Support and Care to Return to a Normal Life

Kenneth Hall
Kenneth Hall

I have been a sleep walker most of my life, but it was never too much of a problem. On November 22, 2013, at about 1:00 a.m., I woke up and found myself lying on the stairs completely unable to move my arms, my legs, or voice. It turns out I was in a very deep sleep—sleepwalking— and fell down the stairs. My wife must have heard the fall and came rushing to my aid. She called 911 immediately and soon after came the fire department and the Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). 

The EMTs took me directly to the University of Michigan where Dr. Juan Valdivia, M.D. was the neurosurgeon on call that night. I don’t remember much of what happened after getting in the ambulance, but I was taken in for emergency surgery.  I woke up after the surgery to discover that I had broken my neck in three places and that I could have been paralyzed. Dr. Valdivia’s skill and expertise brought me back to health and being able to walk again, and for that, I am indebted to him and the team at U-M. I am now able to walk, talk, and do all of the things I used to take for granted. Dr. Valdivia told me that my recovery was much better because I was physically active and an otherwise healthy person; however, that I had suffered such a traumatic injury and am now able to lead a normal life is a miracle. 

The recovery was a long process.  I remember the physical medicine and rehabilitation physician, Dr. Michael Wheaton, M.D. coming to evaluate me the day after surgery (and many times after). He pushed me to stand without straining my shoulders (using my core), and as we walked together I think back on Dr. Wheaton’s words of encouragement and how impressed he was at how well I was doing. I also recall going for my first check-up with Dr. Valdivia and seeing his caring, impressed demeanor when he saw my progress. 

I can’t emphasize enough how wonderful everyone was in the neurosurgery department and the hospital as a whole during my time in the Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit. The food was

Dr. Juan Valdivia

superb and it was great being able to order when I wanted it. The staff was incredible—from the cleaning staff to the nurses—they were all amazing. The discharge process was very smooth and the staff prepared me for almost any situation; they taught me tricks to put my socks and shoes on, prepared me to take precautions and mentally prepared me for what was ahead. They also offered devices to help make my life easier during the recovery period. 

I feel so blessed to have been a patient of Dr. Valdivia’s, as he gave me my normal life back and I am so grateful. Since my surgery, Dr. Valdivia has called a few times just to check on me and see how I was doing.  Those calls were truly above and beyond my expectations; he called just because he cared. That’s the kind of doctor he is.  

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