Carolyn Dombeck

My life was always an active one centered around my husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I keep busy both in and out of the house attending classes and walking. I am on my feet from early morning until evening.

Four or five years ago, in my late sixties, I started having pain, which increased and made sleeping, walking and getting up from a seated position very painful. It worsened until crossing the street became a very slow and painful event!

Physical therapy did not help. I hadn't had a night's sleep in 2 years. It was very depressing.

It seemed I had all the symptoms necessary for a hip replacement. I live overseas for much of the year so i needed to make some important decisions. I had put off the inevitable too long. I wanted the top hospital with the lowest infection rate. I wanted the anterior approach, which would give me a faster recovery and fewer restrictions. I had no trouble deciding that HSS was my best option. I called and made an appointment with no difficulty. Everything was arranged: the x-ray, appointment with Dr. Alexiades, who verified I was a candidate for hip replacement.

There was a cancellation so I was able to schedule the operation within two months. All the pre-op testing and medical clearance by Dr. MacKenzie at HSS with efficiency and with warmth. My husband, a retired physician was very impressed. The operation itself and my stay and care at the hospital was better than I could have imagined. I have often referred to HSS as a "dream hospital."

My neighbor in his mid- fifties was so impressed with my recovery that all he promptly booked an appointment with Dr. Alexiades and was extremely grateful to me. A couple of months later, he also was back to his very active life.

I am so grateful to be able to sleep, walk, and best of all, dance at the weddings of my grandchildren without pain or discomfort!

My experience with HSS was better then I could ever have imagined.