Elena Guebara

Before contracting COVID-19, Elena Guebara was an active mother and wife. She loved doing her makeup, cooking, dancing, and singing karaoke. Life was good.

What started as mild COVID symptoms quickly escalated into something much more serious. Elena went into respiratory failure, requiring a ventilator to breathe and a feeding tube for nutrition. Recognizing she needed quality care, Elena’s family sought admission to Vibra Hospitals of Southeastern Michigan – Taylor Campus, a critical care hospital. Being close to her home, Elena’s family could be involved in her recovery at Vibra.

Elena faced many challenges when she admitted to Vibra. She arrived unable to have food by mouth, still on a ventilator, and unable to complete any of her activities of daily living.

One thing that wasn’t a challenge for Elena was motivation. Blessed with a positive attitude and family support, Elena worked hard on her recovery. Her love of music played a key role, as well. The song “This Girl is on Fire” by Alicia Keys became an anthem and a daily source of motivation.

Leveraging the clinical expertise of her care team, the education they provided, and her support system, Elena’s progress came quickly. She weaned off the ventilator, began a regular diet, and resumed completing her daily tasks.

Elena discharged from Vibra, having met her primary goals of talking, walking, and eating cheeseburgers again. Congratulations, Elena — you’re on fire!