Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross Provides Quality Care to Proud Army Vet, Inpatient Unit Gets Welcome ‘Refresh’ 

After years of helping hundreds of patients regain their strength and recover from a myriad of illnesses and injuries, the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Inpatient Unit at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox is getting some tender loving care of its own. 

The hospital recently added 12 new inpatient rehabilitation patient rooms as part of its fifth-floor expansion, and 16 of the current inpatient rehabilitation rooms in the existing hospital have undergone a facelift as well. 

“The current portion has been repainted and renovated,” said Jennifer Zolp, Clinical Manager of the Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit at Silver Cross. “After 10 years, it was in need of a little rehabilitation of its own.” 

The AbilityLab offers a highly structured, intensive and multi-disciplinary inpatient program, designed to maximize a patient’s independence through education and intense therapy. Each patient’s care is customized to fit their needs and care plans are developed with the input of the patient, family, physician and rehabilitation team, said Zolp and Lora Diaz, Administrative Director of Rehabilitation Services. 

The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab-Silver Cross team has experience treating a broad range of conditions including stroke recovery, spinal cord injury, brain injury, COVID-19 recovery, adolescent rehabilitation, cancer rehabilitation, amputation and pain management. Their expertise matters because studies have shown that professionals who treat a larger number of cases of a given condition achieve better outcomes. In fact, Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago has been named the best rehabilitation hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report for 32 consecutive years. 

“Eighty-eight percent of our patients go home after being on the rehab unit for an average of 12 days, and they’ll usually receive outpatient therapy services,” Zolp said. 

Diaz and Zolp are especially excited about the new rooms on the fifth-floor expansion. 

“The new unit has a 50-foot walking track where patients are supported by a harness from a track on the ceiling,” Zolp said. 

And there are three rooms where lifts from the ceiling are able to handle up to 1,000 pounds, which helps when working with bariatric patients, they said. 

Some of the benefits patients can experience from using the new therapy equipment include eliminating the fear of falling down, creating a safer environment for balance, strength and gait training, and building their confidence, Diaz and Zolp added. 

“We look forward to welcoming patients and their families to the bright, new offerings in the AbilityLab. It not only helps the patients to see everything looking pretty, it cheers up the staff, too. And we can pass that good feeling on to the patients!” they said. 

Proud Army Vet Receives Quality Care

Ed Wicherek said his journey started with one of those “goofy things” during a visit to the dentist last year. 

“The hygienist noticed my eyes looked a little yellow, so she suggested asking my doctor about it,” said Wicherek, 73, of New Lenox. 

His doctor, noticing a fatty liver score, put him on Prednisone, but a couple weeks later, things got worse. 

“I started feeling really weak. It was hard for me to even get up. My doctor told my wife, Alice, to get me to Silver Cross, quick.” 

Wicherek was admitted to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox with a urinary tract infection that had evolved into sepsis. And during an MRI, doctors found a cyst on his spine that affected the use of his arms and legs. 

Medication eventually dissolved the cyst, Wicherek said, but he still was confined to a wheelchair and had difficulty using his arms. Due to lack of use of his legs, he also developed lymphedema, a painful swelling due to fluid build-up. 

Wicherek was cared for in the inpatient Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross Hospital from April 28 to May 12 last year, and then received therapy at the outpatient clinic on the first floor. He was thankful his doctor referred him to the AbilityLab at Silver Cross. Not only was it close to home, but staff could not have been more helpful. 

Personalized, Patient-Centered Care

“I worked with Debbie for occupational therapy, getting my arms, hands and fingers to work again. Brittany and Marlene helped me with my physical therapy and edema. They were wonderful,” he said. “I came here in a wheelchair, went to a walker, and now I’m walking on my own. How could I ask for anything more?” 

Wicherek was so proud of his progress, he sent them a picture of him buttoning his Army uniform last Veterans Day. He served in South Korea during the waning days of the Vietnam War. 

He can’t say enough about the people at the AbilityLab who helped him get back on his feet, literally. 

“One day, while I was waiting for my appointment, I watched how the lady at the desk of the AbilityLab and all the therapists treated their patients like family. Every time I came in, it was, ‘Hello Ed! How are you?’” 

Giving Thanks

Although he’s been released from treatment, Wicherek likes to show his thanks from time to time, bringing in candy and other snacks for the staff. During one visit, he met Ashlie Broadhurst, Clinical Manager for Outpatient Rehabilitation. 

“He is so appreciative of his therapy journey he completed here and told me he really overflowed with joy when he was able to put on his veteran uniform and button it himself,” Broadhurst said. 

Wicherek, who still needs to do a little home therapy, said he is very proud of his progress and appreciative of all the help provided at Silver Cross. 

“The least I can do is drop off a few treats now and then. They work so hard.” 

For more information about rehabilitation services at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross, please visit silvercross.org or call 815-300-7110.