Surgical Services

Patient Stories

Backus offers a wide range of surgical options, from minimally invasive to trauma. Highly trained surgeons utilize the latest laparoscopic and robotic technology. Along with patient education before and after surgery, which results in faster returns to normal activities.

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Knee Replacements Put School Nurse Back on her Feet

After knee replacement surgery at Backus Hospital, school nurse Mari Shooks had this to say: “I immediately felt at ease with Dr. Patricia Stuart. I’m walking with no pain and my knees don’t hurt. I can do my job, I can take care of my home and I can play with my grandchildren and enjoy my friends.”
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Da Vinci Robot Makes Prostate Surgery Easier

“When I found out I had prostate cancer I decided to have robotic surgery. The incisions were very small, and Dr. T. Casey McCullough and Dr. Frank Friedman were fantastic. Within a couple weeks I was out doing things in the yard and six weeks later I was back to work. It’s an amazing machine, and Backus has an excellent team.”
-Curtis Richmond, Lisbon
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Breast Reconstruction Surgery

“Dr. Vinod Pathy is truly an amazing surgeon — what he can do is phenomenal. I’m wearing a new bathing suit … wearing more stylish clothes, and it’s all because of Dr. Pathy. He has given me back ‘me’. I feel like myself again.”
-Keri Perreault, Brooklyn resident and mom
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Surgery to Repair a Herniated Disc in her Neck

“My neck pain came on fast and furious. I couldn’t even cut with a knife. They stayed very late into the night doing my surgery. Dr. Michael Halperin and the Backus team were wonderful. I am extremely satisfied.”
-Chef Ceil Vardar, Norwich resident
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Two Knee Replacement Surgeries

“I didn’t know if I would ever be able to walk again. I’m walking every day now. Dr. Ammar Anbari is my hero.”
-Sandra Gosselin, Norwich resident
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Robotic Hysterectomy Patient

“I really didn’t have any pain. Four little incisions and I was home the next day.”
-Dawn Chiangi
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Lung Surgery

Thoracic surgeon Dr. Juan Escalon of Backus Physician Services “was a great doctor…it was obvious that he cared about his job and about his patients. I would never choose another hospital in the area.”
-Jessica Baker, Niantic resident
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Robotic Colorectal Surgery

“Before surgery I was living with pain every day. Eleven days after being discharged I was back to work, with no pain. I owe my life to Dr. Sergio Casillas, the staff at Backus Hospital and that robot.”
-Daniel Correia, Waterford resident
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Minimally Invasive Surgery for Reflux Disease and Barretts Esophagus

“Dr. (Mark) Tousignant is a wonderful surgeon and I am doing great. I can take a deep breath again and go to sleep without worrying whether I will wake up.”
-Cate Murphy, Norwich resident
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Car Accident Survivor

He (Dr. David Coletti) took over and did what he had to do, and that’s why I’m here today. I have a son who was three months old at the time of my car accident and now I get to celebrate his fourth birthday. That’s pretty cool.
-Robert Ferrara
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Breast Cancer Survivor

“I don’t think I would have made it through my breast cancer diagnosis without my Backus team – surgeons Dr. Tramontozzi and Dr. Pathy, the radiation therapy department and the entire Backus staff.”
–Lucia Roman-Vallario, New London social worker and mother of three
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Hip Replacement

I have a physical job and I am an active guy. Because of my hip replacement surgery at Backus, I am able to do almost everything I was able to do before. Dr. Cambridge and all the nurses and staff were phenomenal. This has given me a new lease on life.”
-Peter Barber, Norwich Public Utilities mechanic
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Orthopedic Surgery

“The thumb surgery Dr. Kardestuncer did made it possible for me to continue playing the piano. He gave me my life back.”
-Norwich, piano teacher
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