Abigail’s Story

Our goal every day is to make a difference in the lives of our patients, residents and their families. When we receive letters like the one below from Abigail’s mom, we know we are doing something right.

Abigail was a resident in our subacute unit. She was admitted to Totally Kids after spending her first 10 months of life at Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. She then transitioned to Totally Kids and stayed with us for more than a year, learning to sit, play, eat and interact with others. Before Abigail was discharged, her parents received extensive training. Her wonderful mom, Daisy, has given us permission to share her story, in her own words:

“Abigail was born at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital at 29 weeks gestation. She had multiple health issues. On the day of her birth we were told there was only a 30 percent chance that she would survive. From the very beginning​ we left everything in God’s hands. Abigail went through a lot in the 10 months that she remained in the hospital, including open-heart surgery when she was only 5 months old. She also had an aspiration that almost took her life and also became vent dependent at 9 months old. After her tracheostomy we were left dumbfounded on how this happened.

We really didn’t understand how one day she was breathing through a nasal cannula to the next day being intubated and not being able to live without the vent. We had so many questions and we got so many answers we didn’t want. My biggest question had always been “when can I take my baby home?” Because this was my greatest desire. I can’t even begin to explain how painful it is for a parent to leave their child day in and day out at the hospital.

Once she became vent dependent we had the dreaded talk with her care team at Loma Linda on how Abby didn’t qualify to come home based on the Vent Clinic qualifications. To say we were crushed is an understatement because it was such a blow to us that Abby was finally able to discharge from the hospital but only to transition to another hospital. This is when we found Totally Kids Rehabilitation Hospital.

The first day we were there I hated that we had to go to another hospital instead of going home. I hated everything about it because I perceived the transfer as another obstacle in our way. But on the second day something beautiful happened. I was there holding my baby girl rocking her back and forth while sitting on a plastic folding chair. One of the nurses saw me struggling to rock Abigail and requested a rocking chair for us. At that moment my heart shifted a little bit and Totally Kids started to grow on me. Day in and day out the staff did simple acts that made me feel so comfortable and welcomed.

I’m so grateful for the therapy she received at Totally Kids that helped her learn how to sit, play, eat, interact with others, and walk, among many other things! Everybody worked so hard in helping Abby rehabilitate and rehabilitate she did. Every single person and staff member at Totally Kids is in some way involved in how great Abby is doing now. I’m so grateful now at this point in our lives for a place like Totally Kids.”