Michelle Childress

On an ordinary day, Michelle Childress enjoyed coloring in adult coloring books, framing her artwork to sell at community events, and spending time with her 11 beloved cats. Though she lives with cerebral palsy, Michelle was independent with all self-care and mobility tasks, actively engaging in community outings with her husband.

But everything suddenly changed when Michelle was admitted to the hospital with an MSSA infection, pneumonia, and right elbow cellulitis. The 52-year-old Michelle struggled with even the simplest tasks–a stark contrast to her previously independent lifestyle.

Recognizing the need for specialized care, Michelle’s family made the decision to transfer her to Vibra Hospital of Richardson, a critical care hospital. They knew that at Vibra, she would receive the acute care necessary to regain her strength, manage her infections, and work towards her ultimate goal of regaining independence.

Michelle’s journey at Vibra was marked by determination and small but significant victories. The staff’s constant encouragement and praise for even the smallest milestones became the fuel for her recovery. Under the guidance of exceptional therapists, Michelle made tremendous progress in strength, activity tolerance, balance, coordination, and left upper extremity range of motion.

During her time at Vibra Hospital, Michelle recognized “all the Vibra family, specifically Kate and Naomi,” for playing a pivotal role in her recovery. Their motivation and support became the cornerstone of Michelle’s journey back to health.

Driven by the desire to return home to her fur babies and resume her artistic pursuits, Michelle pushed herself in every therapy session. Her definition of success was clear — to show that she could do it, not give up, and walk again. This goal-setting process became a powerful motivator, helping her envision an ideal future and pushing her to work harder each day.

As Michelle’s strength improved and her infections became manageable, she found herself more capable with each passing day. From being dependent on others for toileting and dressing, she progressed to needing only supervision for upper body dressing and grooming. Her balance improved significantly, and she could now transfer using a slide board with maximum assistance.

Looking ahead, Michelle is excited to continue her recovery journey at an inpatient rehabilitation facility. Her goal is to return home in her most optimal state, ready to resume the activities she once loved. Michelle’s journey from a patient with multiple infections to a recovering individual on the path to independence is a testament to her resilience, the quality of care at Vibra Hospital of Richardson, and the power of determination.