Ken Kreikemeier 2014
Ken Kreikemeier is a farmer and works on his feedlot, “Double K Feedlot” with his sons just outside of West Point. In early summer of 2013, Ken had noticed he had trouble concentrating, he was getting more headaches than usual, and it also became difficult to write. On July 17, 2013, he was afraid to go down some stairs in his house and knew something was wrong. Ken was brought to the hospital by his wife and life-flighted to Methodist in Omaha where they discovered a subdural hematoma. He was in Omaha for a few days and his therapists at Methodist insisted on keeping him during his journey through rehab, but his family wanted him close to home. “They don’t know how good we have it here,” referring to West Point. Ken returned to St. Francis Memorial Hospital where he received Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy every day for 3 weeks. Initially, he had a difficult time walking, speaking, and even making the sign of the cross. “I just didn’t want to give up…and every day got a little better.” After intense therapy, Ken returned home with the help of his family; he returned for outpatient therapy for 8 more weeks. His wife recalls that he always wanted to come to therapy and she states, “I could see him getting better and knew what we were doing was working.” Ken always came ready to work and never complained about therapy, even if the task was too hard. “All of the therapists worked so hard, they had to sit and watch me try to do things I didn’t think I could do,” Ken reports he wouldn’t be where he is today without the help of his supportive wife and family. He encourages others to persevere during their rehabilitation, “You just have to try.” Ken becomes more independent each day and is once again keeping watch over his cattle and corn. When the department informed Ken of being selected for the Rehab Wall of Fame award, he humbly accepted and stated: “I’m just a farmer."
