Taking to the Trails

Profile of Jerry Esposito

From InsideRHCI, Summer 2007

It was about eight years ago that Jerry Esposito reconciled himself to living with pain.   

Adventures from his self-described "reckless youth," - skydiving, jogging, skiing, plus a few "extra pounds" -- had finally caught up with his knees.  "I'd accepted I'd have to live with the deformity of bowed legs and pain for the rest of my life," he recalls.

After spending 35 years in retailing, first with Sears and then with Chrisitmas Tree Shops, Jerry made a career change.  "I could hardly walk through a store - or an airport, or down the street - without tremendous pain."  He became a realtor, only to realize his knees were once again an issue. 

His constant pain was limiting the rest of his life, too.  As Assistant Scout Master for his son's Boy Scout troop, Jerry could barely keep up on the hikes.  "I was only 53, but I limped the whole way," he says.

Having already exhausted other treatments that had allowed him to put off surgery, Jerry made the difficult decision to have both knees replaced. 

"Never in my earlier years did I think I'd need joint replacement surgery at such a young age - or need to relearn something as basic as walking," says the Sandwich resident.

Hiking with new knees and without pain: Jerry enjoys the trails with his wife, Karen, and son, Andrew.

Jerry did his research, selected a surgeon and planned ahead for rehabilitation.  "I spoke with several Cape residents who'd had bilateral knee replacements.  Without exception, they said RHCI was a critical element of their recovery."

Five days after surgery at New England Baptist Hospital, Jerry began rehabilitation at RHCI.  From the beginning, he says, "I had a feeling of confidence that I would be okay and that the RHCI staff really did care about me."

Jerry's rehabilitation team developed a treatment plan that focused on managing post-surgical pain and getting him back on his feet.  Today, having double joint replacement surgery is becoming more common.  The advantage is that the patient's life is disrupted only once.  The rehabilitation is a little more challenging, but at RHCI we have the people, equipment and processes in place to help each patient get the maximum benefit from the surgery.

'I'm so fortunate I came to RHCI.  The staff helped me struggle through the most basic of needs and maintain my dignity when I could barely stand up.  Man, that was humbling," says Jerry.

After a week, Jerry returned home and shortly began the next phase of his recovery with Dan Biagini, PT, Darren Leveille, PTA and Mike Moniz, PTA.  "The outpatient team - I call them 'the finishers,' to use a baseball term - they got me off crutches and provided the motivation and optimism to complete the healing process," says Jerry.

These days you are likely to find Jerry touring clients through homes across the Cape or hiking with his son.  Jerry describes a two-mile hike a few months after finishing rehabilitation.  "Five minutes into the walk, I had a big smile on my face.  My wife said 'You look pretty happy.'  I told her it's like having a new sports car with a full tank of gas."

In September, 2007, Jerry used his new knees to help raise funds for RHCI.  He served as a team captain in RHCI's Annual 3-mile BoardWALK fund-raising walk. 

"I'm looking forward to doing my part to support RHCI," he says.  "It's a great gift I got back.  To come out of this with new knees, no pain and straight legs - I feel I've been given back eight years.  Plus it's put 1 ½ inches back on my height!" 

Bilateral Joint Replacement Program

Advance Bed Reservation Program
BoardWALK annual 3-mile walk