From Paralyzed to Independent: Kelly’s Comeback at DCH Acute Rehabilitation

One day, Kelly Zimmerly was celebrating her only daughter’s wedding. Just days later, she was in the ICU, paralyzed and unable to speak, diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome—a rare autoimmune disorder that nearly took her ability to walk, breathe, and live independently. But thanks to the expert team at Daviess Community Hospital’s Acute Rehabilitation program, Kelly didn’t just recover—she returned to her life, her family, and her community stronger than ever.

“In a few short days’ time, I went from decorating my daughter’s wedding venue to not being able to stand,” Kelly said. “I couldn’t roll over in bed. And then, thanks to DCH, I walked again.”

Kelly, who lives in Switz City, Indiana, helps her husband on their farm and serves as president of the Greene County Council. She remembers July 20, 2024—her daughter’s wedding day—as joyful and busy. Though she had recently recovered from a double ear infection, she felt healthy and energized on the big day.

“We had quite a bit of decorating to do the night before the wedding, and it was stressful but manageable and worth every second,” she said. “I was happy and felt completely fine the whole time. It was emotional, of course—she’s our only daughter—but it was a beautiful occasion.”

Four days later, her symptoms began with a tingling sensation in her toes and progressed rapidly. By Friday morning, Kelly could no longer stand on her own. Her husband, Brad, took her to Greene County General Hospital, where she was diagnosed and then transferred to Deaconess Midtown in Evansville for intensive neurological care.

She underwent two intensive treatments to address the Guillain-Barré Syndrome—first, plasmapheresis, which was unsuccessful, and then intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), which helped reverse the progression of the disease. The severity of these options highlights how rapidly her condition had declined.

“I remember telling the doctors I felt like I couldn’t hold my eyes open,” she said. “I thought I was just exhausted. But they said it was my nervous system shutting down.”

By July 27, she was intubated and unable to move. While her daughter was on her honeymoon in the Dominican Republic, the rest of the family quickly gathered to support her. After nearly two weeks in the ICU, Kelly regained the ability to eat, but remained unable to walk or care for herself. On Aug. 8, she was transported to Daviess Community Hospital for the next phase of her recovery.

“At that point, I needed full support,” Kelly said. “And from the moment I arrived at DCH, I was met with encouragement, compassion and hope.”

At Daviess Community Hospital, the Acute Rehabilitation program provides intensive, individualized inpatient therapy for patients recovering from illness, injury, or surgery. Patients receive a minimum of three hours of therapy, five days a week, in a structured and supportive environment designed to restore mobility, function and independence.

Kelly was welcomed by a collaborative team of specialists, including physical therapy assistant Beth Mason, and occupational therapy assistant Erica Ellermann, who built a customized therapy plan around her needs and goals.

“Beth and Erica were amazing,” she said. “They adjusted everything to meet me where I was. They brought tools to help me get dressed and games to help me relearn balance. And they never stopped encouraging me—even when the gains felt small.”

From mobility exercises to coordination drills and adaptive tools, the therapy team guided Kelly through a full range of challenges. At first, she couldn’t lift her legs. But with Beth’s support and coaching, she celebrated the milestone of lifting her foot off the therapy mat—an emotional breakthrough on her long road back.

Erica helped Kelly relearn essential daily tasks. She taught her to use a sock aid, elastic laces, a “reacher” and a shoehorn so she could dress herself again. They played Wii games to build strength and coordination and celebrated every achievement along the way.

Beyond therapy, Kelly credits DCH’s nursing and support staff with lifting her up—physically and emotionally—every single day. From repositioning her at night to providing comfort measures, their care never wavered.

“Nurses like John (Swartzentruber, RN), Mary Lou (Holland, CNA), Ann (Jones, RN), Steve (Volling, RN, - retired) and Ellen (Gahimer, LPN) made sure I never felt alone,” she said. “At night, the staff rubbed lotion on my legs, used Biofreeze to ease the pain in my back, and helped me switch positions every few hours so I could sleep. They treated me with dignity, like I mattered.”

Support staff like CaShayla Kemmis, CNA, and Kathy Graber, CNA, made her feel safe and cared for with their gentle attention and tireless presence. Behind the scenes, case manager Mallory Ingram, RN, worked diligently to ensure her insurance would cover the length of stay she needed to fully recover.

“I didn’t have to worry about anything,” Kelly said. “They all worked together to fight for me and support me. It was a team effort from the moment I arrived.”

Kelly was discharged on Sept. 6 and returned home with the help of a ramp that her pastor and church friends had installed just before her arrival. She continued outpatient therapy and regained full mobility within months. Today, she walks independently, drives, and helps run the family farm—all without assistive devices.

“I had thousands of people praying for me and lifting me up,” she said. “But it was the team at DCH who brought me back physically. They gave me the tools, the strength, and the push I needed. I’ll never forget what they did for me.”

Kelly said she also felt spiritually and emotionally supported throughout her stay. Her church family visited often, friends brought meals, and she received countless messages from across the country. She also received two prayer blankets—each one prayed over and anointed with oil—lovingly sent from extended family members’ churches.

“Emotionally, I had everything I needed,” she said. “But the people at DCH were a huge part of that. They believed in me even when I couldn’t do the simplest things.”

She’s grateful for the opportunity to recover close to home and to have had access to high-quality rehabilitation in a small-town hospital.

“DCH saved me,” she said. “Their Acute Rehab program gave me my life back.”

To learn more about Acute Rehabilitation at Daviess Community Hospital, visit www.dchosp.org/acuterehab or call (812) 254-8881.