Turning Setbacks into Comebacks With Functional Fitness

"Do you know how we knew this was working? He's hungry; he hasn't been hungry in two years. He's eating more now."

Steve's journey began with a devastating injury: a fall that resulted in two broken vertebrae in his back. The challenges compounded when he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, leading to kidney failure and the need for dialysis.

As the illness progressed, life became a cycle of chemo sessions, dialysis treatments, and physical setbacks eventually confining him to a wheelchair.

In January of 2024, Steve and his wife, Cynthia, made the difficult decision to stop chemotherapy. “We chose to quit because it was killing him,” Cynthia shared. Despite stepping away from treatment, Steve’s health struggles persisted and it became a challenge to find the strength he once had.

Despite these daunting circumstances, Steve, alongside Cynthia, sought ways to get it back.

A New Beginning: Functional Fitness

Steve’s story took a turn when his primary care physician, Dr. Hoskinson, recommended the functional fitness program at Hoskinson Health and Wellness Clinic's Lifestyle Center. Initially skeptical, Steve admitted he thought this would be “just another physical therapy thing.”

Looking back on his initial expectations, he admitted to not expecting much. “When I went into chemotherapy, I walked in there, and when I walked out, I was slumped over in a wheelchair, because I was so sick. At that point, you kind of give up hope.”

Unlike traditional physical therapy, the functional fitness program is designed around each patient’s goals and strengths. Kristin Peterson, responsible for designing patients' individualized workout programs, recognized Steve's limitations and tailored his workout plan accordingly. "I make up all the workouts, modify them as needed, and observe his capabilities during functional fitness sessions," she explained.

With limited shoulder mobility and persistent back pain, Kristin emphasized safe exercises that could be performed in a chair, including calf raises, leg raises with resistance bands, and bicep curls, and the use of a NuStep machine for cardiovascular workouts.

Respiratory exercises, monitored by respiratory therapist Jenny Miller, complemented his routine. Jenny ensured Steve’s oxygen levels, heart rate, and breathing were carefully tracked to avoid overexertion. The goal wasn’t immediate recovery but rather gradual improvement to allow Steve to rebuild strength at his own pace.

Small Victories

The changes didn’t happen overnight, but they were undeniable.

“Do you know how we knew this was working? He’s eating again. He hasn’t been hungry in two years,” Cynthia observed. He's eating more now. He seems happier. And he's talking again to people. And that, to me, is huge."

A month into the program, Steve achieved something no one expected. "It was incredible. None of us expected it," Jenny recalled, describing the day Steve walked into the clinic with only the aid of his walker.

Over the course of 12 classes, Steve’s strength improved noticeably. His posture straightened, his breathing became less labored, and he even started gaining weight again. Cynthia shared how her husband not only regained his appetite and with it over 20 pounds, but also experienced a noticeable boost in his overall well-being and sense of independence.

Support Beyond the Sessions

Steve’s ongoing recovery is a perfect blend of structured exercises and the supportive environment that surrounded him, a small community that Steve refers to as “family.”

Laughter and camaraderie often accompany hard work, and his determination has earned him the nickname “Rocky,” inspired by his signature punching exercises.

Kristin, Jenny, and the Lifestyle team work together to create a space where effort and encouragement go hand in hand. "We’re a rowdy bunch, and the patients love it. We make sure the atmosphere is light but focused," Kristin explained. "We laugh, we encourage each other, and we’re here to guide them."

Finding Strength, Healing and Hope

“Before coming here, I felt like I had lost all hope,” Steve shared, reflecting on years of illness and physical challenges. “This place and the people here gave me hope.”

Starting on this journey, hope wasn’t something Steve had expected to find. But with each interaction, every small victory, and the support of his care team, he found more than that- not just in his physical health but in his outlook to life, reminding us all that even in the toughest times, forward momentum is possible.

Jenny, emphasizing the clinic’s mission, captured Steve’s new outlook perfectly: “We’re here to show patients that this isn’t the end of the road. It’s about moving forward and improving their quality of life.”