For Vincent, music has been a lifelong passion. The 80-year-old former New Jersey accordion champion has been performing since childhood, often at charity events supporting causes like cerebral palsy and children with special needs. But over the years, the weight of his beloved 75-pound instrument took a toll.
“Twenty years ago, I had a hernia repaired at another hospital, and while the outcome was good, it took me two months before I could run again or pick up my accordion,” Vincent recalls. So when he developed a second hernia, he wanted to find the right surgeon to get him back to his active lifestyle quickly. That search led him to Melanie Howell at Holy Name.
Vincent's connection to Holy Name runs deep. His daughter was born at the hospital, and his own background as a pharmacist gave him added confidence in Dr. Howell's credentials. “As a pharmacist, I could tell she's exceptional. I researched her background, and when I saw she had a strong foundation in pharmacology, I knew I was in good hands.”
Vincent was clear about his goals at their first meeting.
“I told Dr. Howell, 'You need to do a great job because I want to keep running a mile every day until I'm 100, keep playing my accordion, and live long enough to celebrate my 75th wedding anniversary,'” Vincent recalls. “She smiled and said, 'No problem.'”
Dr. Howell performed Vincent's open hernia repair surgery on March 18. Vincent was amazed at how smooth the process was. “Holy Name has such a welcoming atmosphere,” he says.”It felt like a monastery: peaceful and safe. Everyone was professional, from the anesthesiologist to the nurses. I hardly even bruised where they placed the IV.”
To Vincent's surprise, his recovery was much faster than expected.
“Within four weeks, I was ready to run and play again. With my first surgery years ago, I needed Percocet for the pain. This time, just two Advils on the first two nights. Dr. Howell is brilliant — I'd rate her a 20 out of 10.”
Now back to his daily mile runs and looking to restart performances, Vincent has even bigger plans. “I want to bring music to VA hospitals to entertain wounded warriors. That's my next mission.”
