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Renaldo Wall's story

Renaldo Wall has no idea how he got COVID-19 or why he had such a severe reaction to the virus. He does know that after more than two months in the hospital in and out of a coma and on a ventilator, he’s happy to be alive and back to the activities he enjoyed most before his illness.

He was able to do so in part to his care team at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Henderson.

Wall was on a ventilator for 29 days and in and out of an induced coma. When he arrived at Encompass Health Henderson, he could hardly even stand. Simple tasks left him breathless and exhausted.

While he was eager to get back to his active routine, his therapy team at Encompass Health Henderson started with realistic goals, such as walking with the assistance of parallel bars and standing and loading a dishwasher.

Wall was determined to regain his strength, but he admits at times it seemed impossible.

“When you can’t walk, even though people are telling you can because of muscle memory, you’re always thinking in the back of your mind that maybe I can’t,” said Wall of some of his therapy sessions. “From day one, though, they were like ‘you’re going to do this,’ and my third session, I remember Karmela had put me on the bars and had me stand.”

His therapist instructed him to take few steps without holding onto the bar when he felt comfortable. Knowing she was there to support him, Wall took his hands off the bars, and took his first step in weeks.

During his 17-day stay at Encompass Health Henderson, Wall continued to achieve his goals, so he could return home to his wife and children. He had only seen them through the window since he got sick. He said his care team at Encompass Health Henderson provided the company he needed.

“Everyone was so positive and so kind, and that interaction is a big part of the recuperation process,” he said. “Having that social interaction when no visitors could be there was a huge benefit.”

When it was time to leave, his care team joined him as he rang the bell that the staff uses to celebrate a patient’s recovery and return to independence. After ringing the bell, Wall achieved his final rehabilitation goal — he walked out of Encompass Health Henderson on his own, without the support of a walker.