About Me

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In 2012, I had 2 operations back-to-back. It was an excruciating and grueling recovery. I was doing well until about 8wks post-op when I broke my back (T12 transverse process) in therapy. I spent another 10 days in the hospital and a month in an acute rehab facility. I was in a clamshell brace for over 8 months with no improvement. I underwent surgery #5 on 11/20/12 and required a 6th surgery on 11/24 due to serious complications. After spending another month in the hospital, I finally came home on 12/21/12. Recovery has been difficult and challenges seem to pop up whenever they get the chance. My most pronounced challenge are these terrible positional headaches that started in early 2013. I had a prior CSF leak in Nov 2012 however both the neurosurgeon and ortho surgeon believe it's occurring all over again as my brain MRI shows "clear & obvious indications of a CSF leak." I had at least 1/2 dozen consults with various specialists to determine what would be the best course of treatment and since bed rest hasn't worked, surgery is the only option left. Surgery #7 is full of unknowns regarding length of surgery, stay and recovery.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Cooper University Hospital

Many of you have asked if you can visit me while in the hospital...and my answer is a resounding YES.  My only words of caution would be:

Cooper University Hospital
1 Cooper Plaza
Camden, NJ 08103
(856)-342-2000
  • Given it's inner-city location, travel in PAIRS and in DAYLIGHT whenever possible.  Having driven there twice, it is pretty direct and very well marked but it never hurts to travel in pairs.
  • Ask to have your parking validated if possible - given my length of stay, I am trying to get the doctor/hospital to work with me on reducing (or eliminating) parking fees for my visitors.
  • Check visiting hours: I will be in ICU for 24-36 hours after each surgery and then into a private room in the new wing of the hospital.  Just be sure to check visiting hours.
  • If you're ok with me being semi-lucid, feel free to come on over!  I can't guarantee an enlightening conversation but it will be nice to have company regardless, that's for sure.
  • Please call my home for details on my condition - there will be periodic emails sent out but if you want more specific details, just call...my husband and/or parents will be happy to update you.
Here is the hospital website for further information:  http://www.cooperhealth.org/locations/camden-one-cooper-plaza

                
Patient Guide - Visitor Hours
Visits are an important part of your treatment. However, to make sure that you receive the rest and care you need, visitors are asked to observe the following visiting guidelines.
  • All visitors should obtain visitor passes from the information desk in the main lobby. These passes are to be returned to the desk when the visitors leave the hospital.
  • All visitors are expected to respect established visiting hours of each unit.
  • We suggest that visitors who have a contagious disease, including a common cold, postpone visiting until they are well.
  • Cooper is a smoke-free hospital. That means smoking is not permitted anywhere in our hospital buildings and offices.
  • Due to space limitations, we ask that families limit the number of guests present at bedside to two at a time.

Patient Visiting Hours

General Visiting HoursWe know how important it is to you to visit someone you love who is hospitalized. Therefore, we provide extensive general visiting hours for your convenience.
  • Pavilion 6/7, Kelemen South 8, North 8 (PCU/CICU), North 9, North 10 and South 10:   9am-11pm
  • Post-Anesthesia Care Unit - There may be a delay from the time the surgeon speaks to family and when the patient actually arrives in the PACU. A PACU nurse will notify the family when the patient arrives in the PACU. There is limited visiting in the recovery room. Visitation of critically-ill patients’ will be evaluated according to the patient’s condition. Parents or legal guardians of patients under the age of 18 will be permitted to see the patient.
Special Visiting HoursIn the best interest of our patients, some units require the following special visiting hours:
  • Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) - 11am-12:30pm / 3-5pm / 8:30-9:30pm

  • Parking garage
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1 comment:

  1. AnonymousMay 15, 2012 at 10:53 AM

    Hi JerseyOT,

    I'm sorry to here about all of your scoliosis complications, but I love how your inner strength comes through on the blog. It's quite inspiring.

    Unfortunately, long-term scoliosis surgery stories are all too common anymore.

    I'm not sure if you are aware of the recent scientific developments and breakthroughs that have or are recently occurring in the field of scoliosis treatment. Prognostic testing/technology in the way of genetic testing and blood tests are now able to determine which early stage scoliosis patients are most likely to experience severe curve progression. This presents a new and unique opportunity for early stage scoliosis intervention rehab programs to reduce and eliminate many of the "at risk" smaller curve cases before they progress to much more complex and difficult large curvature cases. It’s actually quite revolutionary and amazing.

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