Isaac's Recovery Story  

In late 2019, at 19-years-old, Isaac was a passenger in a motor vehicle accident in which the vehicle collided with a tree. As a result, he suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, fractured both femurs and multiple ribs, and experienced cuts from glass all over his body.

Isaac required CPR for over an hour after the accident and flat lined at least three times. He was airlifted to a medical center in Redding, CA where he was treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Isaac experienced brain swelling and severe bleeding requiring a massive blood transfusion, putting him into a coma for over a month. Isaac was able to breathe with the help of a ventilator, was provided with nutrition through a feeding tube, and was on dialysis to maintain the function of his kidneys. He also needed to have his left leg amputated above the knee. The trauma team applied traction with weights to Isaac’s legs to hold his femurs apart until he was well enough for the surgeons to place rods in his femurs to stabilize them. After he was well enough to leave the ICU, he was transferred to a different area of the hospital where the team helped him wean off the ventilator and learn to use his voice again.

Isaac’s mom, Sabrina, worked with the case managers and physicians at the Redding facility to plan for Isaac’s transfer to the Rehabilitation Center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (SCVMC) to continue his path to recovery. When Isaac arrived at the Rehabilitation Center, he was placed in the care of a multidisciplinary care team of doctors, nurses, physical, speech, and occupational therapists, a social worker, and a case manager. Ritu, Isaac’s case manager, became near and dear to the family as she helped them navigate the challenges they were facing. Isaac had a private room and a one-on-one rehab coach by his side 24-hours a day for safety. His family was able to stay in their motorhome nearby and participate in caregiver training and therapy with Isaac.

On a daily basis, Isaac and his family saw his Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician, Dr. Varma, his occupational therapist, Quyen, and his physical therapist, Mabel, among others on his care team. When Isaac first arrived, he had been in a horizontal position for months and was not even able to sit up on his own. He started to drink liquids and eat food just before transferring and continued progressing at SCVMC. He was initially in post-traumatic amnesia, which is a state of confusion brought on by physical and chemical changes in the brain after a TBI. Through a lot of hard work, he was able to start sitting up by himself and feeding himself. Quyen helped him learn to dress himself again, sit up by himself, and transfer from his wheelchair to regular chair.

Before the car accident, Isaac was an avid swimmer and a licensed scuba diver. After a few weeks at the Rehabilitation Center, the team asked Isaac if he would like to get into the pool. He was so excited! The pool was like heaven for him - being able to float and move himself around felt amazing!

Isaac had developed foot drop and the team made him various casts to help encourage his foot to rest at a 90-degree angle so he would be able to walk on his leg in the future. His right knee did not bend well due to the serious fracture so Mabel, his physical therapist, provided Isaac with exercises to do every day. Mabel shared, “Isaac’s family was involved in his stay at SCVMC from day one. His mom Sabrina was present for almost all his therapy sessions cheering him on, which helped the therapists push him too. His brothers also participated in the training to help Isaac practice transferring on and off the floor. They were really encouraging with their brother. Throughout his stay, Isaac had wonderful support from his family and friends and his parents were huge advocates which I think contributed to his amazing recovery!”

While staying at the Rehabilitation Center, in addition to occupational therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy, Isaac participated in various art programs and enjoyed interacting with the dogs that came to visit as part of the Facility Dog Program. As a result of meeting the facility dogs, his family saw how much joy they brought Isaac, and got him a service dog that he named “Memphis”.

Isaac’s mom recalls, “the staff were so friendly and helpful and loving. Isaac had memory issues and kept forgetting his room was his room, even with the photos his family had posted of him all over his room. His team helped him develop strategies to help him with his difficulties with memory. We’ve continued to use those strategies long after Isaac’s stay at SCVMC.”

After two months, Isaac was discharged and temporarily moved to an apartment in Bakersfield where he attended a day program for two months at a post-acute facility before returning home.

Isaac continues to work hard and is walking with a prosthetic leg. Isaac still depends on his family to help him with complicated financial tasks and planning and he is able to work with his brothers in their businesses. He is continually learning to take care of himself and enjoys going for hikes with Memphis. Isaac and his family are very thankful for all the medical professionals that helped him recover and were so kind through his recovery. They are forever grateful.