Patient Heals to Play Again

On an icy day last winter, Miami University graduate student Ying Tao fell and fractured her right arm. While the use of an arm is important to everyone, the use of Ying’s her arms is also critical to her studies as she is working toward a graduate degree in piano.

Originally from China, Ying was not familiar with how the health care system in the United States works. She was able to call 911 and was taken to McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital.

“It was so painful, I was worried I would never play piano again,” said Ying.

Bryan McCullough, DO with the TriHealth Orthopedic andSports Institute provided medical care to Ying. He had her wear a rigid Sarmiento Brace which immobilizes the arm for four weeks. After those four weeks, she continued to wear the brace while out and about.

Ying’s road to recovery was filled with hours of physical therapy. She began with range of motion exercises as she was not allowed to hold any weight with the arm. Ying gradually got better before being free of any restrictions.

On December 1, 2017, a fully healed Ying was excited to perform a recital on the piano at McCullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital to thank the hospital for helping her recover.

“The care here was very good,” said Ying. “Sometimes I have a hard time with my English, but everyone was very nice and explained everything to me.”

Ying will graduate next week and she plans to return to China to teach piano to college students there.