
Out of all the places in the country, Dave Shank never thought he’d end up in Lincoln, Nebraska—but he soon found out that that’s exactly where he needed to be.
The 68-year-old Salina, Kansas native’s lifelong career as a millwright business owner steered him to countless locations in the United States: Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, back to Kansas again, then finally Nebraska.
Yet Dave’s rehabilitation story begins in 2013 in El Reno, Oklahoma. In the aftermath of one of the most devastating tornadoes ever recorded—familiarly named the “El Reno Tornado”—Dave served as a caretaker for his uncle while helping pick up the pieces—figuratively and literally—after an event of such magnitude.
All was well until Dave needed a right knee replacement.
Following surgery in Nebraska, Dave experienced heart failure. Next, he had a major fall. Infections and COVID-19 delayed his recovery further. After these issues, Dave was using a wheelchair and called an assisted living community home. However, he knew progress had to be within reach.
Enter the Tabitha Rehabilitation team. Dave launched his journey to recovery with by-appointment outpatient sessions, three times a week, at Tabitha Nursing & Rehabilitation Center’s (TNRC) LifeQuest and Club 4 gyms.
Outside of the gym, he developed a daily routine at his living community: walking up and down the hallways and going to the dining room for meals instead of eating in his room. Dave said he made it a point to share his exercises with fellow residents to “motivate those who might not feel inspired to try.”
He quickly recognized the first signs of improvement: being able to utilize a walker more assuredly. Soon, his wheelchair sat obsolete in the corner of his room.
“I can tell you: rehabilitation works,” he said. “Tabitha’s team is very educated—they tell you what to think about and how to think it through. They see things coming before they happen.”
Dave credits John for playing a large role in his rehabilitation and recovery journey. The two work closest together during Dave’s outpatient appointments.
After the beginning stages of therapy at LifeQuest, Dave needed to catch a flight to Wisconsin to support his brother who was undergoing cancer surgery.
“How am I going to fly?” Dave asked John Seipel, Lead Physical Therapist. Without hesitation, John drafted Dave a game plan: how to manage airport travel, remaining consistent with at-home exercises and staying Connected with his Tabitha team throughout the trip.
Thankfully, Dave went the whole trip without falls or complications—something he said wouldn’t be possible without his new regimen. Upon his return to Nebraska, he returned for more work, and soon after came another goal: tackling a destination wedding in Santorini.
“I didn’t know how I was going to walk in the sand,” Dave shared with a laugh. “So John developed an exercise where I walked across pillows right in the middle of the gym.”
The result of the unorthodox exercise? Dave skipped the walker for most of the Greece getaway. He even added laps up and down the sandy slopes to his routine.
After witnessing such progress, Dave noted that Tabitha was unlike any other rehabilitation program in Lincoln. He’d experienced three other local options throughout his medical journey before giving Tabitha a try.
Countless exercises, several challenges, multiple evaluations and many accomplished goals later, Dave’s walker is now obsolete too. He walks with a cane when needed, and sometimes without one at all.
He—and his Tabitha therapists—credit his massive strides to staying Committed and fully dedicating himself to improvement.
“From Dave coming in and being fearful, to him trusting in us to challenge him—and us being able to watch him do more—it’s fun and fulfilling to see,” said John. “We all get to jump and cheer seeing his progress. It’s why we do what we do.”
While John led Dave’s therapy journey, he wasn’t the only one to make a lasting impact. Dave also gave praise to Bonnie Kreiter, Physical Therapist; Jessica Grosse, Physical Therapist Assistant; Erinn Golick, Director of Rehabilitation Services; and Mary Draper, Rehabilitation Office Specialist.
“We all had a part to encourage him,” Mary added.
Dave has since gone from three weekly appointments to one. He said goodbye to assisted living and moved into his very own independent living apartment. He said he counts every one of his steps and shoots for five to eight miles daily, and has returned to driving after being unable to do so for quite some time.
He’s also determined his next goals: hitting the golf course, Celebrating at his grandkids’ birthday parties, going boating with his sons, learning recipes as he gets back into cooking, and establishing a new wellness routine to fit his enhanced mobility.
“When you’re excited, it makes it fun,” said Dave. “To make therapy into achievements you need to reach. My therapists always have something new for me—everything is working, and I tell John that.”
For the well-traveled Dave, Tabitha Rehabilitation is the Answer to set and exceed long-term recovery and wellness goals. To learn how Tabitha’s short-stay, outpatient or at-home rehabilitation options are the perfect fit for your or a loved one’s needs, visit Tabitha.org/Rehabilitation.
“Tabitha really is different from the rest.”
Dave Shank, Tabitha LifeQuest Client