Kansas woman triumphs over brain injury with son by her side

For Kristen Musick, going to the Kansas State Fair is a beloved family tradition. However, at last year’s event, the unexpected happened.
“We were walking out and some guy hit us with his car,” Kristen said. “I pushed my husband and my grandson out of the way. That’s what they tell me. I don’t remember the day.”
Thanks to Kristen’s quick actions, her grandson, Dax, had relatively minor injuries. Conversely, Kristen sustained a traumatic brain injury. After several weeks in the ICU at Wesley Medical Center, the 55-year-old came to Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals’ specialized brain injury program in October 2023. As Michael’s injuries healed, Kristen’s son Trent Musick, 31, stayed by her side at Madonna.
“When she first got here, she wasn’t in a conscious state, and she was just being weaned off a ventilator,” Trent recalled. “The only thing that she was able to move, and it was not on command, was her right arm and right foot.”
Madonna’s physician-led, interdisciplinary team, which includes roughly 70 certified brain injury specialists, created a personalized treatment plan for Kristen. During her stay at Madonna’s Specialty Hospital, a step down from an intensive care unit, she made small but meaningful victories. She successfully weaned off the ventilator, and in time, she woke up. As she grew stronger, she transitioned to Madonna’s Rehabilitation Hospital, where she started rigorous daily physical, occupational and speech therapy.
Nicole Ford, PT, DPT, CBIS, a Madonna physical therapist and a certified brain injury specialist, found working with Kristen to be a joy. “Kristen adds a lot of fun and humor to the sessions,” Ford said. “She is determined to be independent and return to her previous level of function at home.”
That determination, along with Madonna’s specialized technology and clinical expertise, proved to be a winning combination for the Hutchinson, Kansas native. At first, Kristen struggled with her vision and weakness on her left side contributed to balance and mobility challenges.
“We used the Proprio4000 to help improve her standing balance, and therefore overall mobility,” Ford said. “Initially, we used the Rifton Tram, which is a body-weight support ambulation device, when she needed more support when walking.”
As Kristen progressed from a wheelchair to a walker, she also made strides in her occupational and speech therapy sessions.
“[Kristen] participated in daily vision sessions due to significant decreased range of motion in her right eye and also made great improvements,” Emily R. Adams, OTD, OTR/L, CBIS, a Madonna occupational therapist and a certified brain injury specialist, said.
Meanwhile, Madonna’s staff quickly recognized the critical role Trent played in her recovery. In addition to providing daily caregiver training, they also taught Trent how to use several pieces of therapy equipment so that he could assist her outside of Kristen’s therapy sessions.
“Trent was such a great support system for her,” Adams noted. “He always showed up with a smile on his face. You could tell how much he cared for her and wanted to see her succeed.”
And succeed she did. Now, with plans to return home soon, Kristen and Trent are grateful to Madonna for the care she received.
“I can’t say enough about this place,” Kristen said. “The staff here have been nothing but awesome to us.”