"Our lives almost came to a standstill when I found my husband lying on the lounge floor gasping for air. At first I thought it was a heart attack. I frantically tried to call for help and at the same time tried to apply CPR. I felt so helpless, thought that my husband was dying in front of me and I could do absolutely nothing about it," says Mrs Lewis.
Mr Lewis was admitted to hospital and after numerous tests Mrs Lewis got a call from her husband saying he had been discharged. Arriving at the hospital, her husband had another seizure and was admitted to the ICU. In her words, "our worst nightmare had just begun."
The surgery needed for his ruptured aneurism could not be performed locally, thus Mr Lewis was transferred to a private hospital in Cape Town who specialise in this area. For the next four weeks Mrs Lewis endured her husband being critically ill, unconscious, on a ventilator and fighting for his life.
Although he received the best care possible at this private hospital, the time came for Mr Lewis to be moved to a rehabilitation centre closer to home.
"By the guidance of our precious Lord, I got hold of the telephone number of the Intercare Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Hospital in George," says Mrs Lewis. "They immediately started organising for his transportation and admission to the Rehab Hospital" where, Mrs Lewis says, she "felt a calmness and assurance that this was the right place."
According to Dr Magdaleen de Swardt, Mr Lewis’ doctor at the Intercare Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Hospital, her patient was comatose when he arrived at the Denneoord facility. His eyes were not moving and he could not talk or move. He also had an infection in his lungs and a high temperature, requiring intravenous feeding.
A relieved Mrs Lewis said "my husband was attended to 24 hours a day with care, respect and dignity. Whenever I walked into the Rehab Hospital I felt welcomed by the nursing staff, who were consistently professional, courteous and responsive, one day when I phoned the hospital to ask how my husband was doing, the Sister put the phone next to my husband’s ear and I spoke to him. A tear was running down his face and all the nursing staff were in tears."
This week Mr Lewis surrounded by staff at the Intercare Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Hospital, is a different man to the one he was two months ago. Due to the team effort of professionals (doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists) at the rehabilitation centre, he is able to move his hands, his eyes follow visitors, and he is able to even say a few words.
Although a long road of recovery still lies ahead, the family of Mr Lewis could not be happier with the care and assistance he is receiving at the Intercare Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Hospital.
.jpg)
Chaldene Witbooi (from left), Rensia Yssel, Dr Magdaleen de Swart and Mandie Kennedy with Mr Victor Lewis at the Intercare Sub-Acute and Rehabilitation Hospital.
