Camila Champs

Camila’s journey to recovery is nothing short of a testament to the extraordinary strength that resides within the human spirit. When a sudden stroke left her requiring life-saving measures, including the support of a ventilator, Camila faced a daunting road to recovery. In the midst of uncertainty and challenges, she demonstrated unparalleled courage and tenacity. Guided by the dedicated medical team at Vibra Hospital of Clear Lake and fueled by her own determination, Camila’s story unfolds as an inspiring narrative of resilience, triumphing over adversity, and the transformative power of perseverance in the face of life-altering circumstances. Her remarkable journey serves as a beacon of hope, illustrating the profound impact that unwavering resolve can have on the path to recovery.

Despite surviving a stroke several years ago and having a history of cardiac issues, Camila Champs was doing well. The 51-year-old lived at home and quite independently. But one day, Camila’s speech became slurred, prompting a visit from the paramedics.

When EMS arrived, they noticed Camila’s blood pressure was elevated – 175/110 – and transported her to the emergency room. During transport, Camila experienced a gradual, progressive weakness in the upper and lower extremities on her left side.

Upon arrival at UTMB, Camila was admitted and diagnosed with a right midbrain bleed, with an extension to the surrounding areas of her brain. During her stay at the short-term acute care hospital, Camila’s mental status declined, and she lost the ability to breathe on her own, requiring the use of a ventilator. Unable to be weaned, a permanent airway and feeding tube were placed to provide Camila with the life-sustaining support she required.

After a few weeks, Camila became medically stable enough to transfer to Vibra Hospital of Clear Lake, a critical care hospital. Critical care hospitals treat patients like Camila with very complex medical needs who require an extended period of time in a hospital setting for their recovery. At Vibra, Camila could work toward breathing independently while working with physical and occupational therapists to regain her physical strength and speech-language pathologists to restore her ability to swallow.

Camila faced significant challenges upon her arrival at Vibra Hospital. She was on a trach collar, was hypertensive, and required total assistance to roll in bed, sit up, and couldn’t hold items, such as a washcloth, in her left hand. Yet, though there were many barriers for her to overcome, Camila continued to work hard and make progress.

Within one week, Camila could sit at the edge of her bed, talk using a speaking valve, and began to wean off of oxygen support. Soon after, she could stand from a sitting position with some assistance and set a new goal of taking steps. Camila achieved that goal quickly as she began walking short distances with a rolling walker. She passed a swallow study and resumed eating a regular diet, including feeding herself independently. Camila’s trach was capped, then decannulated, and she progressed to requiring only one liter of oxygen support. Additionally, Camila regained enough movement in her upper body to brush her teeth and assist with getting dressed.

Having made substantial progress in her recovery from stroke, Camila discharged from Vibra to a neurorehabilitation hospital for the next phase of her recovery.