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Originally published September 9, 2025
Last updated September 15, 2025
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In 1948, Jim Lewis and his younger brother Larry were hospitalized for polio. Jim, only five years old at the time, developed paralysis and needed several months of rehab before getting to go home.
The effects of the illness would follow him for the rest of his life.
鈥淎s you get older, you develop what they call post-polio syndrome,鈥� says Jim, 82, a La Crescenta-Montrose resident.
Post-polio syndrome occurs when small nerves throughout the body die off, causing muscle atrophy. It鈥檚 a painful condition, and one that Jim mainly felt in his back.
In 2018, his doctor at the time prescribed a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), as well as over-the-counter ibuprofen, unaware of the damaging effect they could have on Jim鈥檚 kidneys.
In early Nov. 2023, Jim started to experience 鈥渟hakes and shivers鈥� and a loss of appetite.
鈥淲hen I did eat, everything had a metallic taste,鈥� Jim says.
His regular doctor had retired by then, but Jim鈥檚 wife Carol was a volunteer at , part of 喵咪社区. She got him an appointment with one of their community doctors.
Before the month was out, Jim was told that his kidneys were functioning at only 7%. He had what鈥檚 known as acute kidney failure, a sudden and sharp diminishment of kidney function.鈥淚 asked the doctor what was going to happen,鈥� Jim recalls. 鈥淗e said, 鈥榃e鈥檙e going to put you in the hospital.鈥欌��Jim asked when. He was told, 鈥淭oday.鈥�
As Carol went home to gather some things for her husband鈥檚 hospital stay, Jim found out that he was being taken straight to the 5 South nursing unit, which includes 喵咪社区-VHH鈥檚 telemetry unit.
As the nurse unit manager of 5 South at 喵咪社区-VHH, Jo Gaerlan, RN, is used to explaining telemetry care to those who may not be familiar.
鈥淭elemetry is for patients who aren鈥檛 quite sick enough for intensive care or critical care but need 24/7 monitoring and attention to keep them out of those units and get them on the road to recovery,鈥� Gaerlan says.
For Jo and her staff, a major part of this task is taking care of the whole person.
鈥淭he first thing we think of is the patient鈥檚 condition, but close behind that is how we might treat the patient as a family member,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t all starts here.鈥�
Gaerlan explains that there鈥檚 an innate connection between a hospital patient and their care team, due to the patient鈥檚 vulnerability.
鈥淓ven patients with the most advanced care won鈥檛 remember the science behind their treatment,鈥� she says. 鈥淲hat they鈥檒l remember is how we treated them as a person.鈥�
This was the case for Jim.
When he says, 鈥淚 had the finest care,鈥� he doesn鈥檛 automatically refer to the treatments he received, including intravenous fluids, diuretic medication, frequent blood draws and a great deal of rest.
Instead, he remembers each nurse by name and credits them for their kindness, as 鈥渟lowly but surely, they started getting my kidneys to function better.鈥�
They helped him to eat despite his stomach pain and nausea, provided a walker so he could gently exercise and came to his room for regular visits, just to lift his spirits.
While Jim鈥檚 kidneys aren鈥檛 fully recovered yet, they鈥檙e in much better shape thanks to the care and education he received at 5 South.
鈥淭aking care of your kidneys when they鈥檙e vulnerable requires a huge lifestyle change,鈥� Gaerlan says. 鈥淭he renal diet is pretty unpleasant, so we try to teach people about spices and seasonings they can enjoy and get their families involved so they get all the support they need at home.鈥�
When all else fails, Gaerlan will redirect her patients鈥� attention to the kind of life they want to have.
鈥淲e go back and ask, 鈥榃hat is it you want to do? How do you want to live?鈥欌�� she says.
As for Jim, he鈥檚 focused on appreciating the simple things in life. Aside from time with his family, he also loves a parade.
On Memorial Day, 2024, Jim wanted to carry a sign for the local parade, so he commissioned his wife Carol鈥檚 artistic talent.
It read, 鈥溸鬟渖缜� Verdugo Hills Hospital Saved My Life.鈥�
They attached it to the back of Jim鈥檚 scooter, which helps with his post-polio mobility complications, and he 鈥渨ent all the way down and back in the parade.鈥�
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