When he retired from over-the-road trucking, Ken Stewart expected to travel for leisure instead of work. Instead, he’s relearning how to do basic daily tasks with limited strength and range of motion.
Ken and his wife, Karen, live in California but travel the country in their motor home. After befriending an Omaha couple in Arizona, the Stewarts decided to purchase a spot at the River View Park Resort and Marina in Blair, Nebraska, so the two couples could spend more time together.
Ken remembers everything from the Aug. 9 windstorm that uprooted trees and sent one crashing onto his camper. He recalls the relief he felt when he learned Karen escaped with only cuts and bruises. When first responders rescued him an hour later, Ken had sustained three broken bones in his leg and two fractured vertebrae.
After surgery to fuse the vertebrae and repair his ankle, Ken came to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals to begin the next phase of his recovery.
“Overall, Ken was pretty deconditioned,” said Kailyn Wiseman, PT, DPT, Ken’s physical therapist. “He had lost quite a bit of muscle. He was non-weight bearing on his left side and had lifting and range of motion restrictions. All those things together really made him relearn new ways to move and go about his daily tasks.”
Daily physical and occupational therapy sessions rebuilt Ken’s strength and confidence. Wiseman said their focus was preparing him to problem-solve through obstacles he might face as he returned to his life roles. Using Madonna’s Independence Square, Ken practiced picking up and folding laundry one-handed and getting in and out of bed on his own. He also navigated his walker and knee scooter through a variety of terrain on Madonna’s campus to ensure he could get back to his love of camping.
“Despite how traumatic the event was, nobody was more positive and motivated than he was,” Wiseman said. “That all came from within.”
Wiseman made rebuilding Ken’s stamina a priority. Standing, walking or using his knee scooter for long periods was challenging, but his determination never wavered.
“Ken’s goal from day one was just to do more than he did yesterday,” Wiseman said. “We’re going to do 10 reps today, and we’re going to do 12 reps the next day.”
Ken said he trusted his care team and knew giving 100% each session would pay off.
“They make you work, yes, but I know it’s for my own good,” he said. “If I’m not working hard enough, I’m not going forward with anything.”
Small strides toward independence led to major breakthroughs.
“I think once Ken realized, ‘OK, this is hard. This is going to be a lot of work each day, but here I am, getting stronger. It’s getting easier every day,’ his confidence started to grow,” Wiseman said. “He started seeing the silver lining— ‘I can get better. I am getting stronger.’”
Ken’s support system also contributed to his success. His wife went through caregiver training, and friends from the campground visited frequently. Because his motorhome was destroyed, those same friends housed him after he discharged from Madonna.
“If I had to have something like this happen to me, I’m sure glad it was here,” Ken said. “I can’t say enough about the care I’ve got from these therapists and doctors, nurses—everybody. They are all angels.”
As he prepares to return home to California, Ken said Nebraska and its people will always hold a special place in his heart. He plans to return to the Blair campground again next year.
“Not even with getting flooded out last year and this accident this year have we been scared off,” Ken said. “We still have the campsite. We’re coming out here every year. We love it.”