Chris Harrell, a Texarkana resident weighing close to 800 pounds, is making encouraging strides toward recovery following a dramatic fall at his home on New Year’s Eve. Harrell’s 911 call led to a remarkable rescue operation where firefighters had to cut through the side of his wooden house to safely extract him.
Since the incident, Harrell has been receiving treatment at CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital in Texarkana. Though the hospital is not fully equipped to handle patients of his size, the medical staff has been dedicated to meeting his needs and supporting his recovery.
“He looks so much better. He sounds so much better. He’s catching his breath and able to talk,” said Harrell’s sister, Kim Spaulding. “When I first talked to him, it was hard to understand him because he was gasping for air. He was only getting about 80% of oxygen on his own, but now he’s doing much better.”
The hospital has worked to accommodate Harrell’s unique needs, securing a second bed after the initial one deflated. Medical staff is focused on helping him regain his ability to sit up and improve his overall mobility.
While Harrell has made significant progress, he will eventually need to be transferred to a long-term care facility better suited for his rehabilitation, where he can continue his weight loss journey and work on regaining mobility.
“His outlook is much more positive now,” Spaulding said. “For a long time, he wasn’t hopeful, but now he has his hope back.”
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