New body part, same PATH to recovery for Pat Gerber

So far, 2021 hasn’t necessarily been one for the books for many in our community—but that’s been especially true for Patricia “Pat” Gerber.

“I decided to fall apart in 2021,” said Pat. “In February I had back surgery and three pins and a rod put in … then I had a knee replacement on the 17th of August.”

For rehabilitation on her back, Pat turned to the Post-Acute to Home® (PATH) program at Manor of the Plains because of the experience her mom, Delores Donnelly, had with the program following her own surgery several years ago—an experience so good that Delores ultimately decided to move into the community permanently.

Then when it came to rehab for her knee, Pat’s decision was even easier.

“I knew I wanted to come back to Manor of the Plains because I worked so well with the therapist the last time I was here,” said Pat.  

And she wasn’t disappointed.

“I couldn’t have asked for better treatment and the therapy was wonderful,” said Pat. “They don’t push you, but yet they do. If you say, ‘I can’t do that’ they try to talk you into it and then are a little sneaky, so you’re doing it before you know it. They’re very nice, and they obviously know what they’re doing.”

With a rebuilt back and a new knee—along with a new hip she got in 2019—Pat is feeling rejuvenated and hopeful that she is done with surgery for a while.

“I basically have a new body on the right side,” said Pat.

While she is happy to almost have rehab behind her, Pat will miss the staff involved in the PATH® program and the opportunity it gave her to spend some special one-on-one time with her mom.

‍