“Of all the things I like to do, I do them. Yes, I do them carefully, but I still do them. I didn’t think I would ever be able to dance with my wife again, and I can. I have no hesitation that when I go outside [to work in the yard], there isn’t anything that I can’t do.”
Randall White: class act Vietnam War veteran, husband of 45 years, total shoulder replacement recipient, and OCR Everyday Champion.
When Randall’s right shoulder started to become painful four years ago, he chose to ignore the pain and hoped it would magically disappear. “I was the poster child for Aleve and ibuprofen. It was my placebo,” Randall said. Yet, the over-the-counter pain relievers weren’t effective anymore. Slowly Randall was altering his entire way of life because his shoulder wasn’t working. “I had to switch to an electronic toothbrush … I started tying a string to my belt so I could get it through my belt loops. By the end, I couldn’t even lift a hairbrush to my head if I tried.”
The most agonizing part of Randall’s decline was his inability to help with the house and yard, nor did he have the ability to open the door for his bride of 45 years. “I had a fear of letting my mate down. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold up my end of the deal.”
If you ask Randall when his healing began, he will answer quite directly, “It was the day I had an appointment with Dr. Pater … he instantly recognized my issue, and he wanted to get it fixed. There were no mysteries. Everything was always well explained.” Randall’s confirmation that he was making the right decision came from a stranger, “I was at ACE Hardware at a sidewalk sale, and there was a lady with a blue sling on. I started a conversation with her because I knew I was about to be in her boat. She asked who my doctor was, and I said, ‘Dr. Pater.’ She looked at me with a smile and gave me a thumbs up. That was the recommendation that put me over the top.”
In October, Randall underwent a total shoulder replacement surgery, and in January, he was released from physical therapy. “I took my motorcycle out for a January ride because I hadn’t been able to ride it in years,” Randall said with a smile.
With a new shoulder replacement, Randall doesn’t feel limited anymore. “Of all the things I like to do, I do them. Yes, I do them carefully, but I still do them. I didn’t think I would ever be able to dance with my wife again, and I can. I have no hesitation that when I go outside [to work in the yard], there isn’t anything that I can’t do. I can sleep on that side again. I can even brush my teeth with my right hand. My life’s back, and I’m more than grateful … I’m never gonna pitch for the Rockies, but that’s okay.”