Sixty-year-old James Gentry is a butcher from Ridgefield, Utah. He enjoys camping, fishing, and spending time outdoors.

For years, James has struggled with back issues stemming from fractured spinal discs, which have resulted in multiple ongoing surgeries. Recently, he experienced an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a complication of diabetes. Because he was scheduled for further back surgeries, the acute care hospital that treated him for the diabetes complication referred him to Utah Valley Specialty Hospital for continued critical care.

Upon entering the hospital, James’ goal was to rebuild his strength and muscle stability so he could better tolerate his upcoming surgeries. He wanted to be able to walk at least 100 yards on his own.

“The things I’ve done here have helped me make great progress,” James says. “There are many people who have cared for me, and so far, I’m getting the results I expected. Since my back injuries, I’ve been struggling to do the things I could do before, so I know I still have a long road to recovery overall.”

James says it’s reassuring to know that after his next surgeries are performed that he can return to UVSH to continue on his healing journey.