By Hartford HealthCare Senior Services Staff

Dick Fortunato, a man who generally doesn’t enjoy wasting time stressing over events he can’t control,  still laments — partly in jest — that he missed several celebrations this summer, including his granddaughter’s high school graduation, his own birthday and Father’s Day.

The troubles for this Plantsville (Southington) resident began in May when he fell over a glass table in a business waiting room. Fortunato, with visible cuts, bruises and painful swelling, was driven for treatment by his wife Grace to the Emergency Department at the Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradley Memorial campus. He had no fractures, but with a severe leg wound and multiple sub-cutaneous hematomas, he needed wound care. Within a few weeks of treatment at a wound center and home nursing care, the wound seemed to be getting worse.

After consultation with a physician at the Wound Care Center at the Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain, Fortunato learned that he had five types of bacterial infections and would need surgery. Having surgery on his birthday, June 17, wasn’t his idea of celebrating but he took it in stride, hopeful that he would soon be on the road to recovery. Within six days of surgery, the 87-year-old Fortunato was admitted to Southington Care Center for short-term rehabilitation with closely monitored nursing care for the healing of the wound.

His first step, literally, was learning how to get out of bed, use a walker and then a cane, all with a wound-vac strapped to his leg. His focus became working diligently at his twice-daily physical and occupational therapy sessions. “I was there 24 days,” he said, “always counting the days and weeks since the injury until I was home again on July 25 with continuing daily home nursing visits and weekly visits to the wound center in New Britain until late September.”

Putting his active life on hold was difficult for this community and church volunteer who also writes an “Appleseed” blog and writes a Patch column. “I remember watching Fourth of July celebrations on TV alone in my room after visitors went home. I felt so down,” he said. “I thought, ‘Is this it, Lord?’”

But his faith — coupled with the encouragement of his wife, family, Southington Care Center staff, many visitors and even the volunteers — kept him focused on regaining his strength and normal abilities. Looking back, he said, he was aware of, and impressed with, the entire staff. “They all seemed to be in sync,” he said, “in a seamless harmony of care, each one knowing what I needed.”

“At Southington Care Center, they are doing their job and more,” he said. “They have a visibly strong feeling of compassion, understand your pain, share their stories and listened to mine. The attention was unbelievable. I wasn’t with strangers – they were like family and friends.”

Fortunato continues now in outpatient physical therapy and will be transitioning into the GoodLife Fitness program at the SCC Rehab Pavilion.

“At Southington Care, I feel like I’m a real person in the community, a neighbor, a friend,” he said. “There’s a continuum of heart-felt care that is so important in healing.”

Fortunato vows not to miss his next big celebration: His and Grace’s 65th anniversary in January.