Last year, my mother Ethel Weldon was nearing total paralysis, experiencing excruciating pain and unable to even hold her grandson due to a degenerating disc in her spine. Today, she walks with minimal pain (in heels I might add), and at our family reunion this past summer, she was dancing the night away.
This “miracle,” as my mom calls it, is the result of a minimally invasive spinal fusion surgery she had at Christian Hospital. The advanced surgical procedure uses a small, targeted incision to address only the problem area without exposing the bone and surrounding muscle area – ultimately enabling my mom to experience a shorter recovery time and less post-operative pain than a traditional, open procedure.
Due to the severity of my mother’s spinal condition, my encouragement to receive care at Christian Hospital (where I serve as Patient Care manager for the Orthopedics Department) was met with some surprise. Patients, just like my own mom, often are not aware of the advanced treatment options available right in our own neighborhood.
As both a community resident and a Christian Hospital employee, I have a unique perspective and personal insight on our staff’s ability to address conditions and diseases that affect many North County residents, using advanced technology and innovation to best serve our patients.
My mother’s care and treatment by Dr. Ravindra V. Shitut, a board-certified orthopedic and spine surgeon practicing at Christian Hospital, was a prime example. Dr. Shitut used a robotic technology for minimally invasive joint procedures to perform a complex spine fusion that enabled my mother to leave the hospital within three days of surgery.
Christian Hospital physicians perform almost 150 knee replacement and spine surgeries per year using the minimally invasive technique – all to the benefit of many community members who otherwise might have lived with pain or faced lengthy recoveries.
Have every confidence in looking to a hospital that’s located right in your backyard – you may not be aware of the type of advanced care you can receive if you or a loved one is experiencing a significant health issue. My mother is now a firm believer in and advocate of the exceptional care that Christian Hospital can deliver in our community.
With full motion and mobility in her spine, she has the dance moves to prove it to you!
Kimberly Clark is Patient Care manager, Neurology/Orthopedics Team, at Christian Hospital, a member of BJC HealthCare.
