David Kirkwood is walking confidently on his new prosthetic leg after re-learning how to walk following a lower-leg amputation. He credits his newly found confidence to his dedicated rehabilitation team and therapy dog at Providence Care Hospital. He is well on his way to recovery and back home with his bulldog Bentley after an inpatient care stay at Providence Care Hospital.
“I’ve worked hard to get my life back and done what I need to do. It’s been a long haul! There are some phenomenal staff here [at Providence Care Hospital] that have helped me along the way,” says David.
In August 2023, David Kirkwood’s life took an unexpected turn when he awoke one night with low blood sugar. As a person with diabetes this wasn’t new to David, and he headed to the kitchen for juice. The last thing he remembers is grabbing a glass and dropping it on the floor. Two days later he woke up in Brockville General Hospital, where his health issues continued to progress.
“I didn’t know what had happened when I woke up. They told me that I had an infection and that I must have cut my leg on the glass when it dropped. Then I found out that the infection was actually flesh-eating disease,” explains David.
Necrotizing fasciitis, known as flesh-eating disease or flesh-eating bacteria is an infection caused by bacteria. It can destroy skin, fat, and the tissue covering the muscles within a short time. If left untreated it can spread to the bloodstream and eventually cause organ failure. It was suspected that David initially had strep throat, which can lead to flesh-eating disease. The team at Brockville General Hospital attempted to save his leg but ultimately, his right leg had to be amputated below the knee. On September 4, 2023, David underwent surgery for an amputation.
After three months of receiving excellent care at Brockville General Hospital, David returned home where he awaited his next journey – receiving specialized inpatient rehabilitation at Providence Care Hospital. He was excited to be with his beloved English bulldog, who was re-homed temporarily when David fell ill.
“Even though that was really difficult, I made it work. I was going up and down my stairs on my butt once I got home, I had a wheelchair on the main floor and walkers elsewhere, but I was back home with my house hippo Bentley. He’s a pretty mellow dog and he almost got excited when he saw me,” explains David.
In late January, David began his rehabilitation journey at Providence Care Hospital and quickly learned how to live with his new prosthetic leg while gaining strength through rehabilitation.
“Within two weeks, I was walking alone without any aides – no walker or cane. I couldn’t believe it. The program here [at Providence Care Hospital] is just absolutely incredible. The occupational therapists (OT), physiotherapists (PT), the nursing team and all the OT and PT assistants are just amazing people,” says David.
As fate would have it, David met another bulldog during his hospital stay thanks to Providence Care’s pet therapy program. Pets in the program are used for social visiting and utilized in therapy. In total there are 21 therapy dogs in the pet therapy program that assist Providence Care’s patients, clients and residents. Staff also love seeing the pets around Providence Care!
“Physio and occupational therapy told me I should probably walk a dog and told me they had one coming in. I was absolutely delighted to see that he was a bulldog. So I got my bulldog fix with Bruno but it made me miss Bentley that much more,” says David.
Bruno, who assisted David with his therapy, belongs to Clinical Educator at Providence Care, Crystal Clark. In addition to her full-time position at Providence Care Hospital, Crystal goes above and beyond by also volunteering her time with her dogs in the pet therapy program.
“Bruno has been a therapy dog for about one year now,” explains Crystal. “His sister Coco is also a therapy dog too! I bring them in on a volunteer basis to do therapy for patients and staff on my lunch hour, after-hours and on weekends,” explains Crystal.
Crystal truly goes the extra mile with her furry friends when they are on duty – helping countless patients and clients like David throughout their health care journey.
“My goal when I arrived here was to be able to walk Bentley once I returned home and to return to my job,” says David. “Now I know I can successfully do that. I can’t wait to get him out for walks and get back to work and do what I love,” says David.
David walked proudly out of the hospital upon discharge, optimistic about what his new life would look like. He will continue physiotherapy at home on an outpatient basis while he settles in at home and gears up to head back to work in television and radio advertising sales. Next up for David is finding an accessible vehicle with hand controls – but not before getting a few snuggles with his buddy Bentley to make up for lost time!
Do you have furry friend that would like to become a member of Providence Care’s pet therapy program? Visit our website and apply to become a volunteer today.
0 thoughts on “One step at a time – A journey to recovery with a four-legged friend”
Great story! Very positive regarding the health benefits and rehabilitation potential of pet therapy in recovery!