In 2020, Gabriel needed several surgeries at a North Carolina Hospital after receiving a traumatic head trauma, where he suffered from multiple fractures in his skull and internal bleeding. After his series of surgeries, Gabriel came to St. Mary’s Hospital for Children’s inpatient program for functional restoration rehabilitation.
At the time of his admission to St. Mary’s, Gabriel could only communicate non-verbally and he received his hydration and nutrition exclusively with his stomach feeding tube. Gabriel was unable to lift himself without assistance and suffered from poor balance. St. Mary’s amazing inpatient team has provided Gabriel with optimal nursing and rehabilitative care and has provided his grandmother with the training and education she will need to care for him when he returns home. Thanks to St. Mary’s team and Gabriel’s determination and strength, he has shown improvement in shifting his weight, regained some of his balance, and recently started eating and drinking by mouth.
Over the past 8 months, Gabriel has been able to communicate using a high-tech speech-generating device. He loves to make people laugh telling jokes. When Gabriel is discharged from St. Mary’s this month, he will be attending St. Mary’s Medical Day Health Care afterschool program and will receive skilled nursing visits, telehealth monitoring, and homecare rehabilitation through St. Mary’s.
