Forty-eight-year-old Jason from Carbondale, Colorado, is a father of two who owns a landscaping business. He enjoys biking and lifting weights. Recently, while visiting a friend in Kansas, Jason began experiencing shortness of breath and went to the emergency department, where he was diagnosed with Influenza A. Unfortunately, this led to complications including a lung infection and respiratory failure – his lungs couldn’t adequately provide oxygen to the blood or remove carbon dioxide from the body. He was placed on a mechanical ventilator to help him breathe.

After receiving initial critical care, Jason needed extended medical care. His parents and sister-in-law reviewed various facilities’ websites for long-term acute care and chose Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital (NCLTAH). NCLTAH is certified in respiratory failure by The Joint Commission, meaning that it provides the highest level of respiratory failure care available in the nation.

At NCLTAH, Jason’s medical team worked to wean him off the ventilator. Because he was severely deconditioned, he received physical and occupational therapies to build his strength and endurance. He also received speech therapy to help him recover from the effects of prolonged ventilator use.

“The employees were very fast and prompt in answering my call light,” Jason says. “And Dr. Gary Pearson is great and shared his real-life experiences.”

After being treated 13 days at NCLTAH, Jason transferred to Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital (NCRH) for specialized rehabilitative care. Once there, the interdisciplinary healthcare team worked with Jason and his family to create a personalized treatment plan to help him continue to regain strength and endurance. Fourteen days later, he was able to walk independently with the support of oxygen.

“I give NCRH an A+ for great care!” Jason says. “I’m so thankful to be alive.”

Jason now looks forward to returning to his normal life, with the goal of riding his bike again.