At the peak of her life-threatening battle with a chronic auto immune disease, Andergrove woman Lisa Hodges lost the ability to walk and talk.
After becoming seriously ill in November 2023, she spent almost three months in hospital in intensive care and the infectious diseases ward battling autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.
Lisa then developed cryptococcal meningitis while on immunosuppressant drugs, a dangerous fungal infection of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord.
While at the Townsville University Hospital, she endured 14 spinal taps on consecutive days to remove fluid from her brain.
“I lost a lot of my cognitive function and physical ability; I was so ill, I couldn’t do anything for myself,” Lisa said.
After five weeks in Townsville and another six weeks at Mackay Base Hospital, by February 2024 Lisa had recovered enough to transition to Community Health and Therapy Services (CHATS), located at Mackay Base Hospital, to start rehabilitation.
CHATS is a multidisciplinary team of allied health, medical and nursing professionals including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech pathologists, dietitians, psychologists and rehabilitation consultants and assistant staff.
Lisa started in the Transition Care Program (TCP) with CHATS upon discharge from hospital. One of her many goals was learning to walk again.
“I was at CHATS a minimum of twice a week to see the for an hour each session,” Lisa said.
“I also saw the occupational therapists, speech therapist, social worker, dieticians and had CHATS’ nursing support at home for assistance with showering and transport to and from the hospital.”
Lisa admits she was initially frustrated by her slow physical progress.
“I had open wounds that would not heal and I was confined to a wheelchair when I started at CHATS,” Lisa said.
“I eventually progressed from the wheelchair to a walker, then to a four-prong walking stick, then to a walking stick,” she said.
“This transition was over about six months until I could walk independently.”
Lisa said she was very grateful for the continual support, care and motivation of the CHATS team throughout her recuperation. Today, her liver condition is managed with regular medication and ongoing monitoring and she has even started driving short distances again.
She credits CHATS with helping her regain her dignity and independence after such as serious illness.
“I cannot speak highly enough for the support and the expertise of the staff at CHATS,” Lisa said.
“They have helped me through not only a very difficult physical journey, but supported me unconditionally with my emotional recovery.
“The amazing team has given me back my independence and confidence. I have lost considerable strength but can now get around independently again.
“Every person at CHATS has been amazing. From the administrative staff through to the hands-on practitioners, they have all been major contributor to where I am today.
“The environment creates a supportive ‘family’ that have helped me so much over the past 18 months.”
