When asked about his recent leg amputation, Paul Mosher,
who moved to St. Louis from Brooklyn, New York three years ago, says, “I almost
died.”He then adds, “I’m still here. To be missing just a little piece of my leg,
that’s nothing.”
That positive attitude fueled his success with rehabilitation at SSM Rehabilitation Hospital-St. Joseph Hospital
of Kirkwood. Perhaps more importantly, his attitude – not to mention his sense of
humor and New York style of “telling it how it is” -- encouraged and inspired his
fellow patients.
That’s especially remarkable when you consider Paul Mosher didn’t like hospitals
and mistrusted doctors. It stemmed from his mother’s poor care and unexpected death
in a New York hospital years ago. It left him with little faith in the health care
system and, as he says, “It put the fear of doctors in me.”
Coming close to death himself earlier this year, losing his right leg below the
knee, and going through rehabilitation with SSM Rehabilitation Hospital at St. Joseph Hospital of
Kirkwood changed that.
It began with a wound in his leg that became infected. Reluctant to go to the doctor,
the infection got progressively worse until one day he went into septic shock and
lost consciousness. Two days later, Paul woke up in the ICU at a local hospital.
In those days of unconsiousness, he experienced septic shock, anemia and acute renal
failure, debridement of his left leg and amputation of his right leg.
He again had a frustrating hospital experience, with what he described as an uncaring
staff and a bad start with rehabilitation. His wife, a surgical nurse at SSM St.
Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood, encouraged him to give SSM Rehabilitation Hospital a try.
After spending two-and-a-half weeks in rehabilitation at SSM Rehabilitation Hospital-St. Joseph Hospital of
Kirkwood, he says, “The staff are like angels. They really care and took the time
for me.
SSM Rehabilitation Hospital Neuropsychologist Paula Juelich, Ph.D., who worked with Paul in the group
therapy sessions she leads at SJHK twice a week, repeats what he told her: “I put
in 100 percent [effort] because I felt like they [the rehabilitation staff] put in 100 percent
for me.”
That 100 percent not only helped Paul progress, but made an impact on other patients
and staff. “He just really touched all of us here,” says Dr. Juelich. “His outlook
was so positive and he was so encouraging to other patients.”
Dr. Juelich and the other SSM Rehabilitation Hospital neuropsychologists visit most patients and offer
group therapy through the Adjustment Group at each inpatiet and Day Institute site.
The group provides a setting for patients to discuss stresses and frustrations of
their rehabilitation, how to make needs known, how to accept changes in their functionality,
and how to use rehabilitation to become more independent. Dr. Juelich says it helps patients
realize they’re not alone and helps them learn from one another, building hope.
“That installation of hope is such a key ingredient to a patient’s success in rehabilitation,”
explains Dr. Juelich. “Sometimes the most powerful changes can occur in that group
setting.” She recalls Paul really opening up. “He underwent a total transformation,”
says Dr. Juelich. “His positive attitude was infectious and his participation in
the group positively influenced many other patients. He was such an inspiration.”
Paul not only regularly attended the group while at SJHK, but surprised Dr. Juelich
and other staff by returning to the hospital after being discharged, just to join
the group . “It was so remarkable that he wanted to come back,” admits Dr. Juelich.
Paul looks at it this way: “If I can go back, explain the trauma I’ve been through
and maybe help one or two people – or everyone there – it’s worth it. If I can put
a smile on somebody’s face, does that cost me anything? No.”
“Paul has definitely been the most motivated amputee patient we’ve had,” says Julie
Fagan, PT, who worked with Paul during his rehabilitation hospitalization. “Once
he settled in here, he was totally motivated.”
And what happened to his fear of hospitals and mistrust of doctors? Today, he talks
about volunteering regularly at St. Joseph Hospital of Kirkwood once he learns to
walk with his new prosthesis, which he’s working on at the Arnold Day Institute.
“I love my doctor now,” he adds. “I’ll go see him if I have a splinter.”
October 2004
More Patient Stories
