Larry and Patty Kampschneider 2018
A little bad luck might be an understatement when considering Larry and Patty Kampschneider’s start to 2018.
For Larry, his knee was the source of “bad luck”. It actually started after his first knee replacement in October 2016. His recovery was going great until about six months post-surgery. Every three months, Larry would notice fluid building up around his knee. He would then get that fluid drained, yet ultimately no one knew why this was happening. His surgeon, Dr. Pitz sent him onto Dr. Hartman in Omaha for further consultation. Larry recalled, “that move took guts, and I appreciate that. It shows he truly cared about me.” It was found that Larry’s knee had an infection that would require antibiotics to treat. Larry’s insurance said they wouldn’t pay for all three antibiotics, but they would pay for one. Larry said, “My doctor picked the best one, along with IV antibiotics, and we got it taken care of.” After the infection was entirely resolved, Larry had his total knee anthroplasty on January 29th, 2018. Larry returned home to West Point to begin his outpatient therapy. “It takes time, patience, and trust”, Larry advised. He reminded each of us, “Be thankful that we have what we have sitting here in West Point. We have smiles consistently and that translates to strength in our community.”
For Patty, her “bad luck” started with an ER visit on January 11th. She was found to have a sepsis infection, pneumonia, and a series of other complications. Patty was weak, extremely confused and sick at that time, she stated “there are so many people I would like to thank for their kind care, but I don’t remember anything except leaving my house that morning.” Larry was able to fill in some detail of this time, he recalled “our options were discussed and decisions were made. Each question the medical team asked was asked with a sense of comfort. It took a team effort to keep things moving.” Patty was transferred to Omaha to the ICU for further care. After she was medically stable, Patty returned to West Point for swingbed care. She worked with physical and occupational therapy during her stay. She said, “They did wonders for me. They listened to my goals and made it happen!” Patty then returned to outpatient therapy, with appointments strategically coordinated with Larry’s therapy as well.
Larry and Patty are so thankful for the medical care they each received. They both declared, “We feel blessed to be here.” Larry and Patty also emphasized the impact this has had on their family and lifestyle. “Our family can’t believe how good our care is.” From the sounds of it, their family had motivation to get them feeling better as well. “Our grandson will come up to therapy with us and if we are chatting in the waiting area too long, he will say “Sorry, we have got to go! We have therapy!”” They further stated, “We, as a family, have a new respect for the medical professionals.” At Wimmer Rehabilitation, we would like to commend the Kampschneider’s on their perseverance and dedication to a happy and healthy lifestyle.
