Following my hip surgery, I awoke pain-free and walked anew. My life has been restored.
Dear Dr. Leone:
It would be remiss of me if I did not share how I came across you and The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care at Holy Cross Hospital. During my research to find the right doctor to perform my surgery, I accidently came across an article written by you entitled “Why I No Longer Use the Anterior Approach for Primary Total Hip Replacement Surgery”, I felt like the sky opened up as it was the long awaited answer to my prayer. I have for the past four years been researching different approaches for hip replacement, as I am also a juvenile diabetic and I had a lot of reservations about undergoing surgery because of the statistics and negative blogs I read, so you can only imagine how I felt after reading your article and all the responses to persons who were not your patients. Your responses to these people who were so despondent with nowhere to turn showed your character i.e. one who is empathetic, helpful and professional at the same time because you directed them to their healthcare providers without calling them out. Based on just that, I felt that my life was taking a new direction so I immediately contacted
my doctor here in the Bahamas, Dr. Kathryn De Souza who emphatically stated that you were excellent.
I didn’t stop there, but continued to do my own personal research on you and saw where a peer review was done in the State of Florida and you were listed as one of the best if not the best Orthopedic Surgeon for the state. Articles showed where you not only perfected your technique, but you were open to discussing the problems patients experienced, using your experience to incorporated leading edge technology with the “old-fashioned doctor/patient care second to none.
When I met you in person you were that person. I found your team-approach to patient care most impressive and it is pervasive throughout the Leone Center. More importantly was your comprehensive approach to extracting and collating all the information about me as a patient, and how you sat with me, explaining how you will be able to restore my mobility and give me back a good quality of life with confidence and a great big smile. That was very comforting and reassuring.
It’s been exactly one month since my surgery August 1, 2018. My experience was exceptional. I did not know what to expect so when I awoke pain free and your orthopedic therapists made me walk immediately, I felt my life had been restored as promised. I walked anew, no limp, no pain. My son and family who were there were speechless to say the least. The nurses and caregivers were very professional and timely in administering the medication. They always said, “Oh! Doctor Leone wants his patients walking and sitting up when he makes his visits so Mrs. Knowles time to get ready”. My three day stay prepared me to go back into the home environment and the decision to have Home Health Services visit me was the best decision ever. The therapists and nurses were friendly and professional and they ensured that I had a schedule to use for exercises during my stay and that I was coping well.
Your team comprising of Dr. Anibal Loza, Susan Simonton, PAC and the very pleasant and competent PAC I believe her name is Tamara who removed the sutures, and gave me the discharge sheet together with all sorts of tips to follow up, please relay to her my sincerest thanks for her graciousness. Also Nemesis and the International Department.
Since I returned to the Bahamas, I no longer take pain medications, I am walking better than ever. My family cannot believe that I am walking so well just after surgery. I really don’t need the walker or cane but I’m using the cane for precaution. Yes Dr. Leone you made a believer out of my son Zane who actually posted about you on his Facebook page. I know your ears are ringing because I talk about you every day because I have had daily visitors since I arrived back home and people have been calling me and coming to see me because of the way I recovered. Even my priest cannot believe I had major surgery. Don’t worry, I am taking every precaution to ensure that I do the right thing. I’m continuing my therapy and already visited Dr. De Souza to give her and show her your handiwork.
I am so happy to have met you and your team and I pray that all your patients have a similar great experience. May God continue to bless and keep you and may you be in a position to help restore patients from all over the world by giving them their best life. You are truly a marvelous person and excellent surgeon. Hope to see you before Thanksgiving.
Yours sincerely,
Peggy Eugenie Knowles
Update from Peggy on Jan. 7, 2020
I am doing exceptionally well. I have completed my physiotherapy and I am walking like new. If you didn’t know I had surgery, you wouldn’t be able to tell. I only missed visiting you last year due to the disruption by Hurricane Dorian.
Nevertheless, I am extremely grateful to you and your team and whenever I am in Fort Lauderdale again, I will be sure to let you know so that you can see that your good work speaks volumes for you.
With Best Regards,
Peggy Knowles
