Resident Stories

Road to Recovery
Dorthy Zuber

May, 2015

Physicians: Daniel Sohn, MD

​Over the course of five months, Dorthy Zuber, a St. Joseph resident, had both her knee and hip replaced by orthopaedic surgeon, Daniel Sohn, MD, Southwest Michigan Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. After each surgery, she turned to Pine Ridge for her physical therapy treatment.

“I had heard about Pine Ridge while they were in the process of building the facility and after it opened everyone was telling me about how it didn’t have the same feel that you often experience in a nursing home setting – it was a very home-like environment,” said Dorthy.

Dorthy spent two weeks at Pine Ridge in March after her knee replacement and another week in August after her hip replacement undergoing physical therapy.

“My experience at Pine Ridge was excellent,” she said. “The therapy I underwent was so much easier because of the compassionate and attentive care I received from all members of the staff – they were right there whenever I needed anything.”

Dorthy said that her time in physical therapy was even more enjoyable because of the relationship she built with Rie Shimada, Therapy Program Director at Pine Ridge.

“I was able to talk to Rie while I was completing my therapy each day which made it easier for me,” said Dorthy. “She gave me tasks that she knew I would be capable of completing – it was a fun road to recovery.”

Since leaving Pine Ridge, Dorthy has made a full recovery – a feat she tributes to the exemplary care she received during her time here. Dorthy said she plans to have her other knee replaced in a few years and would not look anywhere else to complete her physical therapy.