Vincent's Story 

When Vincent fell out of bed, he couldn’t move his arms and legs. A normally active 79-year-old, Vincent was determined to heal and get back to his life as an actor. Vincent is known for his recurring role in HBO’s The Sopranos.

Vincent began his journey of healing at Montefiore New Rochelle before being transported to Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx for care after he was diagnosed with an iliopsoas abscess, an infection in the muscles located in his lower back. Upon discharge, Vincent chose Burke Rehabilitation® for the next step: inpatient therapy.

“I was very familiar with Burke, and it lived up to my expectations. The therapists pushed me. I wanted to go home, so I never gave up,” said Vincent.

When he was admitted, Vincent required moderate assistance to get in and out of bed, and he was only able to walk four side steps at the bedside. He became more independent and when he was discharged home, Vincent was able to walk independently and climb 21 steps, on his own.

Vincent’s three hours of therapy each day were customized to meet his needs and focused on recovering his lower body strength, balance, and coordination. At first, he used a walker to navigate, then a cane, and walked unassisted when he was discharged about two weeks later. Vincent continues his treatment at the Burke Outpatient Physician Practice in White Plains where the focus is on further strengthening function, flexibility, and sustaining a healthy lifestyle.

“He made rapid improvement through a holistic approach of treating the underlying medical condition, along with a focused functional rehabilitation therapy program and supporting his inherent motivation to recover fully,” noted Dr. Haris Choudry, MD, MPH, the Program Director for the Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Residency Program at Burke, who also specializes in Musculoskeletal and Orthopedic Rehabilitation Medicine.

“I haven’t been able to touch my toes in 50 years, and I thank Dr. Choudry for helping me achieve that goal,” said Vincent who recently returned to Burke to visit with his therapists. He credits the multidisciplinary care team for his success saying, “they take a personal interest in all their patients.”

Physical Therapist Karl Arabian PT, DPT, explained the important relationship between patient and therapist. “It is a really special feeling when you are able to implement the skills you learned and developed to improve someone’s quality of life. The patient does all the work; we are there to help facilitate their recovery and get them back to real life.”

Vincent felt most accomplished climbing stairs in the Burke gym since he knew that he would face that challenge at home. He worked with Occupational Therapists Sue Raimondi, MS, OTR/L, and Zach Levine, OTR/L, who helped him return to his daily routine.

Now at home, Vincent is driving, socializing with friends, and looking forward to getting back to work. His advice to other patients is to stay positive and never give up. His team at Burke witnessed that positive attitude firsthand.

“He always participated to the best of his ability, even giving a few extra reps when he could,” noted Ashley Pathyil, DPT. “He truly brought a bright light to the gym, bringing joy and humor to everyone around him.