Eddie's COVID Success Story | Healthcare Patient Testimonial Louisville

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we worked with Kindred Hospital to produce a series of patient stories — real accounts from real people who had contracted the disease and recovered, thanks in large part to the specialized care provided at Kindred's Long Term Acute Care facilities.

Eddie's story is one of the most powerful in that series. After contracting COVID-19, Eddie's recovery depended on the team at Kindred Hospital Chicago Northlake — a group of caregivers whose expertise in complex rehabilitation gave him the chance to return to the life and the family he almost lost.

These stories mattered beyond the screen. In a moment when hospitals were overwhelmed and families were frightened, patient success stories like Eddie's provided genuine hope — and demonstrated in human terms what the LTACH model of care actually means in practice. We produced Eddie's story with the care, sensitivity, and dignity that a story like his demands.

About This Project
Client: Kindred Hospital / ScionHealth
Type: Patient testimonial, healthcare video, internal and external communications
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Services: On-location production, patient interview, editing

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John Flower Productions produces patient testimonials and healthcare video for hospitals and health systems nationwide. From individual patient journeys to pandemic-era institutional stories, we handle sensitive human subjects with the care they deserve.

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Video Transcript:

My name's Eddie. I like to ride my bike, do a whole lot of walking, just enjoy the air. I love my sister. I love my family.

I started coughing, and my sister asked me, she said, "What's going on with you?" I said, "I don't know."

Early in the week, like Sunday, he was coughing, and that Friday I come home from work, he could barely walk. It went to him that fast. He could barely walk. I'm like, "What is wrong?" He said, "My chest and my back is hurting me." I was like, "Oh, get your coat. Let's go." So I took him to urgent care. They called me back there and said, "We called an ambulance and he's going straight to the hospital. His oxygen level is very low. He has double pneumonia, and we suspect COVID." Last thing I remember, being admitted to the hospital.

That was it. The next day, he was on a ventilator. They put him in a medical induced coma. His breathing level was so low. I had two anxiety attacks. Never had them before in my life. I didn't think he was going to make it.

After four weeks of being diagnosed with COVID, he was transferred to Kindred Chicago in Northlake. I remember Eddie coming in, and he was actually off the ventilator. He was on a trach, though. He was on what we call a trach tube. He couldn't eat by mouth. He was very weak, but he worked with me. We were able to use a speaking valve, and then he quickly started being able to cap, and then we actually were able to remove his trach, and then he participated in a swallow test, and he was able to start eating. He was able to walk up and down the hallway. His oxygen level was high enough, so the doctor said, "Let's try him without oxygen." We try him without oxygen, and guess what? Doctor said, "You know what?" He went up to Mr. White, said, "You're too healthy to be here." He was only there for two weeks, and in that two weeks, he came a long ways. It's like once he got to Kindred, it's like he just bounced right back up. We really rallied together as a team of physicians, got on board, and he was highly motivated to also get well and get better, and I think all that led to his discharge being pretty good. It feels awesome. It feels awesome to have my brother back. Can't slow him down now. He's back, full force. I love walking my dogs. I love riding my bike.

I'm very happy to be back at home with my family. I love it.

Thank you, Kindred. If you was here, I couldn't shake your hand or give you a hug, but I give you the elbow. Let y'all know y'all did a wonderful job. Thank y'all for y'all's support. Y'all's support helped me out a lot.