The tale of the ordeal that brought Connie Vetter to GHRC is a long and complicated one. Back in February 2015 Connie had her thyroid removed, and was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She then underwent four chemo treatments from April through July, and then four weeks of radiation in September.
Although she was weak, she was living at home independently, with the use of a walker. Just before Christmas her legs began feeling numb, but she didn’t know which doctor to call. Thinking that perhaps she needed to cut her toenails, she went into the kitchen to get her clippers. Unfortunately, she cut her toe and fell on the way out of the kitchen. She landed on her shoulder, breaking her humerus, which is the long bone in the upper arm. Her emergency pendant brought the rescue squad to her door.
After having a cast placed on her arm for immobilization, she came to Gainesville for rehab. She recalls, “I was a mess! I couldn’t stand or do anything by myself. I started with strengthening exercises, but I didn’t feel like doing them. My therapist, Michele, told me that if I didn’t begin to show some improvement, I wouldn’t be able to stay here for therapy. That was all the motivation I needed! I have continued to improve each day since then. All of the therapists have been very patient, encouraging, and just a little pushy, which is what I needed. I can walk with a walker again. The numbness is still there, but I have made tremendous improvement.”
PTA, Michelle Grgurovich, commented, “When Connie first came in here, she needed a lot of assistance. She was not walking. Now she needs very little assistance when walking with a rolling walker. She’s a very hard worker and she has not quit, despite facing challenges. Working with her and watching her make these gains just makes my day!”
An MRI of Connie’s neck revealed spinal stenosis, the cause of the numbness in Connie’s legs. She is scheduled for surgery in early March. Her personal theory is that the positioning she was placed in during radiation caused the problem in her neck.
Although she is not expecting immediate results, Connie is looking forward to going home and getting back to her cat, April. She is optimistic since she can now stand by herself and has use of her left arm again. She says, “Overall, my experience here at GHRC has been a positive one. I highly recommend this center for rehab!”
As a former nurse herself, Connie recognizes quality, caring staff. Originally from Philadelphia, she was a head nurse in the orthopaedic medical surgery unit, and a nurse recruiter for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for over 15 years.
At the age in 35, Connie married her husband, John, in 1972 and relocated to Washington, D.C. Over the next 29 years she worked at Sibley Hospital, worked for pain and spine doctors, drew blood for the Red Cross, worked as a nurse at an adult day care center, and was a receptionist for a dentist. She retired in 2001 when she had to have hip surgery.
After her husband died in 2002, Connie opted to move from their home in Falls Church to Dunbarton in Bristow to be closer to her son, Stephen, his wife, Barbara, and her grandson, Zander, and granddaughter, Corinne. Her other son, Will, lives in New Rochelle, New York, with his wife, Karen, and their daughter, Chiara, and son, Hudson.
Connie added, “Without God’s help and all of the prayers of my friends and family, I would not be here today!”
The staff here at Gainesville is very proud of Connie and what she has accomplished. We have enjoyed working with her and getting to know her these past few months.
By Lynnette Esse, Activity Director
