Grateful for hip replacement surgery and care from Dr. Dwyer and team
Dear Mr. Lauf,
I am writing to you to express my gratitude for the care I was provided before, during and after my total hip replacement surgery on April 8, 2025, at Cape Cod Hospital. My surgeon, Dr. Dwyer, and his team were amazing. Dr. Dwyer is an extremely compassionate and competent surgeon.
I have to admit, I was very skeptical and concerned about having surgery on Cape Cod. My husband and I only recently moved here from Brookline and were used to the top-notch care available in the Boston area. However, a friend at my local yoga studio had recently undergone hip-replacement surgery with Dr. Dwyer and highly recommended him.
Dr. Dwyer restored my confidence and put me at ease about making my decision to go ahead with the surgery. He and his team, from the beginning and through today, were always responsive to my needs and my questions. Dr. Dwyer did an excellent job with my hip-replacement surgery, and I am happy to report that I am healing nicely! I could not be more pleased with the care I received.
I would also like to share how wonderful my anesthesiologist, Dr. Michael Raher, was—not only did I come through my surgery feeling well, but I also experienced no nausea or vomiting, which I usually do after receiving anesthesia. Dr. Raher assured me that those problems would not occur. All of this, while he was talking to me with kindness and smiles. Sure enough, I had no side effects!
I would definitely recommend Dr. Dwyer to anyone who can use his help.
Best regards,
Galina Friedman
South Yarmouth
Exceptional emergency care at Cape Cod Hospital
Dear Mr. Lauf,
On the early morning of May 30, I was transported to the ER at CCH where I was treated for internal bleeding. I was transferred to the OR and underwent a coloscopy to repair the bleeding and then spent the night in the hospital in Mugar 314.
I wanted you to know how grateful my wife and I are for the treatment we received from the team at your hospital. The ER team was especially helpful, particularly when my BP/Pulse dropped significantly. The nursing team (especially Megan), was extremely kind, caring and respectful of me and the situation I was in. The OR team was also very personable and professional in my preparation for surgery, during the medical procedure and my recovery.
The staff on Mugar 3 were also very supportive, helpful and caring. Kelly was professional and compassionate as demonstrated by her resolve during my very challenging and embarrassing moments while in Mugar 314. I was very impressed by how every one of the team members knew my situation when they entered the room, and all were very helpful during my stay and my discharge.
All this to say that my treatment and care that I received at Cape Cod Hospital is greatly appreciated and highly valued.
Richard
South Yarmouth
Dr. Kramer and the CCH team: Going above and beyond for patients and families
Dear Cape Cod Hospital,
On July 2, my son had a surgical procedure. I want to inform you that Dr. Andrew Kramer, the surgical nurses, the recovery room nurse and the receptionist welcomed me and my son with excellent and compassionate care. In furtherance of his exceptional care, Dr. Kramer called my son several hours after surgery inquiring about my son’s condition and visited him the following day at the hotel. I am indeed impressed.
My impression of your hospital staff was not only restricted to the surgical team caring for my son, but also to staff not involved in my son’s care. Specifically, I witnessed the compassionate care of nurse Pamela Miles, a surgical nurse. After my son entered the holding area, I exited the surgical check-in area. As I was walking down the long hallway, I noticed RN Miles enjoying a break. She then noticed an elderly lady walking toward the surgical check-in area. Immediately, without hesitation, she approached her, offered her a wheelchair and transported her to her destination. RN Miles’ action deserved recognition.
I know, as a member of the healthcare professions, complaints outnumber worthy recognition. Please share this letter with Dr. Kramer, the surgical nurses and RN Miles.
Sincerely,
Ken Jin, MD, JD, MS, FCAS
Hamburg, N.Y.
‘They Run a Tight Ship’: Remembering My Father’s Care at Heritage
My father, Eugene Fachon, was a resident of Heritage at Falmouth for the past six months. After numerous setbacks and declines, dad passed away two weeks ago. For the first few months at Heritage, he was very determined to get back home, back to living on his own. Still, he would grudgingly admit that “if you have to be in a place like this, Heritage is probably as good as it gets.”
Our family was always impressed at the level of care dad received at Heritage. Their communication with me was always solid, and everyone there was friendly and helpful.
As a Harvard MBA and a factory manager for his entire career, dad tended to view almost everything in life through the lens of management. On numerous occasions, he said to me, “They run a tight ship here.” Coming from him, that was high praise indeed.
On behalf of the Fachon family, I’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone at Heritage.
Regards,
Eric Fachon
Kudos to Cash and Susan for exceptional care at Falmouth ER
Dear Mr. Hunt,
I have no complaints, just kudos for two Falmouth Hospital ER workers who were working around noon on July 24. I take an elderly lady to her appointments because she is unable to do so. When I took her to her urology appointment, she wasn’t acting right. She told me she fell the day before and didn’t do anything about it. After leaving the appointment, I took her to the ER, which was very busy. There was a lovely, kind woman named Susan in the ER lobby who helped me get a wheelchair for my friend. She had a smile on her face the entire time with everyone. She wasn’t a nurse, but she was an angel. She was kind and understanding and never lost her cool with a full ER. This is the kind of employee you want on a daily basis. My friend’s nurse, Cash, was phenomenal. It was a win-win day at the Falmouth ER.
Cash and Susan should be rewarded for their excellent care and the love of their jobs. I wish all hospital workers were like Susan and Cash. Hats off to them and to you as their leader. Keep up the good work.
Donna
East Falmouth
Falmouth ER nurses made a birthday truly special
I just wanted to leave feedback about the ER Nurses at Falmouth Hospital who were working around 2 a.m. on June 29. My sister has been fighting Stage 4 ovarian cancer for two years now and she was admitted this morning. Today is her birthday and the majority of her family, myself included, live out of state. Her husband is with her, but we were all devastated that she would have to spend her birthday in the hospital.
Before she was moved out of the ER, the nurses came in with a happy birthday banner, balloons, cake and a birthday hat they had made especially for her. It was such an unexpected and touching gesture. I just wanted to say thank you so much to those nurses for taking care of my sister when we couldn’t be there with her and for making her birthday in the hospital special. It brought her some joy during a turbulent and frightening time for her. It really means more than words could ever express.
Anonymous
A smooth recovery thanks to Noel Simmons
Dear Ann-Marie Peckham,
I wanted to personally write to you to express my sincere appreciation for the care provided to me during my recuperation period by Noel Simmons. I recently had my left knee replaced and I am enjoying a very quick and uneventful recovery from that procedure. I attribute my positive recovery experience, in great part, to the care provided to me by Noel.
Noel not only provided me with great care, but was also very helpful to my wife, Denise, in helping her understand what, as a caregiver, she had to do. Everything has worked out great and Noel has been a big part of why that is.
Sincerely,
Frances McDonough
North Falmouth
A family’s gratitude to JML for exceptional care
Dear Ms. Pino,
After eight trips to various rehabilitation centers in the Falmouth area, my wife Dolores Howard was fortunate enough to get into JML for her most recent rehab care needs.
Her care at JML has been nothing short of superb. You have an outstanding staff and facility and helped restore her to reasonable health with kindness and compassion. From the women in reception to the people who served the food and cleaned up, the aides, nurses, OT, PT and the case managers, everybody was a credit to your facility.
We will always be grateful for the time she spent there, but it’s time to move onto Heritage at Falmouth. We truly appreciated JML Care Center's kind, considerate, professional treatment, and wish to thank you.
Most sincerely,
The Howard Family
A shout-out to VNA for going above and beyond
Dear VNA of Cape Cod,
Thank you so much for the quick response to my need for assistance after foot surgery. Your team was reliable, friendly and so helpful! I don’t know how I would have gotten through the month of April without them. A special shout-out to PT Karlee, who regularly went above and beyond!
Yvonne DeSousa
Harwich
Angels on Earth: Gratitude for VNA team
I don’t know how to express the love I have for Cheryl and Jackie, and the rest of the VNA team that kept Fred Huss alive and happy for over a year.
They become friends and confidants. Fred and I looked forward to their visits and care. The team kept Fred as healthy as he could be with specialized care. I am so grateful, his family is so grateful for this last year. Angels on Earth!
Brenda Huss and family
Oak Bluffs
Heartfelt thanks to Nicole Pietras, DPT
Dear Ms. Peckham,
I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for one of your physical therapists. I recently had a total knee replacement and Nicole Pietras, DPT, was assigned to me. Nicole was warm and caring while maintaining professionalism. She was ever so encouraging and yet not forceful. If an exercise was too awkward or uncomfortable, she had another exercise at her fingertips to accomplish the same goal. Her knowledge base seemed incredible. She was very flexible and never rigid. Instead of dreading PT sessions, I found myself looking forward to them!
This is my seventh encounter with physical therapy for various reasons in my 76 years. I was also a practicing RN for 44 years, 39 at Rhode Island Hospital and five years with the VNA. Nicole is by far the best physical therapist I have ever met! Congratulations and thank you for having such a wonderful employee.
Sincerely yours,
Carol Queenan
East Sandwich
On the road to recovery with help from the VNA
Dear Ann-Marie,
I am writing to give special thanks to the members of Hyannis VNA. The work you all do at the VNA is both important and challenging. And it is important to me that I take the time to write this letter expressing my gratitude to all the members for the VNA, and a very special thank you to Dr. Favad Akhtar [physical therapist].
Over this last year, I underwent three major reconstructive surgeries—two orthopedic and one lumbar neurosurgery. All went well and I am on the road to a full recovery. And part of this process for me is to take this time to thank the people who have helped me.
I am very happy with everyone I had experiences with at the VNA. Whether it was a single call on the phone, a text or those coming into my house for services, the process was very easy and the people were all so pleasurable and professional. I appreciate and am thankful for everyone I had contact with. And I want to extend a very special thanks for Dr. Favad Akhtar. He was with me for all three of my surgeries and he was there to get me from the bed and back onto my feet again.
After my first surgery, I was lucky to have him assigned to my case. I did not know him before the surgery, but I felt as if I knew him after working with him. He made therapy a positive and motivating experience. So much so that going into my second surgery, I actually requested and received him again. And, of course, for my third surgery, I made sure he was onboard for the third one, too!
Dr. Akhtar is consistently positive, genuinely pleasant and highly professional in every interaction. I can honestly say that his visits were not just effective, but also something I looked forward to. He has a rare ability to make the rehab process feel welcoming and even enjoyable.
Dave
Barnstable resident
Forever grateful for our VNA Angels
Dearest friends, You are all such beautiful souls, and you go far beyond what is considered your job. The journey mom and I were on together would not have been possible these past nine months without you all at the VNA. You have been our angels, our confidants, our family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love, compassion and sympathy you have given to use from your precious hearts. You will always be in my heart and I will never forget your kindness of you!
With much love and hugs,
Donna
West Yarmouth
