Finding Steady Ground
Dewayne Foster | Field Health System
Story By: Lee Catherine Hodges | Photos By: Field Health System
Charles Dewayne Foster was no stranger to physical and occupational therapy when he arrived at Field Health System.
Thirty years prior, Dewayne was working in the auto industry when a piece of machinery crushed him in a devastating accident. He underwent numerous surgeries to repair the damage, particularly to his back and feet.
Now 65, Dewayne enjoys spending time in his shop, tinkering with projects, cutting grass, and tending his flowers and garden. But years of wear on his rebuilt feet eventually caught up with him. After seeking treatment for worsening foot pain, Dewayne was scheduled for surgery. Before it could happen, however, he developed a dangerously high fever.
An infection in his right foot and spine had caused sepsis, leaving Dewayne no choice but a transfemoral amputation. Recovering from the surgery while fighting the spinal infection is what brought him to Field Health System for rehabilitation.
Early in the process, Dewayne was weak from surgery and shocked by how hard his daily tasks were with only his left leg. Fortunately for him, the therapy team at Field was up for the challenge. Physical therapy team Michael “Cobb” Kelly and Jessie Morales got to work strengthening Dewayne.
“Eventually, I ended up liking listening to Cobb,” he admits. “Cobb is one of those people who comes and makes sure you don’t need help getting into the bed. He taught me how to hold on.”
Lovingly nicknamed “The Bulldog,” Jessie is known for her passion, and for refusing to take no for an answer.
“Early on, I told him, ‘We’ve got this. We can do this. Trust yourself and trust me. I want you better,’” said Jessie.
Initially, Dewayne needed every bit of encouragement as he had to work through significant pain. But as time passed, hope for his healing blossomed.
“I saw so many people worse off than me who left out of here before me. They left doing okay, so I thought, ‘Well, I will be okay. No sense sitting here in this room and crying about my leg,’” said Dewayne.
When Cobb and Jessie were not working on balance, stamina, and strength, Field’s occupational therapy team (Melissa Anderson, OT, and Virginia McKlemurry, COTA) was teaching Dewayne the basics on caring for himself again. Jessie and Virginia collaborated each day to troubleshoot—it was a challenging balance to find ways to improve Dewayne’s strength, mobility, and level of function without aggravating his 30-year-old injuries. Also involved in his care and goals was Aubriana McFarland, SLP. Over time, the collaboration among therapists paid off—Dewayne made incredible progress.
“They got me straight on a lot of things here,” Dewayne said. “Putting my shoes on, taking my clothes off and putting them back on, being independent by myself.”
Each morning, Dewayne would get dressed and ready for therapy around the time that breakfast was delivered to his room.
“I’d be a nut not to go to therapy,” he said. “I can eat anytime.”
An additional challenge in therapy was to incorporate Dewayne’s new prosthetic leg. As Dewayne and his prosthetist fine-tuned the fit, Jessie worked to improve Dewayne’s mobility with the tool.
“When I first got the leg, I thought ‘oh boy, I need some training on this thing.’ And she has put me through the drills,” said Dewayne.
Today, Dewayne can walk 200 feet with minimal assistance, which is a long way from where he started in needing maximum assistance to do anything, much less walk. But walking was not the only skill Dewayne needed to improve.
When it was time to practice getting in and out of the car, Dewayne’s wife’s car was far too high. They practiced transfers in Jessie’s car, mastered that, and then moved on to Dewayne’s own truck.
“Yeah, I am gonna head back to Fernwood,” said Dewayne. “I’m thankful that when I get home, I really won’t be a burden.”
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