The Medical Leader is published weekly by Pikeville Medical Center.

NEW* Read the Medical Leader Blog by clicking here!

By: Michelle Goff, Staff Writer See more articles by Michelle Goff Published: 09/26/2005

Email this article to a friend.

Jennifer Rudder has divine praise for the therapists, nurses and aides who took care of her during her stay in Pikeville Medical Center’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital.

“Those girls are angels,” Rudder said. “When I came here, I couldn’t go to the bathroom by myself and that felt degrading. But all those sweet people helped me and I can’t say anything bad about them.”

She continued, “I never had a need they didn’t anticipate. As for the nursing staff, I got my medications at the snap of my fingers. The therapists and aides have such a special place in my heart because we worked hard together.”

To demonstrate the results of that hard work, Rudder smiled and raised her arm. She also explained that she can now walk with the aid of a walker. Just two weeks ago, Rudder couldn’t move her left arm or leg.

“I didn’t think my hand would move,” she declared. “It’s amazing.”

Tracey Tipton, one of the physical therapists who worked with Rudder, attributes most of the success to Rudder.

“We did a whole lot of exercises with her leg, starting with the basics. She started out walking a distance of 10 feet and when she left she was walking 250 feet,” Tipton noted. “That was due to a lot of determination and a lot of exercise on her part. She was a pleasure to work with and somebody you looked forward to seeing every day. I miss her.”

The feeling seems to be mutual.

“It’s not like this has been an institution,” Rudder reflected. “They’ve become friends to me. I don’t think you’ll find that everywhere.”

Tipton says Rudder participated in approximately one and a half hours of physical therapy a day, in addition to her occupational therapy sessions with Alisa Bowers. Besides continuing chemotherapy, Rudder will receive physical therapy at her home twice a week.

Although Rudder appreciates the Inpatient Rehab staff, she reserves her most divine praise for someone else.

“The Lord is good and He takes care of me every day,” she said. “I want people to know what He’s done for me and that He’s given me good people to take care of me.”

Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

Comments, Concerns

Joint Commission Contact

©2005-2010 Pikeville Medical Center

E-mail our Webmaster to report Website problems.