"This commendation goes to the team effort of three specific individuals that made it possible for me to continue to walk and live a normal unrestricted life. It started with the keen skills of Dr. Brian Halpern who instantly recognized that my sudden onset of shin splints was a serious lower back problem that had developed. I was training at 65 to take my first vacation in years to go climbing in the Alps."

"I was treated with respect, knowledge and caring through the many health professionals I encountered. I felt safe and secure while there. "

"I had my procedure on March 3rd, 2014 and went back to very mild weight lifting after about 6 weeks and then returned to a modified training schedule after 12 weeks. I then continued to train while "listening to my body" and returned to full strength in about 5 or 6 months. Again, paying careful attention to technique and my body. I am extremely grateful to be able to continue to train and expect to go back to competing in the very near future."

"After nearly a year of hard-to-manage pain caused particularly by the lower back disc problem, the surgery relieved the pain and within four months of the surgeries, I was back to jogging in Central Park. "

"I recovered from the operation quickly and easily. I am now free of back pain, able to walk without inhibition and looking forward to the moment at the end of the month when I can once again bend over and touch my toes – or, more usefully, tie my shoelaces."