On September 22, 2022, 51-year-old postal carrier Kendall Boyd was leaving work in Columbia, S.C., when he realized he still had the keys to his work truck in his pocket. After walking back to his office to return them, he “blacked out.” His co-workers immediately called EMS.

Kendall suffered cardiac arrest as well as a stroke. While in the hospital, he was unable to pass a swallow study, which led to the placement of a feeding tube. He also suffered vocal cord paralysis due to being intubated. After 19 days, Kendall was discharged home with the help of his spouse and family.

After a week at home, Kendall and his family were concerned that he wasn’t getting adequate care or therapies. They contacted Midlands Regional Rehabilitation Hospital (MRRH) for further assistance. Kendall was admitted to MRRH from home on October 14, where he received specialized rehabilitative treatment for 12 days.

During his inpatient stay, Kendall progressed to eating a modified diet and improved his functional mobility and safety before being discharged home. He returned to MRRH for outpatient rehabilitation, receiving continued physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech–language pathology services. He has since returned to work full-time.