Story Photos
 Pat Lindeman, left, lifts weights at Columbia Rehabilitation under the supervision of her friend and former co-worker Lynn Renner. Roger Werth / The Daily News
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Tragic accident turns Longview physical therapist into the perfect patient
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 6:11 AM PDT
By Barbara LaBoe
blaboe@tdn.com
Printable version
E-mail this articlePat Lindeman spent more than two decades as a physical therapist helping Southwest Washington residents recover from injuries, never dreaming she'd need the services herself.
But in August, while repairing her son's chimney, the avid do-it-yourselfer tumbled off a roof and wracked up a litany of injuries. Doctors told her she was lucky to be alive.
Lindeman, 57, had six fractures in her pelvis. She broke six ribs and punctured a lung. She dislocated her elbow and shattered her left wrist. She hit her head, and the resulting bleeding in her brain temporarily affected her short-term memory and speech. She burst one of her vertebrae and bruised her spine.
So Lindeman, long the therapist, had to adjust to a new role: patient.
Seven months later Lindeman is walking around her Rose Valley home without a cane or walker and slowly returning to the gardening she loves. She's able to dress herself and brush her hair and hopes to return to work as a therapist.
She and her fellow St. John Medical Center therapists agree a large part of Lindeman's progress is her experience on the other side of the patient-therapist relationship. Even as crews loaded her into the ambulance, for example, Lindeman remembers telling them she thought she'd broken her hip and advising them how to carry her.
"She's definitely got her background in rehab and it makes it simpler to explain what I want her to do," said physical therapist and friend Lynn Renner.
"And she's also coming up with her own exercises because she knows what she needs to do," added occupational therapist Jeannie Poole.
"I feel really comfortable there," Lindeman said of the hospital's therapy center. "Lynn is a very good therapist, so I have a lot of confidence. And I knew I was in good hands with Jeannie."
Lindeman said at times she gets frustrated with her progress because, wearing her therapist cap, she knows what the next step will be and wants to move to that. Renner and Poole, though, said she's making excellent progress.
"At times I have to back her off, there are definitely times she wants to this or that I need to clear it with the doctors first," Renner said.
Renner's other challenge is keeping Lindeman's many former co-workers and friends from eating up too much of the therapy time.
"Pat is the person in your department where if you don't know something or where something is, you ask her," Renner said. "And we've all been excited to get to see her again and sometimes if we go into public areas I have a hard time because all the employees are walking by and stop and give her a hug and I have to be rude and say 'OK, we have to continue therapy now.' But she's well-loved, and many people have missed her. So it's definitely a testament of her service to PeaceHealth."
Lindeman also credits the support from her husband, Dick, three sons and daughters-in-law, and many friends. Dick Lindeman's co-workers at the Cowlitz County Corrections Department donated leave time so he could be with Pat during her recovery.
At St. John, co-workers also donated leave time. And Lindeman was one of the recipients of the annual bake sale that raises money for hospital employees in need. The donation to cover medical and other costs was particularly poignant because Lindeman usually helps on the fundraiser.
"She's always willing to help out employees in any situation where they're down and out," said long-time friend Monie Peterson, floor secretary for the hospital's cardiac unit. "And this year she benefits."
"You have no idea how many friends you have until something like this happens," Lindeman said.
Lindeman lost her job at St. John because her injury kept her out so long, but she is eligible to apply for openings once she's recovered. She believes her injuries will make her a better therapist because she'll better understand patient's struggles and frustrations.
"I'll still have to do what I did before. I can't let them just sit there and not get better because it hurts," she said. "But I can hug them and tell them I know it hurts."
Renner said it's unlikely Lindeman will ever again do therapy work that requires heavy lifting, but she thinks Lindeman could be an excellent physical therapy aide.
Renner does have one rule for both her patient and friend, though.
"I told her her roofing days are over."
J wrote on Mar 19, 2008 7:42 AM:
Respiratory Lori wrote on Mar 19, 2008 8:41 AM:
I miss seeing you. "
Helpless wrote on Mar 19, 2008 11:31 AM:
shelley wrote on Mar 19, 2008 12:23 PM:
Re: Helpless wrote on Mar 19, 2008 1:12 PM:
Re: Helpless wrote on Mar 19, 2008 3:21 PM:
Local Yokel wrote on Mar 19, 2008 6:25 PM:
The Girls wrote on Mar 19, 2008 10:07 PM:
Love~
Presley and Payton "
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