Mel and Wanda Kemp are a wonderful combination of care, compassion and humor. They are two of life’s 24-karat gems.
And when something works, especially when it involves their well-being, Mel and Wanda are all in, 24/7, 365.
The Kemps, it must also be noted, are not afraid of a challenge, never retreating from a task no matter how formidable the opponent might be. They also understand relationships, ones formed by therapists and patients, those built on trust, care, dedication and compassion.
Wanda and Mel share that kind of bond with Rock Valley Physical Therapy, one fostered by decades of turning to Mike Stodden and the many stars from Stodden Physical Therapy. Stodden PT and its dedicated group, joined the Rock Valley family in October of 2021.
In the past seven months, Mel, a hard-working truck driver and Vietnam War veteran – and Wanda, his loveable and feisty longtime bride with amazing baking skills – have battled a variety of medical challenges.
Challenges they – with the help of Rock Valley Physical Therapy – have met head on.
And found success.
First, COVID knocked Mel, an always-on-the-go type who is still driving over the road at age 73, for a physical loop. Just prior to Thanksgiving of 2021, Mel was hospitalized with COVID-related issues. His lungs were severely compromised and was intubated for three weeks while battling COVID.
“There was a pneumonia side to what happened to me,’’ Mel said, recalling all he could from his time in the hospital. “I know I was in some trouble. I don’t recall everything but it was a struggle and it really made me weak.’’
Fighting his way back, Mel earned his release from the hospital and was assigned to an in-patient rehab setting.
“‘I had the worst ankle pain you could ever have,’’ Mel said. “It was from not moving all that time in the hospital. My ankles just ached. And they tried to work on bringing up my oxygen levels.’’
But….
“They weren’t doing the job,’’ Mel said, not throwing shade, but noting he needed more help to find his way to better health. “It just wasn’t working.’’
For two decades, Wanda and Mel have had a family-like relationship with Mike Stodden, his staff and over the past few years, with Vicki Watton, PT, Clinic Manager at Rock Valley’s Elkhorn-Nebraska-based clinic.
So trusted is the relationship that Wanda – a Food Network- caliber baker – has graced Stodden and staff with her famous rhubarb cake, her mouth-watering Butterfinger cheesecake and her another-planet good chocolate pie, just to name a few. Treats good enough to stop anyone dead in their respective tracks.
“It goes back years, the relationship,’’ Wanda said. “I can remember trying to take the dogs for a walk, getting leashes caught in the stairs of the apartment and doing a plant on the cement. I was a mess, black and blue up and down one side. Mike and everyone put me back together. We think they are amazing. Nothing has changed (with Stodden joining the Rock Valley family), things are still wonderful. We truly are family.’’
While Mel and Wanda are huge fans of Rock Valley Physical Therapy, the respect and admiration is mutual.
“I had the pleasure to work with Mel before his stint with COVID on a previous issue and since the start of his care post-COVID, and he is always the hardest working person in the room, ‘’ Watton said of Kemp. “And that is what has made him get back to what he can do now. He always lets you know if he wants more of a challenge, and when it is challenging he goes at it as hard as he can.’’
It was Mel who realized physical therapy was best for his next step to recovery.
“He had a short period with in-patient rehab, and then knew he wanted to return to physical therapy with us when he got discharged and has been regularly working hard in the clinic since January,’’ Watton added. “He is doing amazing, and is now off of his supplemental oxygen and working toward going back to work. Only thing we have to keep working toward is him being able to keep his oxygen levels up while he works out and while he is talking.’’
Mel, who Stodden calls “The 2022 Miracle,’’ says he can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
“Thanks to the folks here (Rock Valley), returning to work is just around the corner,’’ he said. ‘That will be a great day. I’m so lucky to have people who want to make me better, but who care about me beyond. That doesn’t happen other places.’’
It was Stodden’s strong bond with the Kemps that helped Wanda find her way back to health after a bout with COVID. Though she avoided hospitalization, Wanda became weak, experiencing shortness of breath after the slightest exertion.Balance issues also needed to be addressed.
“Mel asked me to talk to Wanda, as she had COVID, but didn’t have to go to the hospital, ‘’ Stodden said. “She became weak, short of breath with little exertion. Her balance and lower extremities became weak.
“After we talked I simply told her: ‘Wanda, let’s start getting you better,’ ’’ Stodden added. “ I led her back to the therapy gym and started working on her oxygen saturation (O2 SATS). We have now seen them for several weeks. Mel just has to rest a short time to get his SATS back up to start his exercises, and Wanda is walking up to 15-20 minutes on the treadmill and is as sassy as ever. We are grateful to have them in the clinic working together. It will be their 49th wedding anniversary this year. They inspire all of us.’’
The inspiration works both ways.
“I don’t know where we would be with them,’’ Wanda said of the staff at Rock Valley. “They care. We are family. It’s an amazing relationship we have.’’
By: Johnny Marx, Storyteller