Success Story - Nina Tavarez Canela

In Her Words...

“I was in a bad motorcycle accident. When I came to rehab, I couldn’t talk, walk, or care for myself. I am now able to walk and talk a lot. I am very thankful for the help I received and excited to return home. A lot of thanks to my doctors, nurses, therapists, and staff, especially Maria, Jess, Hannah, and Rachel, for supporting me.”

The Full Story

Nina was admitted to Reading Hospital after a very serious motorcycle accident resulting in a severe traumatic brain injury. While in acute care, Nina underwent a craniectomy, tracheostomy, and feeding tube placement. After a prolonged acute care hospitalization, Nina was transferred to the acute rehabilitation unit for inpatient rehabilitation. Upon initial evaluation, Nina required a modified diet and thickened liquids due to swallowing difficulties. She was nonverbal and had difficulty following basic commands.

She required maximum assistance with all mobility and self-care tasks. Nina worked hard with the care team for a few weeks and was eventually transferred back to Reading Hospital for her cranioplasty. After recovering from surgery, she was able to return to the acute rehabilitation unit to complete her treatment. Her tracheostomy and feeding tube were removed. After participating in an intensive inpatient rehabilitation program, Nina was discharged walking independently with no assistive devices, completing self-care tasks independently, and eating a regular diet. She can now express her wants and needs and participate in full conversations. We are so proud of Nina, who worked very hard to overcome many obstacles on her road to recovery!