April 2004

		Syracuse University music professor and former RehabPath patient, Bill Harris, is pictured back at work earlier this year following his short-term rehab stay.

Bill Harris of Fayetteville has music running through is veins. The 62-year-old Syracuse Symphony Orchestra trombone player also teaches music at both Syracuse University and Onondaga Community College. To know Bill is to know that he is full of life, giving generously of his time as a Fayetteville volunteer fireman and board president of the Syracuse Children's Chorus.

When Bill wanted to quickly get back in step with his lifestyle following a total knee replacement revision in December 2003, going to St. Camillus for rehab was music to his ears. After working hard at his rehab, and experiencing a good dose of encouragement and support at the facility, Bill is singing the RehabPath Program's praises.

The setting makes a difference
When Bill first underwent knee-replacement surgery in 1992, he received all of his rehab at home. He admits that he didn't always exercise on his own as he should have this first time around.

"I went through a ‘woe-is-me' syndrome," said Bill when relating how comfortable, yet secluded, he felt in his own home recovering from his first knee operation. "I had a tendency to slack off a little. It was easy to make excuses not to practice [the rehab]."

Things were completely different this second time around for Bill. He experienced how powerfully motivating St. Camillus' inpatient rehab can be when "thrown together" with other people. He describes the atmosphere and interaction with the other RehabPath patients "like being in school again."

		Diversions from rehab While at St. Camillus Bill learned that he already had a connection to the facility. One of his OCC students, Jonathan, is the son of RehabPath Case Manager Jennifer Woodburn. Jennifer and Bill hadn't met prior to him coming to St. Camillus, but she had heard lots of good things about him from Jonathan. Each day as Bill got stronger at St. Camillus, something loomed over him like a ticking time bomb. The start of an upcoming murder trial weighed heavily on his mind. One of Bill's SU grad students pursuing a master's degree in trombone, Simeon Popov of Bulgaria, was slain in 2002 while at work delivering a pizza. The trial would be his next big hurdle to overcome. "There was always that dark cloud since two years ago," said Bill, reflecting on Simeon's tragic death. "I think about the mother and father who are now childless from that heinous act. Whoa." After Bill left St. Camillus in early January, then came the stress and uncertainty of sitting through the trial of Simeon's accused killer. He helped comfort Simeon's parents throughout the trial. Once the trial had ended with Simeon's killer being convicted, Bill felt some sense of closure toward the whole ordeal. Because of Bill's kind and giving nature, he still stays in touch with Simeon's parents and others in Bulgaria. He's working to have music stands donated to the Bulgarian Conservatory of Music from SU's Simeon Popov fund. He's also involved in putting on a trombone competition in Simeon's memory at the conservatory later this year or in 2005. Bill is passionate about not letting his former student's memory fade away. Following the trial Bill immediately tried to get back to where his life had left off prior to his surgery. He began teaching again in late February, and continued his steady recovery via outpatient rehab near his home.

"You're strangers when you come together, then people started to talk to each other," he said. "We'd cheer each other on. That kind of camaraderie, you can't get at home. It's refreshing."

Bill's physical therapist, Tracy Java, observed him at the center of many patient interactions.

"He was the one who provided encouragement to others," she said. "He's just a person who likes to help others."

Bill is quick to point out that his therapists were great. They were kind, caring, empathetic, and motivated patients to participate in therapies. The highly interactive patient-therapist relationships made an impact on Bill.

"It's an atmosphere that's nurturing," he said. "Everybody was attentive to my needs. The physical therapy staff was just phenomenal. I was very impressed by the occupational therapy staff. Brian [Gibbons] in power building was great. He brought people out of their rooms."

Tracy has seen patients become more motivated to recover just by being around the other rehab patients on the RehabPath unit, which is separate from the rest of the facility. She points to activities that can bring patients together such as dining, gait (walking) class, and mingling in the unit's lounge. She's also witnessed how beneficial it is for patients to "cheer each other on."

"That's a huge part of the rehab component, and one of the reasons why inpatient rehab works so well," she said. "Most people progress faster in situations like this."

In addition to the program's social component, Bill kept in touch with others outside of St. Camillus. He regularly used the patient computer to e-mail family and colleagues.

"The patients that are Internet savvy really enjoy it," said Tracy.

Bill also found the RehabPath's "constant medical supervision" available around the clock was reassuring.

"When you've got the nurses on duty, there's someone to check on you," he said.

Finally, the food served up in the unit's dedicated dining room impressed Bill, too.

"I was pleasantly surprised by the food, and more than pleased by the variety," he stated with conviction.

Moving forward

	Syracuse University music professor and former RehabPath patient, Bill Harris, is pictured back at work earlier this year following his short-term rehab stay.

"I'm stronger now than a month before my operation," he said confidently in early March. "I'll be ready to play golf in May."

Bill was recently promoted to fire police captain of the Fayetteville Fire Department. He hopes to get back to the symphony and fire fighting sometime this spring. His desire to help others remains strong. In fact, he offers some pointed advice for anyone considering to "go it alone" with rehab only at home.

"If you're the slightest bit apprehensive, go to St. Camillus," recommends Bill. "You've got staff taking care of you around the clock. It will be better for your physical and mental well-being."

For Bill Harris, recovering from surgery in St. Camillus' RehabPath Program helped strengthen his whole being. He's pretty much got his life back to normal again, though he'll likely forever play a slightly different tune after all he experienced both during and after his rehab.