Submitted by Carol McMunn of Medford, New Jersey

I had an amazing experience on July 20-21, 2010, when I had back surgery at Cooper University Hospital.

From the first step in the door at pre-op to when I walked out the door a day later, I came into  contact with an amazing team of people who did all they could do to make me comfortable and kept me calm. My surgeon, Dr. David Clements, had me totally prepared for the surgery and had gone over the entire process before I arrived.

Once there, it was a village of people who crossed my path the 26 hours I was at the hospital. I can’t begin to name all the names, but I can say that the acts of kindness were amazing to my husband and myself. Even the nurse who put an IV line in my arm did the best job I’ve ever had done.

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His face was split in two, his back was broken, his arm was shattered.

Just months following a severe car accident, Gordon and his family share his remarkable story of recovery and the care he received from the Cooper Trauma team last year. Through spine surgery, facial reconstruction, and physical and emotional perseverance, Gordon is getting his life back.

This is his story:

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An icy day in February brought 16-year-old Nicole’s life to a screeching halt as the car she was in spun out of control and slammed into a tree. When she arrived at the Level 1 Trauma Center at Cooper, she was suffering from several life-threatening injuries and had 32 fractures throughout her body.

With her family and friends supporting her milestones toward recovery, Nicole attended her first prom this month and is getting back to being a teenager.

She shares her story about how the Cooper Trauma team saved her life.

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When Erin was three, she was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Pain was an every day occurrence, but it never got the best of her spirit.

Last year, something changed. Her ability to do almost anything created extreme pain to the point that leaving the house became just too much for her. Her rheumatologist told her it was time to consider joint replacement.

Now, almost a year after having both knees and both hips replaced by Eric L. Hume, M.D., Erin is walking, traveling to see family again, and most of all, smiling. This is the story of her journey back to her smile.

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Shoulder replacement surgery was a difficult decision for Betty. She worried if it was “worth it” to undergo the procedure at her age. Now, several months following her surgery, Betty can’t believe she waited so long.

“I’m able to do the simple things, like reach for a cup or brush my hair without pain,” she said, when describing how shoulder replacement surgery has improved her quality of life during a recent interview.

Under the care of shoulder replacement expert, Lawrence S. Miller, M.D., Betty is getting back into the swing of things. She lives independently and is back to enjoying time with her children and grandchildren without having shoulder pain.

This is her story.

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