Patient thanks VJH surgeon for getting her life back
“I have a new lease on life!” exclaimed Lori King, who isgrateful for the care she received from Dr. Paul Dooley, Orthopedic Surgeon atVernon Jubilee Hospital.
Lori was a young woman, only 45, when she was diagnosed withosteoarthritis in her knees and discovered that she would need to have, notjust one, but two partial knee replacements. She was referred to Dr. Dooley andhe worked with Lori to come up with the best course of action for hersituation.
“Getting this diagnosis was truly devastating. I thoughtthis only happened when we were much older. How would I play sports anymore?” saidKing.
Lori’s life was impacted dramatically. As an accomplishedbaseball player, Lori was used to an active lifestyle and not being able toperform simple daily tasks was difficult for her. Just holding her purse puttoo much pressure on her joints. She could not even pick up her new grandson.
“Being younger in age, it was hard for my family tocomprehend what was happening to me,” says King. “I began to walk crooked,which in turn affected my entire body. The most difficult part to deal with wasthe chronic pain. It gets worse and worse. It is all consuming. You getdepressed and can’t work. It never leaves you.”
In 2014, Dr. Dooley performed a unicompartmental (partial)knee replacement on Lori’s right knee. “I felt relief from the chronic pain onthat side right away. I was given a new lease on life!”
Lori said it took her about a year of recovery to get herright knee back to normal. She later received a second partial knee replacementon her left knee. “Dr. Dooley gave me my life back! He is truly a gifted surgeon!”
"Dr. Dooley gave me my life back"
Lori will eventually need to get full replacements in bothof her knees as time progresses. Right now, she is enjoying life to the fullest,spending time with her family and keeping up with her grandchildren. “I havebeen golfing and got into tubing this winter,” says King.
“If I couldshare one thing, it is that we all need to support one another. Living withchronic pain is tough. If you are waiting to get surgery, I would tell you tobe patient and to prepare. Life is waiting for you!”
Many people in the North Okanagan are in the same situationas Lori and they need your help. Vernon Jubilee Hospital has reached surgicalcapacity and our population continues to grow and age. Both of these factorshave increased the demand for surgery.
Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation is raising money to helpalleviate patient wait times and get our loved ones on the road to recoverymuch sooner.
You can help people like Lori. Donate to the Vernon JubileeHospital Foundation’s campaign, OPERATION: Surgical Care for Life and provideVJH surgeons with the equipment needed to perform more surgeries.
Donations can be made online, by phone or mail. www.vjhfoundation.org I 250-558-1362
Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation I 2101 – 32ndStreet I Vernon BC V1T 5L2