07/14/2026
At Kindred Hospital Dallas Central, patients benefit from a seamless continuum of care designed to support recovery at every stage. Alejandro, a welder and workers’ compensation patient who suffered life-threatening injuries, first received specialized treatment in our long-term acute care hospital. As his condition improved, he transitioned directly to our acute rehabilitation unit, allowing his care team to continue guiding his recovery without interruption.
A pressurized pipe Alejandro was welding unexpectedly exploded, striking him in the face and chest. EMS initially transported him to a local community hospital, where he required intubation due to respiratory failure. After being stabilized, Alejandro was transferred to a short-term acute care hospital for a higher level of care, including Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support to treat severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with refractory hypoxemia (dangerously low blood oxygen).
His hospitalization was prolonged and medically complex. Although he was successfully weaned from ECMO, his recovery was complicated by multiple serious conditions, including pulmonary embolism (pulmonary artery blockage caused by a blood clot), deep vein thrombosis (blood clot, usually in the leg), Klebsiella pneumonia, persistent fevers, and episodes of delirium. Alejandro was eventually transferred to Kindred Hospital Dallas Central for continued care, respiratory recovery, and rehabilitation.
At the time he was admitted to Kindred, Alejandro remained mechanically ventilated and was experiencing intermittent episodes of delirium. Despite those physical and cognitive challenges, Alejandro was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation and steadily regained strength, endurance, and functional independence. His progress enabled his transfer to Kindred’s Acute Rehabilitation Unit (ARU) a month after admission.
Once admitted to our ARU, Alejandro made exceptional gains. He actively participated in dual-task activities, dynamic balance training, functional mobility, gross motor strengthening, and cognitive recovery. He also regained the ability to eat by mouth.
Through perseverance and dedication to therapy, Alejandro exceeded expectations and regained the functional independence necessary to discharge home – a remarkable recovery from a life-threatening injury and prolonged critical illness.
To read more patient stories and to learn more about our care, please visit: https://bit.ly/4yjaOxD
