Sixty-year-old Laurie Groves, from Laramie, Wyo., was enjoying her life. Married for three years, Laurie has 5 children, 17 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and a nine-year-old dog, Scrapper. Laurie works as a nurse at an inpatient psychiatric unit and loves to camp, fish, and remodel during her time off.

This past summer, Laurie’s life changed when she had pneumonia and went into respiratory failure. She was placed on a ventilator and had to have a tracheostomy. After her acute care hospital stay, her physicians chose Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital (NCLTAH) to manage her medical condition and wean her from the ventilator.

While at the NCLTAH, Laurie praised the staff, saying, “Everyone has been so kind and patient. The nurses were exceptional and always listened to my needs. The patient care technicians have been wonderful, answering my needs with compassion. The therapists were wonderful, giving me so much confidence and making me feel safe. And, both Dr. Pearson and Dr. Blake came in to talk to me every day. They made sure I knew the plan and gave me power in my care needs.”

Laurie now is receiving rehabilitation at Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital to get stronger before she goes home.

She’s excited to get back to her friends, family, and dog. She’s looking forward to returning to work, walking, and camping. Her ultimate goal is to take a vacation to a hot springs.