Nathan's Story

At 19 years old most of us believe that we’re invincible with our whole lives and endless opportunities spread in front of us. A devastating rollover car accident threatened to steal that future away from Nathan Beck.

An ambulance rushed him to Barnes-Jewish Hospital where doctors discovered a spinal cord injury, bleeding in his lungs, vocal cord paralysis and a buildup of fluid in the sac around his heart. Nathan underwent spinal fusion surgery to prevent further injury to his spinal cord and doctor’s placed a tracheostomy tube in his throat to support his airway while a mechanical ventilator helped him breathe. They also inserted a feeding tube so that Nathan could safely receive the nutrition he needed to heal.

As his doctors worked to get Nathan stabilized, they faced challenges such as a low heart rate and difficulty retuning Nathan to breathing on his own. Despite these hurdles, and after another spinal fusion procedure, the doctors were able to set Nathan on the path toward healing — that journey, however, would not be an easy one.

Weak from his ordeal and unable to breathe, eat, move or talk on his own, Nathan needed specialized care in order to heal. For that, he transferred to Select Specialty Hospital – St. Louis.

The dedicated, physician-led team of expert nurses, therapists and clinical staff at Select Specialty Hospital immediately developed a comprehensive, personalized treatment plan to address Nathan’s complex medical needs. For his part, Nathan came prepared to work hard.

Working with his respiratory therapist, Nathan used deep breathing exercises and increasingly longer spans of time without ventilator support to strengthen his lungs. As his lungs grew stronger, Nathan no longer needed the ventilator and his tracheostomy was capped, allowing him to breathe more independently — a significant turning point in his recovery.

Able to breathe on his own, physical and occupational therapy became the focus of Nathan’s recovery. Edge-of-the-bed exercises helped him improve his core strength, balance and endurance. Increased strength helped him work on his ability to transfer between the bed and his wheelchair on his own.

Family support plays a crucial role in a patient's recovery, and Nathan’s wife, Mary, was there every step of the way. In addition to supporting and encouraging him, Mary took part in family training where she learned to help Nathan with transfers.

At discharge, Nathan was breathing easier, his mobility had improved significantly and he was completing most transfers on his own. With the support of his care team at Select Specialty Hospital Nathan was able to move to the next level of care. The outgoing young man, known to stop and talk to anyone who crossed his path while he rolled through the halls, now had the tools he needed to continue his healing journey outside of Select Specialty Hospital.