StephanieKerkvliet

For the past six years, Stephanie Kerkvliet of Minneola experienced gradually increasing hip pain on her left side. Completing everyday activities became difficult, and she could barely walk without limping.

“I’ve always loved walking and was annoyed when I couldn’t enjoy it as much,” she says. “I never slept well either because the pain was worse at night.”

When the pain became unbearable, Stephanie opted for surgery with Dr. David Lucas, a local orthopedic surgeon. The hip replacement was performed in early December at South Lake Hospital. This marked the first time Stephanie, a native of Wisconsin, received any kind of medical treatment inside a Florida hospital. It turned out to be an excellent decision, especially considering the outstanding pre-operative and postsurgical care she received from the hospital’s staff.

Without question, her four-day hospital stay exceeded her expectations.

“When I woke up in the recovery room, I had an amazing nurse whose knowledge and demeanor was very comforting to me. Also, the physical therapy team was there right away and helped me walk. They were very motivating.”

Stephanie also received much-needed rest. “The bed and chairs inside my hospital room were all very comfortable. It was like the bed and chairs were tailor-made for someone undergoing that type of surgery. The food was also very good, which was surprising since you normally don’t hear great things about hospital food. Everything came together beautifully to culminate in a pleasant hospital experience. I would not hesitate about going back to South Lake Hospital if I need surgery in the future.”

South Lake Hospital

1900 Don Wickham Drive

Clermont, FL 34711

352.394.4071 southlakehospital.com