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Patient Testimonials

Terinda Bates, Orthopedic Surgery Patient

Terinda was so happy with the care she received that she chose to follow Dr. Oster to Saint Joseph London hospital as she underwent follow-up surgeries

Terinda Bates was an active equestrian, but that active lifestyle came to an abrupt halt three years ago when a horseback riding accident landed her with a severe hip and leg injury on her left side. With the help of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Alan Oster of KentuckyOne Health Orthopedic Associates, the Brandenburg woman is on the road to recovery.Terinda’s injury occurred when her quarter horse spooked and she was thrown from the horse. Her foot was stuck in the stirrup and she was dragged underneath the horse. She was immediately rushed to the emergency room, where she found out that she needed surgery. Dr. Alan Oster performed surgery on Terinda’s injured leg and hip at Jewish Hospital.“Dr. Oster was so down to earth and a really nice guy,” said Terinda. “He explained everything to me and my husband, and told us exactly what to expect.” During Terinda’s treatment, Dr. Oster transitioned from Jewish Hospital to Saint Joseph London Hospital. Terinda was so happy with the care she received, that she chose to follow Dr. Oster to to Saint Joseph London hospital as she underwent follow-up surgeries.“I was really pleased with the hospital,” said Terinda. “It was nice and clean, and the nursing staff was excellent.” Because Saint Joseph London is a three-hour drive from her home, the staff set up a bed where her husband could sleep and even let her bring her Chihuahua in sometimes.“I’m really close to this stupid dog,” she laughed. “He would sit there on my bed all day long. It made me happier.” It has been about three years since Terinda’s accident. Through follow-up surgeries and physical therapy, she is slowly but surely regaining mobility. She is learning to walk again with a walker. Her love for horses has not diminished. She recently purchased a miniature horse that she enjoys taking to local hospitals for children to pet and lift their spirits. She also purchased a horse that can pull her in a buggy, so she is able to ride in a new way while she continues to recover. And Dr. Oster is supporting Terinda every step of the way.

 

Kelly Sawyers, ACL Surgery Patient

“Dr. Shah fixed everything quickly, and always made me feel comfortable,” said Kelly.

Kelly Sawyers is passionate about her job as a soccer coach. Thanks to Dr. Shah and the staff at Saint Joseph London hospital, she didn’t let a torn meniscus and ACL keep her off the field.Kelly was coaching high school girls’ soccer for Whitley County when a scrimmage resulted in her injury. Having seen other athletes experience this before, Kelly said she knew almost immediately what had happened.Kelly visited Saint Joseph London hospital, where Dr. Shah treated her torn meniscus and ACL. “Dr. Shah was so professional and patient,” said Kelly. “He walked me through my X-rays and explained everything. He showed me what was torn and told me what it would look like after surgery.”

Dr. Shah provided Kelly with a list of at-home exercises that would prepare her for surgery, including walking and stretching to loosen the muscles that needed surgery. Kelly followed the exercise plan, and received surgery within a month of getting injured. “Dr. Shah fixed everything quickly, and always made me feel comfortable,” said Kelly. “You could tell he really cared about me. He offered his phone number and said to call anytime with any questions. He explained every step of the process, so that I was never blindsided.” Kelly’s procedure was outpatient and she noted how Dr. Shah used small, precise incisions to minimize scarring.  Before surgery, I was so nervous and emotional and I said to Dr. Shah, ‘Small cuts, small scars,” said Kelly. “He kind of laughed and said ‘OK,’ but he didn’t let me down. My scars are smaller than my pinky nail. And it made me feel good that he listened to what I had to say.” Kelly is now working hard in physical therapy toward her goal of coaching soccer again in June. Dr. Shah is overseeing her therapy and providing protocol for her therapists to ensure she heals correctly. She is engaging in agility training and can already run more than a mile. “The recovery process has been very encouraging,” said Kelly. “Dr. Shah pushes me toward my goals, but never pushes too hard. Best of all, he understands my passion for soccer, and tells me that I will play again. He never says ‘no,’ he just says ‘in time,’ which keeps me going.”

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