“Dr. Gurske and her Physician Assistant Nora have been awesome in taking care of me through my 10 years of foot/ankle troubles. Dr. Gurske knew exactly what was needed and confidently performed it flawlessly. They are super efficient, and have a wonderful bedside manner. I couldn’t ask for a better team to care for my needs.”
Now 46 years old, Aurora Harrison is married with a bullmastiff named Hondo. She has strong faith, is a people person and loves to do floral arrangements. Maintaining an active lifestyle is important to her.
Due to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder, Harrison had to deal with a resulting foot deformity that led to multiple sprains over the years. She sought care from Jennifer Gurske-dePerio, MD, who ultimately recommended and performed foot reconstruction surgery to correct a high arch deformity. This led Harrison down the path to recovery.
Here, Harrison reflects on her journey from before and after the surgery, and shares her experience in hopes that it might offer insight to other people who are dealing with similar foot or ankle issues:
How did your condition/injury occur and in what year?
2010 Charcot-Marie-Tooth deformity led to multiple sprains, which Dr. Gurske corrected with reconstruction.
What made you seek UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine for treatment?
Dr. Gurske used to work at my physical therapy clinic at Catholic Health, then moved on to be an MD. Word of mouth brought me to her.
What was the diagnosis and recommended treatment?
Reconstruction of my foot due to high arch deformity.
Can you tell us about the trust you built with your physician and the care you received?
Dr. Gurske and her Physician Assistant Nora Costanzo, PA-C, have been awesome in taking care of me through my 10 years of foot/ankle troubles. Dr. Gurske knew exactly what was needed and confidently performed it flawlessly.
I am thankful to them for fixing my injury and removing my hardware. They are super efficient, and have a wonderful bedside manner. I couldn’t ask for a better team to care for my needs. I refer people to Dr. Gurske all the time because of my experience.
The whole team of support staff also deserves to be acknowledged. They have been instrumental in helping me with scheduling, paperwork and communication.
What was the best part of your experience with UBMD Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine?
The whole operation is great! It is efficient, from the front-end staff support, to the portal and so much more.
How long after treatment/surgery did it take for you to return to your previous lifestyle/activities?
About one year.
What are you doing now to actively prevent a recurring injury?
Not wearing heels and being more conservative with my foot wear.
What does feeling better mean to you and your life?
My recovery has allowed me to maintain a quality of life that allows me to do what I like, within modest limitations.
What advice do you have for those dealing with a similar injury?
Focus on your recovery, not so much the pain and rehab. It takes time to heal. It is worth it, though, to have stability with balance while walking and standing. It is also important to maintain an active lifestyle. Be healthy and positive.