Friday, Dec. 23, 2011
December 23 Letter to the Editor
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To the Editor:
On Dec. 1, 2011, I checked into this truly excellent facility (Cass Regional Medical Center) for hip removal/replacement surgery. I cannot carry on enough about this process and facility.
I had approximately 10 friends, family members and a great pastor meet me there at 6:30 a.m. Truly, the environment helped me through my start.
Check-in through Tonya was quick and efficient. Several surgical nurses came to visit and answer any questions. My anesthetist, Kristi Schnorf, immediately put me at ease and quickly covered some concerns I had. My surgeon, Danny Carroll, and his superb right arm Annemieke were excited and ready to go. I was to be the first minimally invasive hip surgery they had done, the first for the hospital, and as far as I know, the first in this area. Four hours later, I was in recovery, and at approximately 6 p.m. I was in my room. As you can guess, the next 24 hours were a blur, but by Friday evening, I was walking the hallways and with a lot of encouragement from John Huffman and the best primary care physician, Richard Price, I was discharged to go home Saturday at 1 p.m. Not too shabby for major surgery.
So, if you don’t know it, we have a great hospital, doctors and nurses right here. I am hopeful our hospital will be able to invest in the type of equipment used in my surgery so more people can stay here and see what we have to offer. I know I have a lot of work to do to not let my surgery team down. I think I’ll do well in recovery. The one person I haven’t mentioned who has helped and is helping the most is my wife, Heather.
David L. Caruthers, Harrisonville
