Sarah's Story: Finally Heard, Finally Healing

For nearly two years, Sarah Ray lived with constant knee pain that disrupted her life and made even simple tasks a challenge. Despite multiple visits to out-of-area providers, she kept hearing the same explanation: arthritis. But Sarah knew her body — this was not just arthritis. She knew something more was wrong yet felt dismissed at every turn.

That changed when she walked through the doors of Adventist Health and Rideout.

Treatment began with weekly injections from nurse practitioner Miranda Oliver, who took Sarah’s concerns seriously and quickly referred her to orthopedic surgeon Dr. Anton Kurdin.

“I just knew I was in the right place,” Sarah said. “It was the first time I felt listened to — truly listened to.”

From her first appointment with Dr. Kurdin, Sarah felt a shift.

“He actually heard me,” she said. “He didn’t just write me off.”

After ordering a new MRI, Dr. Kurdin scheduled an exploratory procedure, believing there was more going on than just arthritis. He was right. During surgery, he discovered a torn meniscus —something previous doctors, and multiple imaging, had completely missed.

“That one decision to listen changed everything for me,” Sarah said.

The compassion and excellence extended far beyond her clinical care. From the operating room nurses to security and registration, Sarah was deeply moved by the kindness of every person she encountered. During her procedure, her three-year-old daughter was comforted by a staff member who walked her to the gift shop and let her choose a stuffed animal. She picked a giraffe—and still sleeps with it every night.

“It was such a small moment, but it meant everything. It showed how much they care—not just for me, but for my whole family,” Sarah shared. “Every person made us feel like we were the only people in the hospital.”

After her meniscus repair and 18 weeks of physical therapy, it became clear that she needed a total knee replacement. She underwent the procedure in February and is now on the road to recovery, spending cherished time with her partner and four children, and picking up new hobbies like sewing while her body heals.

Having worked in healthcare for nearly 15 years herself, Sarah says Adventist Health and Rideout stands above the rest, she added, “I am truly amazed with the level of care I received in my local area.”

“The entire team here has their heads and hearts in the right place, I felt it the moment I checked in” she said. “If people knew the level of care that is right here in our community, they would be amazed. I found trust, faith—and healing—right here at Rideout.”