Kevin DeVoy’s Journey to Recover, Regain, & Return Home
In March, Kevin DeVoy underwent open-heart surgery in Kansas City. His road to recovery was unexpectedly difficult—he developed atrial fibrillation (Afib), contracted Type A Influenza, and battled double pneumonia. What should have been a shorter recovery turned into a four-week hospital stay.
As a former President of the Board of Directors for Pershing Health System (PHS), Kevin was familiar with the Swing Bed program but wasn’t entirely sure how it worked. He recalled, “I kept asking when I could go home—and by home, I meant Brookfield. But I couldn’t go back to my actual home yet. I couldn’t walk and was still very weak.” After researching the program, his family realized that PHS Swing Bed was the perfect step in his recovery journey.
Closer to Home, Closer to Healing
“Going to the PHS Swing Bed program was going to be easier on everyone, including my wife, Brenda,” Kevin explained. “She appreciated being able to stay at home and come visit me throughout the day.” Brenda agreed: “Being back in Brookfield made it easier for friends and family to visit him. He had 4 or 5 visitors a day!”
Kevin recalled how welcoming the staff was from the moment he arrived. “They knew I hadn’t been eating much, so they immediately got me something. The very next day, the speech pathologist came in to do a swallow test—and soon I was on a regular food diet. The food was amazing. My favorite was the hot roast beef sandwiches!”
Comprehensive, Personalized Care
When asked about the care he received, Kevin was quick to praise the entire team. “The quality of care was so wonderful! The Pershing hospitalist reviewed my records, answered my questions, and helped set goals for me to work toward returning home. I had a lot of work to do, but with the respiratory, occupational, and physical therapy teams working with me every day, I was able to go home much quicker.”
He added, “The nurses were outstanding. They really listened and responded. One night I told them my hand hurt, and by the next morning, Kate from Occupational Therapy was there with exercises ready to help.”
The familiarity of home made a huge difference too. “What made my stay really special was that I recognized so many faces. They treated me like a friend. One day I was feeling gloomy, and staff members just kept popping in with big smiles to cheer me up. It was like coming home to family.”
A Team Effort Toward Independence
Kate Gaudet, OT, shared:
“When Kevin was first admitted to our swing bed program, he was unable to complete even the simplest self-care tasks without becoming extremely fatigued. After a few short weeks in our intensive therapy program, Kevin showed amazing progress. He was discharged home able to care for himself again. He had regained strength, endurance, and most importantly—confidence.”
Heather Wood, BSW, PHS Swing Bed Coordinator, added:
“The PHS Swing Bed program is designed for patients who no longer need acute hospital care but aren’t quite ready to return home. Our skilled nursing and therapy services support their recovery. Every treatment plan is individualized, and our goal is always to help patients regain their independence and return home safely.”
A True Homecoming
“Overall, I couldn’t have been happier with my experience in the swing bed program at PHS,” Kevin said. “I felt like I was in the hands of family. From housekeeping to the nursing staff—every department cared for me. Even Pastor Joe Smith came by every Wednesday to offer communion, which was very meaningful. Being able to recover in Brookfield, surrounded by people I know and love, was such a blessing.”
