Joe Cross was just trying to get home to Flower Mound. Instead, he’s lucky to be alive.
He’d spent most of the last two weeks as a volunteer cook for relief workers and shelters in Middleton, New Jersey as part of the Oklahoma Southern Baptist Disaster Relief group based in Edmond, Oklahoma. When the group returned to Edmond, Cross was ready to head for home.
Cross was about 23 miles from the Texas border when he was involved in a car accident on I-35.
His truck hit the southbound median, flipped, and landed in the northbound lanes. Luckily, an Emergency Medical Technician was also traveling southbound. He was able to free Cross from the truck and administer first aid until help could arrive.
Cross was taken to a trauma center for treatment of his many injuries, including broken ribs, a broken sternum, a fractured skull and facial lacerations. He was later transferred to Medical Center of Lewisville’s Rehabilitation Institute.
“They gave me a choice of where I wanted to go,” said Cross. “I chose the Rehabilitation Institute because it was close to home and would be more convenient for my wife.”
His wife, Nona, agrees that having this type of facility near home is a blessing.
Medical Center of Lewisville’s Rehabilitation Institute is an 18-bed comprehensive medical inpatient rehabilitation unit. Patients are provided the care required to return to an independent lifestyle based on individual abilities. Care includes rehabilitation focused nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and more. Collaborative physician services include physical medicine and rehabilitation services to best treat each patient.
Cross was the 100th patient admitted to the Rehabilitation Institute since it’s opening in June.
The Cross’s said that they are very pleased with the facility, which includes unique features such as a rehabilitation gym, a dining/activity room and a simulation suite – all designed to help restore independence to patients. Joe Cross says that he’d be hard-pressed to single anyone out for exceptional service since everyone has done such a good job.
“I’d hate to leave anyone out. Everyone has worked to make sure that my stay is as pleasant as possible.”
The interdisciplinary team works together to help the patient become as independent as possible in the activities of daily living, including mobility and other functional skills, and to facilitate re-entry into the home and community.
Joe Cross retired from Phillips Petroleum and moved from Oklahoma to Flower Mound about 21 months ago to be near family, including his seven grandchildren. Now ready to be discharged, he’s looking forward to being home for Thanksgiving and spending time with his family throughout the holiday season.
He said he’s confident that thanks to the staff at the Rehabilitation Institute he’ll be able to function well once he gets home, although he admits that “it’ll be a while before I’m at 100 percent.”
Pictured above: Joe Cross (center) is pictured with his nurse, Jessica Jammerson, RN, and Dr. Jason Jorgensen
