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Surgery is a mother's unlikely holiday blessing

Staff photo by Apryl Pilolli Rhonda Johnson and her 8-year-old son, Austin, are shown Wednesday, Dec. 23, in the living room of their Oregonia home.

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By Rick McCrabb, Columnist 5:49 PM Thursday, December 24, 2009

MIDDLETOWN — Rhonda Johnson found her perfect Christmas gift at the most unlikely of places.

The 41-year-old Oregonia mother — in excruciating pain for months and frustrated that her doctor thought the problem was in her mind, not her body — sought another opinion at Atrium Medical Center.

There, she said, she found compassionate medical personnel who diagnosed her fractured hip, and Dr. Robert Roman, who performed the surgery on Dec. 3.

She was hospitalized for five days, and will use a cane for two more weeks until the hip heals.

But she has her life back.

Johnson called the surgery, and the freedom it gave her, “the best Christmas present ever.”

Johnson’s husband, Tim, remembers his wife falling out of bed. They believe that’s when she injured her hip.

She visited her family doctor, and after some tests came back negative, he told her: “It’s all in your head. You need to see a psychologist.”

That caused Johnson to question herself.

“I wasn’t sure if there actually was pain,” she said. “Nobody could find the problem.”

Until she went to Atrium.

“I loved being in there because of the care they gave. You could tell the way they carried themselves they cared. It makes me want to cry because nobody cared for me like this. No one.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2842 or rmccrabb@coxohio.com.

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please....is this an advertisment for Atrium or a news article. looks like advertising to me. Good thing the Journal is giving Atrium some free advertising time, I'm sure the PR department is thrilled with the cost savings!

me
1:59 PM, 12/26/2009

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Everytime I drive through Middletown, I pray I get through it safe and never have to go to that hospital. I'm glad Mrs. Johnson had luck but, as they say, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

CAT
12:57 PM, 12/25/2009

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rhonda..I know how you feel..after rotator cuff surgery I had months of pain..the doctor kept saying have patience and wanted to give me more pain meds..long store short changed doctors found something in my shoulder left from last surgery..tip of surgical tool...17 months of pain. all because a doctor did'nt take the time to look into it further.its all about the $$$$.. I'n finally healing and doing great..Merry Christmas!

Thankful
8:08 AM, 12/25/2009

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I refused to have my child at the Atrium after hearing the horror stories and now that my grandma is hospitalized there I can see why everyone has such negative things to say about it. However, I am glad that you got treated so well Rhonda! Hopefully they get their act together for more patients!

Boo
11:11 PM, 12/24/2009

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It is a Christmas miracle ......anything positive coming from the Atrium qualifies as a MIRACLE.....

'boro kid
10:29 PM, 12/24/2009

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