Daniel's Story

Daniel Dant of Woodbridge, Va., says that after complex spine surgery at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, "I now feel healthy and strong enough to enjoy time with Rio, my 185-pound Mastiff."

After 27 years in the U.S. Air Force, Daniel Dant retired on disability because of back issues, and began a long journey to health that eventually led to Holy Cross Germantown Hospital last December, where he had complex spinal surgery.

By that time, Daniel’s degenerative spinal disc disease was radiating nerve pain down his leg, making it difficult to walk, and his pain was a “steady 8 out of 10” almost all the time. After surgery, according to Daniel, he is now pain free, working out at the gym, and living a normal and active life.

“I tell people who are afraid to have back surgery that it brought me tremendous relief, and I would not change a thing,” says Daniel, 52, who is now vice president for a small engineering firm. “I have tried it all and surgery is what helped me.”

Years ago, Daniel had met David Gwinn, MD, on his search for relief from his back pain. Dr. Gwinn has helped him immensely through management of his condition, and Daniel values the communication and relationship he has with him.

“I have a complicated disease and he knows all the details, my previous surgeries and my history,” says Daniel of Dr. Gwinn. “We have worked together on this for a long time and I trust him.”

Daniel’s decision to have back surgery began last fall. His chronic back pain worsened as the discs at the top of his lumbar spine deteriorated. “It was hampering his quality of life, despite his best efforts, so we decided to proceed with decompressing and stabilizing the affected area,” explains Dr. Gwinn, Orthopedics, Holy Cross Germantown Hospital and Holy Cross Hospital, of the procedure.

Daniel spent only one night at Holy Cross Germantown Hospital after the surgery, and was impressed by the level of expertise he found among the nurses and technicians there. Daniel says, “The nurses knew exactly what questions to ask and how to help me manage my pain.”

Holy Cross Health has rolled out a military cultural competency program for patients like Daniel, who are veterans. Military service patients are identified at registration and care teams work with them to manage their care with attention paid to potential concerns that might stem from their military service experience.

Holy Cross Hospital and Holy Cross Germantown Hospital physicians offer patients an integrated approach to care for back and neck conditions.

“Holy Cross Health is at the fore-front of innovative spine technology and technique,” says Philip Schneider, MD, Orthopedics, medical director of the Holy Cross Hospital Spine Center. “Our expertise in minimally invasive surgery, combined with a full spectrum of continuing care services, non-surgical treatment options and rehabilitation services, is tailored to each individual.”

Daniel is optimistic that his back problems, which have hindered his quality of life since 2003, are in his past, thanks to Holy Cross Health and Dr. Gwinn’s expertise.