A Personal Testimonial to Healing Rehabilitation at Southington Care Center

A man who generally doesn’t enjoy wasting time stressing over events over which he has no control, Dick Fortunato does, however, lament, though partly in jest, that he missed several celebrations this summer including his granddaughter’s high school graduation, his own birthday and Father’s Day.

The troubles for this Plantsville resident began in May when he fell over a glass table in a business waiting room. With visible cuts, bruises and painful swelling, his wife drove him to the Emergency Department at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradley Memorial campus for treatment. He had escaped fractures, but with a severe leg wound and multiple subcutaneous hematomas he needed wound care. 

Within a few weeks of treatment at a wound center and home nursing care, the wound seemed to be getting worse.  After consultation with a physician at the Wound Care Center at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, Fortunato learned that he had five types of bacterial infections and would need surgery. 

Having surgery on his birthday – June 17 – wasn’t his idea of celebrating but he took it in stride, hopeful that he would soon be on the road to recovery. Within six days of surgery, 87-year-old Fortunato was admitted to Southington Care Center for short-term rehabilitation with closely monitored nursing care for the healing of the wound.  

His first step literally was learning how to get out of bed, use a walker, and then a cane, all with a wound-vac strapped to his leg. His focus became working diligently at his twice-daily physical and occupational therapy sessions. “I was there 24 days, always counting the days and weeks since the injury until I was home again on July 25^th with continuing daily home nursing visits and weekly visits to the wound center in New Britain where I was discharged on September 21^st.”

Putting his active life on hold was difficult for this community and church volunteer who also pens a blog and newspaper column, “Appleseed,” as well as other articles. “I remember watching holiday celebrations on TV alone in my room on July 4^th, after visitors went home. I felt so down”, he recalled. “I thought, ‘Is this it, Lord?’”

However, his faith -  and lots of prayer - coupled with the encouragement of his wife, Grace, family, Southington Care Center staff, many visitors and even the volunteers - - kept him focused on regaining his strength and normal abilities. 

Physical Therapist, Irene Stankus, provided Dick Fortunato therapy for
strengthenin.g, endurance and  balance twice daily during his rehab stay.
That and nurse supervised wound care were the mainstays of his treatment

Looking back, he was keenly aware of and impressed with the entire staff. “They all seemed to be in sync – in a seamless harmony of care, each one knowing their job and what I needed. And that's what the virtually countless nurses like Cathy and Anna, aides, like Ala and Hannah, the physical therapists, like Irene, Kerri and Gerard, occupational therapist, Amanda, the dietician and dining room staff - all doing anything and everything to be sure you're safe and healing, all energetically supported by the facility management, social workers and the warmth of transporters, like Catherine and Fatima and the volunteers. This team provides a truly healing environment." 

“At Southington Care Center, they are doing their job and more. They have a visibly strong feeling of compassion and understand your pain. They shared their stories and listened to mine,” Fortunato recalled.

“The attention was unbelievable. I wasn’t with strangers – they were like family and friends.”

Fortunato continues now in out-patient physical therapy and looks forward to transitioning into the GoodLife Fitness program at the SCC Rehab Pavilion.

“At Southington Care, I feel like I’m a real person in the community, a neighbor, a friend. There’s a continuum of heartfelt care that is so important in healing,” he concluded.

Fortunato vows not to miss his next big celebration: his and Grace’s 65th anniversary in January.

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