Gaylord Hospital patients fight through illness, rehab to make it home for the holidays

CT Insider – Tuesday, December 10, 2024
By Christian Metzger

WALLINGFORD — Jessica Leonardo, a 33-year-old mom from Cheshire with a young child with special needs at home, was admitted to Gaylord Hospital two months ago with a rare paralyzing neurological disorder – Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Losing the ability to walk altogether, she was unable to stay home and care for her child. But after two months of treatment she’ll be able to return home next week, just before Christmas.

At a holiday event at the rehabilitation center Tuesday, she tearfully recounted the struggle being away from her child, and the struggle to be diagnosed, as she began to feel a dull, persistent back pain that gradually evolved into rendering her entirely unable to walk. Despite the challenges she’s experienced in recovering the ability to walk, she had nothing but positive things to say for her treatment at Gaylord and the staff, making her feel at home and allowing her family to see her often and offer support.

Leonardo said that by pushing her hard at therapy, they were able to ensure that she was able to go home in time for Christmas.

“Every day I had my husband and my son telling me, ‘you can do it. You can do it.’ – and look at me now, I did do it,” she said. “I never thought I would conquer learning how to walk all over again at 33 so quickly. I was pushed so hard too, I never knew how hard it was, I had to experience that myself.”

She added that she was thankful for her relatively short recovery, as some with her condition don’t recover for 6-12 months.

On Tuesday, Gaylord for the third year provided 140 miniature trees and menorahs to patients across the hospital.

The initiative is the brainchild of a former patient, whose family brought her a tree to brighten up their room when they were unable to return home for the holiday. Seeing the positive response from the other patients, who loved coming by to see her tree, that quickly expanded into a small program to give trees to any patient who wanted one.

Partnering with Amazon, which donated the trees, hospital staff and several patients gathered to celebrate, give thanks, and listen to carols alongside Santa Claus before going to distribute the trees to the rest of the patients.

Over 400 trees have been distributed over the past three years, with Amazon additionally donating holiday lights to the hospital this year to decorate its courtyards in festive livery.

Many patients welcomed the trees as a small way to be able to find some normalcy and celebrate while they undergo treatment, but for some others, the greatest gift they’re receiving is the chance to return home and celebrate with their families.

On the Christmas trees, Leonardo noted how important it was to be able to offer joy to people who weren’t able to make it home for the holiday. “I can’t thank them enough because that really puts a smile on their faces for the ones that can’t go home with their family, they make the magic still happen.”

Jennifer Tine, another Gaylord patient, is also getting out for the holidays after six months of treatment. Tine was hit in a head-on car crash that ended up crushing her legs beneath the dashboard, and at the time doctors had said that her condition was likely fatal, or at best she would never be able to walk again.

“I thought I’d never walk again, but I’m walking with a walker and getting stronger. I know I have a long road,” said Tine, who will be able to return home to celebrate with her husband and two daughters. “ It’s a Christmas miracle.”

She was similarly complimentary of the hospital staff and how understanding they were but persistent in pushing her to expedite her recovery and returning her mobility. “Everyone here, the staff is amazing. The entire gym, I would live in there all day long if I could. They push you and they care about you, and I’ve made so many friends that I’ll have after this,” Tine said she would be keeping the Christmas tree she received as a memento to always remember her time at Gaylord, and that she would be back to volunteer her time.

“They’re just amazing. It’s an amazing, amazing place. I promise I will be back here to volunteer as soon as I can walk.”

Every tree has small cards attached with an affirmation from the anonymous patient who started the program in the first place, encouraging them to make it through treatment. “As you continue your own healing journey, I sincerely hope that this tree will brighten your spirits this holiday season,” the note reads.

And for many patients, it has a positive effect, bolstering the spirits of the others who unfortunately won’t be able to make it home with their families this year.

“I’m still in high hopes, I’m not sad. I mean, I’m sad I’m not home for the holidays, but the staff here is amazing,” said patient Alex Figueroa, who warmly received the tree. “It’s awesome. It actually reminds me of home. I pretty much have a piece of home back in my room, so it’s awesome.”

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