Some doctors will do anything for their patients
Because orthopaedic surgeon Gerald Hayken, MD, postponed his own vacation to perform her surgery, Olga Cramer could dance at her daughter's wedding with her grandson, Joshua, just weeks after total hip replacement at Virtua.
Olga Cramer was anxiously awaiting her daughter's wedding. She had the perfect dress, the perfect shoes and the perfect purse. But, what she didn't have was the perfect hip. In fact, Cramer learned that she needed minimally invasive surgery just seven weeks before her daughter's wedding. Her doctor, Virtua Health orthopaedic surgeon Gerald Hayken, MD, knew that the sooner she had surgery, the sooner she would be back on her feet.
"Timing was everything," says Dr. Hayken. "If she was going to fly to Canada for the wedding and dance at the reception, she had to have surgery soon so she could begin the recovery process."
Cramer was scheduled for minimally invasive hip replacement surgery at Virtua Memorial, which is certified by the Joint Commission for total joint replacement. Little did she know there would be a detour along the way.
A promise to keep
Cramer was also under the care of a cardiologist and, before she could go into surgery, she needed the "okay" from him.When the paperwork she needed didn't arrive on time, her hip surgery was canceled.
"I was devastated," she says. "My hopes to dance at my daughter's wedding reception were fading fast." Heartbroken, Cramer called Dr. Hayken, who promised to get her back on track. What Dr. Hayken didn't know was that the earliest appointment available was the same day he was supposed to begin his vacation.
But Dr. Hayken was determined to help her achieve her dream. He changed his flight and delayed his plans so he could personally perform the procedure and allow her enough time to recover before her daughter's big day.
"Dr. Hayken told me he was postponing his own vacation for my surgery, and I felt so lucky to have a surgeon who really cared about me," says Cramer.
Hard work pays off
Cramer's minimally invasive hip replacement went smoothly, and after packing a lot of hard work into a very brief stay at Virtua's Rehabilitation Center at Mount Holly, she was able to dance at her daughter's wedding. In less than six weeks, Cramer went from having a bad hip to having a new life.
"The great thing about minimally invasive joint replacement," says Dr. Hayken, "is that it requires a shorter recovery time than traditional joint replacement surgery. Olga was back on her feet in no time."
PHYSICIAN PROFILE
Gerald Hayken, MD, earned his medical degree from Temple University Medical School. He completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hayken is board certified in orthopaedic surgery and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He has written for The American Journal of Sports Medicine, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery and Orthopedic Review.