The Importance of Seeking Multiple Opinions A Retired Nurse’s Assistant and Grandmother Regains Her Ability to Walk and Independence
Julia Gonzalez leads a rich and busy life. After immigrating to New York from Cuba in 1965, Julia trained as a CNA nurse a role that provides patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) and worked at Sun Harbor Manor, Glen Cove Center for Nursing and Rehab for many years. Her two daughters Kelly (in New York) and Darlene (in California) remained incredibly close with Julia frequently taking flights out to visit her daughter and grandchildren on the West Coast.
However back in 2014, Julia was experiencing leg numbness her family took her to the Tri-City Medical Center ER where it was determined she was suffering from spinal stenosis and received a thoracic laminectomy, a surgical procedure performed on the thoracic spine to relieve pressure on the spinal cord or nerves. While the surgery helped and Julia was able to walk again, she never regained her prior level of mobility.
Over those years, Julia describes her health, “I could take walks every day using my cane. I did suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, osteoporosis and arthritis.”
Fast-forward to January 2025, once again while visiting her daughter in California, Julia lost the feeling in her legs and returned to Tri-City Medical Center. However this time after many tests, the team was unable to give a diagnosis. Once it was deemed safe for Julia to fly, her daughter Kelly decided it would be best to bring Julia home to NY so she could be seen by her GP who had managed Julia’s other health issues over the years including a stroke.
Ath this time, Julia’s condition was much more severe, she had difficulty brushing her teeth. With the worst foot drop level she’d had, Julia would drag her leg and be unable to lift it herself. Her PCP Dr. Gina Greco at Catholic Health Services arranged Julia’s admittance to St. Francis Hospital for an MRI and CT scan revealing that Julia was suffering from severe spinal cord compression. The team offered a spinal fusion, but they could not guarantee what the ultimate outcome would be. Julia’s son Marc Anthony helped seek a second opinion from South Shore University Hospital’s spine team who offered a cervical fusion but had concerns that Julia may not survive.
Now Julia was severely limited to a roller chair. Kelly provided 24/7 care at home and Julia’s grandson Marc Anthony would carry her up and down the stairs. In the instances when Julia needed to leave the house, the FDNY was called several times.
Through this ordeal, Archie (Julia’s daughter’s dog) would not leave her side. “We’d call him ‘Mom’s Security,” Kelly recalls, “because he would even stay by her side in the bathroom and sit right next to the toilet. Animals can always tell when something is not right with their owner.”
At this point, Kelly, Julia’s daughter’s boyfriend John said, “What about New York-Presbyterian, we see their commercials all the time to stay amazing. Let’s talk to them.” Kelly did some research on NYP-Och spine and made a call to Dr. Dean Chou’s office who requested to review the imaging.
Dr. Chou was able to review the images and followed up with a Zoom call. Dr. Chou says, “During the visit, the imaging showed that her main problem as severe spinal cord compression in 2 areas. Since either or both could have been causing her symptoms, it would important to take the pressure off both areas.”
Julia and Kelly were impressed at Dr. Chou’s calm and professional manner and the systemic way he went through everything they would expect from the surgery. After that call, they were convinced that they’d finally found the right person who could help Julia regain her mobility and independence. Kelly says, “For pre-op, my mom was not mobile. So Dr. Chou’s team decided to do everything all at once which made it so much easier on us. After two days in the hospital for presurgical testing and preparation, Julia was transferred to the Och Spine hospital.
On February 11, 2025, Julia’s case was executed in two surgeries in one setting. The first was a cervical laminoplasty and the second was a thoracic laminectomy. Says Dr. Chou, “Both of these surgeries facilitated alleviated the pressure off the spinal cord in two separate areas.”
Kelly was so appreciative of the staff, who even texted her in real time to let her know how her mom was doing. Julia spent about a week in the hospital where and was able to walk on her second day post-surgery. Kelly recalls, “I still tear up when I think of my mom regaining her ability to walk. It was absolutely incredible. The hospital was beautiful, we felt like we were in a hotel.” Julia later went to rehab at Glengariff Rehab in Glen Cove, so she was able to recover closer to home.
Now that she’s about three months post-surgery, Julia says, “I feel so good, I can take a shower with my shower chair, use the bathroom, and make my own tuna sandwich for lunch. Sometimes I do have a little bit of pain, but it is nothing like what I was experiencing which took my ability to walk.” As to what Julia wants patients to know, “It’s important to always take care of yourself and listen to your body. But don’t be afraid to get other opinions, if the first doctor says there is nothing they can do, you go to Dr. Dean Chou.”
