Patricia ‘Pat’ Fetkenher 2021
Pat Fetkenher doesn’t fit the mold. She beats the odds, keeps things fun, and keeps everyone on their toes. In December of 2019, Pat was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery to remove her left lung. Due to complications, she then spent over 5 months at a facility in Omaha where she recalls limited therapy and feeling frustrated by the lack of improvement she felt. Pat decided it was time to give home a try with the care and support of her husband, Ron, and at that time required a wheelchair and mechanical lift to move.
Shortly after she returned home, she was hospitalized acutely at Franciscan Healthcare for blood pressure issues before transitioning to a swingbed stay for further rehabilitation. She recalls that she was “not able to move at all” at that point, aside from rolling side to side in bed with the help of staff. She wanted to “feel human again”, and her goal was to be able to walk before her daughter, Anna, started back to school. Pat began working diligently with physical, occupational, and speech therapy with sessions six days a week. Pat recalls how difficult basic activities were like talking, swallowing, getting dressed, sitting on the edge of the bed, and lifting her legs. Pat attributes the therapists’ support and motivation to helping her through some very hard days. They “wouldn’t let me give up and really helped me stay determined!” She describes a turning point in her recovery, occurring one Saturday morning therapy session, when she was finally able to stand in the parallel bars. She thought “I really can do this!” Pat was able to discharge home just short of 4 weeks after coming to the hospital. The therapists working with Pat recall being so amazed at how she was able to progress in such a short time, considering how weak she was and then to literally “walking out the door!” She continued to work with outpatient therapy services for an additional three months.
In addition to the rehabilitation team, Pat credits Ron and Anna for their support at home. She notes they pushed her to continue her progress at home. She has been able to “cook, clean, do laundry and stairs… just everything!” She states, “I never thought I’d be so happy to go to parent-teacher conferences, but I am!” Pat continues to be an inspiration to many by fighting her cancer, never giving up, and living life to its fullest regardless of circumstances!
