Todd’s Fight for Recovery
As Todd Kaisershot returned home from work on the evening of December 17, he never imagined he would die twice within the next month.
A longtime resident of Faribault, Todd first called 911 at 2 a.m. when he sensed something was wrong.
“I just didn’t feel right,” he said. “I felt lightheaded, and just knew I needed to make the call for help.”
What followed next was a whirlwind of critical health events and challenges: two heart attacks, time spent on life support, three weeks on ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, a form of cardiac and respiratory support), his organs failing five times, four surgeries, two wound VACs (vacuum-assisted device), and an IV to fight an infection he developed in a wound on his chest. And despite it all, Todd would still tell you everything has unfolded exactly how it should.
“My story is real simple,” said Todd. “From start to finish – it’s all godsend. Everything that’s happened to this point has just fallen into place perfectly. Every single thing.”
The first two EMTs that came through his door that morning happened to be customers he’d helped at work. They brought him to an area hospital, where he was transferred to Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis by helicopter. Todd’s memory of his time receiving care there was a blur – his family was unsure if he’d ever wake up and recover. But one sunny Sunday morning, he finally woke up surrounded by his family. Shortly after, his providers told him he’d suffered two heart attacks and had died twice.
“People at Abbott kept telling me, ‘You’ve got to get to Glencoe. The people are amazing.’ They said it was a five-star organization, and they weren’t wrong,” said Todd. “I couldn’t do anything when I got here. Then one day, I stood up during physical therapy. I took three steps, and then seven. That was the real beginning.”
From the moment I got here, I felt like I was in the right place. This facility doesn’t treat you like you’re just another patient. They treat you like you matter. – Todd
When he first arrived at our Hospital Transitional Care, Todd was still dealing with significant wounds, had a wound VAC in place, required IV antibiotic therapy, and was in need of physical and occupational therapy.
Over time, with the support of our Rehabilitation Services team members like Lexi Schons, PT, DPT, he rebuilt his strength.
Todd worked closely with our rehabilitation therapists, including physical therapist Lexi Schons, PT, DPT.
“It was very rewarding to watch Todd progress the way he did, from using the mechanical lift to now walking with no assistive device,” said Lexi. “He has come a very long way since his admission, and he wouldn’t have been able to do so without the motivation and work he put into his recovery. He had such a positive attitude through his entire experience. It was a joy working with him and to see the amazing progress he made.”
His physical therapy appointments included time on the balancing bars, stairs, and walking along parallel bars.
“I worked hard, and they knew how to push me and encourage me. I have personal drive, but they’ve gotten me this far. They’re amazing,” said Todd. “And they make therapy fun – you can joke with them, and they joke back.”
He’s particularly proud of one turning point in his journey, after weeks of hard work.
“One morning, I was able to sit up on the edge of the bed all by myself. A nurse walked in, saw me, and her eyes got big,” said Todd. “That’s when I knew – I was really getting better.”
Occupational therapy has focused on helping Todd regain his independence.
“They had me up in the kitchenette, making soup and toast, getting in and out of the fridge, and working on my balance,” said Todd. “It might sound simple, but those moments mean a lot. I’m determined – my goal is to return home, walk back into the store I work at, and show everyone what I’ve been through. That I’m still me. That I’m strong.”
His experience at GRH has shaped not just his healing journey, but his perspective.
“What gets me about this organization is the compassion. I have the utmost respect for this place – I can’t say enough about them. They treat me with so much respect,” said Todd. “They’re really professional, but also personable. You build real relationships with them. They’re all my friends now.”
For Transitional Care Program Coordinator Mollie Taber, RN, BSN, OCN, CCM, this type of compassion is crucial to patient care.
“Our entire staff absolutely cares for people like they are family. Patients often comment on how staff have a way of making them feel like they’re right at home, which supports them in their healing journey,” said Mollie. “We’re emotionally invested, with a determination to help our patients succeed. Watching Todd go from a very scary place where he died twice, to where he is today – that is exactly why we do what we do.”
As he prepared to head home, Todd reflected on what would come next.
“This journey has been intense. But I’ve learned that healing is possible when you’re surrounded by people who care,” he said.
And he’s not done sharing his story.
“If I can talk to five people and it makes them think, gives them hope – then that’s worth it. I’ve seen what it’s like to recover and come back on that kind of scale,” said Todd. “And that’s something I want people to know is possible.”
For Todd, GRH has been more than a stop on the road to recovery.
“Glencoe Regional Health has been the place that gave me my life back,” said Todd.
