Rehabilitation at Aiken Regional Gives Patient a New Perspective on Life
April 25, 2025
A sudden fall and surgery
For Captain Eric Kirkland of the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office, life changed in an instant. On November 20, 2024, he fell off his back porch, tearing the tendons in both knees. Unable to stand or walk, he was rushed to the ER at Aiken Regional Medical Centers, where he underwent a double bilateral quad attachment surgery on November 26. After surgery, he faced a long road to recovery, beginning with inpatient rehabilitation on December 1.
Rehabilitation
“It was transformational,” Kirkland recalls. “Coming into rehabilitation and not being able to walk really puts you in a different mindset. At first, I was uncertain, but the inspiration, care and encouragement I received pushed me beyond what I thought was possible. The team at Aiken Regional truly dove into my recovery, and soon I went from thinking I couldn’t — to knowing I could.”
Determined to regain his independence, Eric committed himself to physical therapy. “At first, I couldn’t even get out of bed on my own,” he says. “But I learned to be self-sufficient with leg braces and slowly started walking with a walker. Just a few weeks ago, I was doing 100 steps a day — now I’m up to 1,600 steps in my house. My physical therapist told me to do the homework, and my dedication helped me heal as fast as I did.”
A new perspective
Beyond his physical recovery, the experience changed Kirkland’s perspective on life. “I’ve been in law enforcement for 34 years, but this was different. Being in rehab, I met people whose conditions were permanent, and it made me appreciate the small things so much more. My situation was only temporary, and that gave me hope.”
On December 6, after just five days of inpatient rehab, Kirkland was discharged. But he knew he had to return — this time, not as a patient, but to say thank you.
“I had to come back and see everyone at Aiken Regional who helped me. They gave me the drive to push forward, and I wanted them to see just how far I’ve come. From my family and me, we just appreciate them so much.”
Under the care of Timothy Shannon, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, acute care physical therapist Juan Tolentino, PT, CI, who Kirkland refers to as an "unsung hero," and all the other members of his rehabilitation care team at Aiken Regional, Kirkland's journey from injury to independence is a testament to resilience, dedication and the power of compassionate care.