Jeanette and Fred's Story
A year ago, Jeanette underwent lumbar fusion back surgery at an acute care hospital. Following her procedure, the Rockland County resident chose Burke Rehabilitation® to continue her rehabilitation journey.
When Jeanette arrived at the White Plains campus, she was unable to walk. Yet, she remained determined. “I didn’t miss one therapy session,” she recalled. “They gave me back my strength and confidence. I’m a strong woman, but it felt like starting all over again – and the team was so sympathetic and empathetic.”
Reflecting on her time at Burke, Jeanette is filled with gratitude. After experiencing complications when returning home, she returned to Burke two more times for further treatment. The 63-year-old was supported by a multidisciplinary care team that included physicians, physical and occupational therapists.
Jeanette is now slowly getting back to her daily routine. “I’m going up and down stairs, several times a day,” she said. “I’m cooking in the kitchen, moving from the stove to the refrigerator to the sink and doing everything I need to do.”
Jeanette’s husband, Fred, was also a previous patient at Burke, spending two weeks at the inpatient rehabilitation hospital in 2023 to recover from surgery after tearing the tendons connecting his quadricep muscles to both of his kneecaps.
The family’s connection to Burke runs deep. Fred’s mother was a nurse at Burke in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, and he spent a lot of time at the campus. 
“The reputation was great,” said Fred. “The experience was as I expected. Burke is the best of what we have in the Northeast.”
Family involvement played a crucial role in Jeanette’s recovery. Dr. Kathryn Siao, Jeanette’s Burke physician, noted that she had a strong support system and was highly motivated.
The couple’s relatives traveled daily from Rockland County to visit Jeanette in White Plains, and Jeanette said the lines of communication were always open with the Burke team. “They were wonderful, everybody was just amazing. They kept my family informed every step of the way,” remarked Jeanette.
