Lyme, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Nov. 2011 - Dec. 2012

Colleen Kelly Alexander

I was an inpatient at Gaylord in 2012, to me, Gaylord means LIFE, HOPE, GRACE, and family.

I was inpatient at Gaylord for a month and a half in 2012. On 10/8, I was riding my bike home from work and run over by a multi ton freight liner. I spend over a month in a coma and multiple resuscitations and then had 15 surgeries during my initial time at Yale.

When I arrived at Gaylord I was emaciated, bed ridden, and unaware if I would ever walk again. Gaylord helped me with intense multi hour daily wound care, intensive physical therapy, cognitive therapy, emotional therapy, and nutrition. Five weeks after being wheeled into the Milne center with acute care being strapped onto a bed, I was able to walk out with a walker.

I have so many favorite memories with Gaylord staff, one was when I wanted to give up and found anger towards God and immense survivors guilt. The chaplain came in and held my hand and let me grieve. He prayed and shed tears WITH me and helped me be ok not being ok while understanding I still had immense value on this earth.

Gaylord to me means LIFE, HOPE, GRACE, and family.

Trumbull, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Dec. 2005 - Jan. 2006

Garrett Mendez

Gaylord saw me as the athlete I was and helped me recover.

At the age of 19, I had a massive brain stem stroke from a hit in hockey. After 20 days in ICU, I was transferred to Gaylord. When I arrived, I couldn't see, speak, swallow and was fully paralyzed. After two months, I walked out with a walker, my vision had returned, and I was eating again. I then spent the next two years in Gaylord outpatient therapy.

That was 16 years ago. Today I am still in contact with my Gaylord therapists and staff. They taught me how to swallow, eat, walk, and speak again. They gave me back my vision and use of my right arm. They are all amazing people who gave me back my life. They treated me with dignity, and respect.

Gaylord is my extended family. They are the village that helped me re-claim my life. They supported me and my entire family. We are still in touch, and if I need anything, I just ask. I honestly do not know where I would be today without them, and I will never be able to thank them enough for all they have done for me.

Parrish, FL

Dates at Gaylord

May. 1983 - Jun. 2021

Majory Palladino

In all, I spent 28 years working at Gaylord. I always felt a part of the Gaylord family. Many of my colleagues remained friends over the years. The finest staff I ever worked with.

I started my Gaylord nursing career as an LPN after the birth of my second child. I began by working with Stroke and Brain Injury patients, where I quickly learned that Rehabilitation Nursing is a different philosophy of nursing. It means educating and encouraging patients and their families and establishing a rapport over a longer length of stay. In acute care, patients are in and out. In rehabilitative care, you build relationships.

Gaylord supported me while I completed my degree in nursing as an RN. I was promoted to Assistant Nurse Manager on the evening shift. Several years later, I was at a crossroads and left Gaylord, but they hired me back in a management role as a Nurse Manager. I became a liaison between nursing and Information Technologies.

My role grew into a Director of Nursing position, where one of my greatest accomplishments was integrating nursing and therapy services. I was also privileged to see the growth and development of many nursing staff members. Some started as CNAs, and they are now in leadership roles.

In all, I spent over 28 years at Gaylord. I am longer in Connecticut, but Gaylord will always be a part of me.

Wallingford, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Jun. 2021 - Jan. 2022

Karen DelChiaro

Gaylord has been a blessing to our family. Gaylord gave my daughters and me the best gift: comfort in knowing he had the best care.

I became a committee volunteer at Gaylord after they helped my cousin following an accident. In later years my dad was a patient after a stroke. But I never imagined my husband would be a patient there as well.

My husband Glen was at Gaylord for seven months after a serious concussion. His journey involved regaining his strength, balance, and ability to stand and walk again.

Each day he was treated with dignity and nonstop encouragement. Each staff member was so caring. Each day I interacted with them, and no one was ever too busy to keep me up to date and talk about the future. I was confident he was in the best place in the world and everything possible was being done to help him.

But he had several relapses and in his last few weeks at Gaylord, he was on end-of-life care. It was a difficult time, and I learned that end-of-life care is something Gaylord does exceptionally well. Although he will be missed, Gaylord gave my daughters and me the best gift: comfort in knowing he had the best care. To the staff on Lyman 1 and the therapists, we thank you with all our hearts.

Glastonbury, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Mar. 1990 - Dec. 1990

Joe Flanagan

When you have people who care like they do, it truly makes a difference both mentally and physically.

I was both an inpatient and outpatient. I came to Gaylord having broken my neck in three places in a car accident with a drunk driver. I was paralyzed from the neck down, but I eventually walked out of Gaylord.

I kept in touch with staff and eventually created the Hartford Wolfpack annual event, with the proceeds going to Gaylord Hospital. The event ran for almost 10 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars were generated.

More recently, after I was diagnosed with a major infection in my knee replacement, I needed multiple surgeries and IVs to overcome the infection. I worked very closely with the nurses and therapists at Gaylord. It’s a phenomenal facility where miracles take place.

There are far too many employees to recognize. They are the nicest people I’ve ever met. Words really can’t explain what I feel about Gaylord. I don’t think I would be the person I am today without them. Listen, it is no fun being in the hospital. But when you have people who care as they do, it truly makes a difference both mentally and physically.

Durham, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Mar. 1996 - Jun. 1996

Megan Panico

From a patient who needed support to achieve her young dreams to a doctor who is inspired by my patients on a daily basis, Gaylord is truly the place that gives people their lives back.

I recovered at Gaylord during my senior year of high school after I was in a motor vehicle accident. Gaylord taught me to walk again and to think again.

When I had my accident, I was about to start a collegiate swimming career. I thought swimming was over for me. But my therapists simulated a school environment to help me graduate high school, and they got me back in the pool when I was afraid that I didn't know how to swim anymore.

Gaylord took me from being a terrified teenager to someone who really believed she could do anything she put her mind to. Gaylord influenced my career choices to become a physical therapist, go to medical school, and eventually return to Gaylord as the Medical Director.

As a physician, to be part of the miracles that are achieved at Gaylord is the most amazing feeling in the world. From the nurses to the therapists, everyone goes above and beyond to make sure each patient is given the best opportunity to achieve their dreams and get their lives back.

Gaylord means everything to me. It’s the most inspiring place I have been associated with.

Naugatuck, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Jan. 1990 - Dec. 1996

Edie Sletner

Gaylord is in it to win it for patients and families, making the most of how the patients can live the rest of their lives.

I was a Medical Transcriptionist in the Medical Records Department, and I was blown away by the patients who were admitted to Gaylord not able to walk, talk, or live the lives they led prior to admission.

The therapies they underwent to become the best they could be were truly astonishing. The therapists were so encouraging and excited about every step the patients made no matter how small. I was amazed at how good it made the patients and their families feel. Gaylord Hospital is in it to win it for patients and families.

New Haven, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Jan. 1990 - Dec. 1996

Sam Chauncey

In today's modern health care world there are few like Gaylord and each person who has worked there should be proud of his or her role in that effort.

On a cold early January day, I parked my car and walked into Gaylord, my first day as president. I remember saying to myself, "Are you sure you know what you’re doing? You've never worked in a hospital before."

I was greeted by Dr. Curt Brown, who was stepping down as president. Everyone was friendly and before long I felt as though I knew the place and the people. For the next six years, we worked together to bring in a wonderful group of physiatrists, build the Traurig House, the outpatient and new entrance wing, and most importantly, show hundreds of patients how to overcome their disabilities and have full lives.

It was a team effort in every respect. Every person who works at Gaylord sees their role as part of their clinical team, but also as part of the larger team. Employees speak their minds. As I look back on Gaylord, I still see a team of people, in an independent institution making lives better. In today's modern health care world there are few like Gaylord and each person who has worked there should be proud of his or her role in that effort.

Wallingford, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Nov. 2020 - Jan. 2021

Greg Whitehouse

Gaylord is a place of hope, made me look forward to the future and realize what a great gift every day is.

I was an inpatient admitted for GBS, also known as Guillain-Barr Syndrome, which is an immune system disorder.

Every staff member I came in contact with treated me with dignity and respect. Everyone always had a positive attitude and encouraged me to keep moving forward. Even though I was suffering from a variety of physical and mental issues due to GBS and had a broken right ankle, they all worked together to develop a plan to get me back into shape.

Many of them took the time to talk with me and get to know me as more than just a patient which helped to remind me of who I was and made me look forward to the future.

Gaylord is a place of hope. I went there almost fully paralyzed from GBS and 7 months later was able to compete in the Gauntlet. It has been a little over a year and I am almost fully recovered. I take better care of myself now, exercise daily, and realize more than ever what a great gift every day is.

Plainville, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Jan. 1968 - Dec. 1996

Nancy Gennett

Gaylord is the place I began my career, from Occupational Therapy student to Director of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services.

I have fond memories of Gaylord Hospital and the Occupational Therapists, some of who I have known since I was a student and who became lifelong friends.

When I was an Occupational Therapy affiliating student at Gaylord Hospital in 1968, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with the gentleman who operated the silver shop. The shop was no longer in operation at that point, but he shared how one of the activities for the patients at one time, had been engraving intricate designs in decorative sterling silver items.

Connecticut

Dates at Gaylord

Apr. 1993 - Jul. 1993

James McDougall

Gaylord altered my life permanently. I'm a more caring loving man. I loved it so much that after I retired I volunteered there.

I arrived at Gaylord after spending 2 months in a coma at Yale. I had suffered a TBI, many fractures, was blind in my left eye, and was paralyzed with neuropathy on my entire right side. I was told my recovery was not going to be a picnic but the staff would guide and support me throughout my stay there.

Spending most of my time with Caitlin Boland, we worked on a lot of my problems. She taught me to walk unaided. Caitlin also helped me in many other areas, she also gave me back my confidence and actually taught me to forgive myself for my accident.

Milford, CT

Dates at Gaylord

Nov. 2020 - Dec. 2020

Vincent Zelinsky

Gaylord truly helped me to "Think Possible". Gaylord's staff created the environment and brought the expertise to get me back to my life!

Because I was an inpatient during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had very limited visitation. Gaylord's nursing and rehab staff went above and beyond to support me outside of their job roles. I got to know many of them. They supported me personally through our interactions in addition to helping me recover more than I ever thought I could.

They inspired me so much that I became a peer mentor so I could give back.