What's the Best Birthday Gift Bill Blair Has Ever Received?
Less than two months after Bill Blair’s 67th birthday, he still looks back on it with an unexpected fondness. The reason: He received joint replacement surgery on his left hip.
“That was probably the best gift I could have gotten,” he says.
As someone who took only five sick days during his 44 years working at Procter & Gamble, the West Chester resident knew something was up when severe hip pain caused him to miss a Christmas Day celebration. “It was just excruciating pain,” he recalls. “I knew I had to get something done.”
A couple weeks later, he scheduled an appointment with Dirk Pruis MD, of the TriHealth Orthopedic and Sports Institute, based on his wife’s experience with Dr. Prius (she had a torn hamstring several years prior), and the glowing recommendation he heard from a friend.
Dr. Pruis' Confidence Eases Anxiety for Hospital First-Timer
Dr. Prius’ certainty and thorough explanation of what to expect before, during and after surgery eased Bill’s fear, which was especially helpful, considering he had never spent any time in the hospital.
“The whole experience of being in a hospital, and having surgery, was somewhat of a daunting experience for me,” he explains. “Just based on Dr. Pruis’ confidence and his explanation of what he was going to do and how he was going to do it, made it very comforting.” Bill also notes how helpful the two-hour pre-op session and joint replacement guidebook were.
Bill went in for surgery on Jan. 28 and spent three days at Bethesda North Hospital. During his stay, he felt thankful for the professionalism and compassion of his care team. “I honestly couldn’t say one person was better than the other. Whoever does the training of the nursing staff and the staff in general has just done an outstanding job,” he gushes.
Getting Back to What He Loves Most
Now, just eight weeks later, he describes himself as “virtually pain-free.” He’s also excited that the dietary modifications and exercise regimen he implemented after surgery have likely caused some residual side effects – for the better. “I’m diabetic, and my blood sugar is better now than it’s probably ever been,” Bill points out.
While he’s not back to 100 percent, Bill is pleased to be getting around without the use of a cane or walking stick. "I feel like I've made exceptional progress. I just can't say enough about the work Dr. Pruis did."
However, what’s he looking forward to the most, post-surgery? “We’ve got a farm up in Pennsylvania and it will be great to get up there and enjoy the countryside . . . and do the kinds of things in nature I enjoy doing, like fishing!”