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Heartfelt Stories – Overcoming Agony: Louise’s Path to Recovery with Dr. Vache

Dr. Vache Hambardzumyan, a physician at Monadnock Orthopaedic Associates, stands next to Louise DelPapa in a medical examination room. Dr. Hambardzumyan, dressed in blue scrubs, is holding a model of the human spine and smiling at the camera. Louise, wearing a maroon sweater and a patterned scarf, stands beside him with a smile. The background features anatomical posters of the human body, highlighting the clinical setting.
Heartfelt Stories - Overcoming Agony: Louise's Path to Recovery with Dr. Vache
Heartfelt Stories – Overcoming Agony: Louise’s Path to Recovery with Dr. Vache

Heartfelt Stories

At Monadnock Community Hospital, we are proud to share our Heartfelt Stories featuring inspiring testimonials from our patients, employees, volunteers, donors, and community members. Each story reflects the exceptional care, support, and compassion that define our commitment to our community. Join us in celebrating these remarkable journeys and the difference compassionate care can make.

Finding the Right Level of Care

“I just moved normally,” says Louise DelPapa of New Ipswich, but what happened next was far from expected. As a result of her osteoporosis, or loss of bone mass due to aging, Louise suffered multiple compression fractures in her spine. The result was agony. “I’m very active,” she says, “and had just moved three cords of wood. Suddenly I couldn’t lie down, I couldn’t sit up, I couldn’t move right or left.”

After an X-ray at Monadnock Community Hospital revealed the fractures, she found herself at Monadnock Orthopaedic Associates with Dr. Vache Hambardzumyan.

She recalls, “Dr. Vache was very kind and compassionate, and was conservative with my care. After he explained the pros and cons of surgery, we decided to treat my condition nonsurgically. He kept encouraging me, assuring me that the fractures would be minimized, my pain would lessen, and my mobility would improve with a combination of medications and physical therapy. He was right!” In addition to physical therapy, Louise has been exercising with weights while taking vitamins and receiving a monthly injection that reduces fractures in women with osteoporosis after menopause.

“I was concerned about possible side effects,” she says, “but Dr. Vache explained that the risk was low and the benefits outweighed them.” Speaking of the benefits, Louise shares, “I walk 10,000 to 14,000 steps a day. Life is good now. I can do nearly everything I used to. I refer everyone to Monadnock Orthopaedic Associates and MCH—they have the solutions. I’m so glad they are right down the road.”
Dr. Vache Hambardzumyan with Louise DelPapa

“I walk 10,000 to 14,000 steps a day. Life is good now.”

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MCH 2024 Annual Report

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