spinal cord, and was paralyzed
and unable to breathe on his own.
After a couple of months
at Kona Community Hospital,
Gray regained consciousness and
his ability to breathe, eat on his
own and talk. He became well
enough to be transferred to Ka‘u
Hospital for rehabilitation.
When he got to Ka‘u, nurse
Jerelyn Hammer urged Gray’s
occupational therapist, “There’s
got to be something we can do
for John to keep him engaged.”
The therapist suggested Gray
could benefit through the use
of technology by reconnecting
to his love of music and also
staying in touch with his family
on the mainland. There was
one barrier — Gray’s arms had
very little to no movement in
them because of paralysis and
also an injury to his shoulder.
His occupational therapist presented
yet another solution — use
a headlamp strapped to a wooden
dowel with a stylus so he could
reach out and navigate an iPad.
Ka‘u Hospital Charitable
Foundation was informed about
Gray’s story and wanted to help.
Thanks to the foundation’s support,
within a few days staff were able
to present Gray with a new iPad.
“His world opened up,” says
the occupational therapist who
cares for patients at Hilo Medical
Center and Ka‘u Hospital.
“The first day he got the iPad,
his pain went down to a 2!”
Hammer says. “He surprised us
with his recovery, being able to
scoot back in his bed and transferring
from the bed to the wheelchair.
He’s made excellent progress.”
“I can sit with the iPad, listening
to Journey or writing my
music in my favorite corner on the
lanai that looks out to the ocean,”
Gray says about his recovery.
“I’m stronger every day thanks
to the staff and my doctor.”
Staff at Hale Ho‘ola
Hamakua’s Outpatient
Rehabilitation Services are
committed to promoting functional
independence using a
hands-on approach to help
expedite the recovery process.
Physical, occupational and
speech therapists are highly
trained, experienced and dedicated
to ensuring patients reach
their goals and maximum functional
potential. Patients are
involved in their treatment every
step of the way, working closely
with their physicians to develop
the most effective care plan.
Therapists provide a complete
evaluation and develop an
individualized treatment plan
to meet each patient's specific
recovery needs and goals.
Staff work to help relieve
pain, improve strength and
regain range of motion, coordination
and balance — supporting
patients’ desire to
return to the activities in
life that are important.
Contact Outpatient
Rehabilitation Services at
932-4149 for an appointment
or more information.
Rehabilitation services at Hale Ho‘ola Hamakua
link
