Testimonials

“I met Mark Holt when we were freshmen at the University of Toledo in 1979,” said grateful patient Mark Butler of Newark, Ohio. “At that time, his girlfriend lived next door to mine, so between them we were introduced to each other. I was playing on the college football team, and Mark was going into medicine. We would chat about football when we hung out.

“I left the University after a year and started coaching football at Newark High School. It was sometime down the road I found out that Mark Holt, M.D. was the orthopedic doctor for Newark High School’s athletic team. I remembered him from college, and after I learned he was in town, we connected again. If there was any kind of problem, our team members went to see him.”

But little did Butler know, he himself would soon be needing the services of Dr. Holt.

“In January of 2009, I slipped on the ice and tore the meniscus of my left knee. Immediately, my first thought was of Mark Holt when I was told I would be needing surgery. He was in town, and we were good friends from a long time ago, so I went in through the Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWCP) and he took care of my Cortisone injections, as well as all the steps necessary to get me comfortable afterwards.

“Dr. Holt notified me he was becoming the newest orthopedic surgeon at Hocking Valley Community Hospital in Logan, and was reaching out to know if I wanted to continue my care with him. ‘Of course’, I said. ‘You have been with me from the start, and I’m not going to change horses mid-stream. If you were in Los Angeles I would follow you there.

“There was a period of about six months that once every six weeks I came to Logan to be examined, and he would take a look at my knee. It was about October of 2017, I decided it was time to retire from my job. After I set that up, I went to Dr. Holt and said ‘Okay, Doc, this is what I want to do and when can I do surgery?’ In January of 2018, my surgery was set up and it was a fantastic experience.

“I had my surgery on the 9th and was released on Wednesday the 10th. I want to share how it was such a wonderful experience. Not only with Dr. Holt as my surgeon, but the entire staff that took care of me, including my physical therapist. The food was great; I never once had any problems with that. My family was well taken care of not only during my surgery, but anytime they visited. They were offered meals, comfortable chairs, whatever was needed, the nurses would help take care of everything. They were absolutely wonderful!

“Today I’m doing really well. Because I grew up with Osgood Schlatter Disease, later developed tendonitis, and then tore the meniscus in the same knee he replaced, I will never have full bend of it, but I’m working on getting it as far as I can.

“I would recommend Dr. Holt to anyone who needs any kind of orthopedic surgery, and I would highly recommend Hocking Valley Community Hospital.”

For more information about HVCH Orthopedics, call 740-380-8140.

Dorothy Hart is a patient who has neuropathy. Last year she stepped on a piece of glass and because she cannot feel anything in her right foot, she was unaware that she had been walking around with a piece of glass embedded in her foot. It began to turn red so she went to her physician who referred her to Brock Liden, DPM, Podiatry. What followed was surgery that included drilling through the heel to insert antibiotics and bone marrow, as well as an incision from the top of her foot around to the bottom for removal of the foreign object.

He made sure she not only recovered from surgery, but that she also was wearing the correct shoes. The inside layer of the shoe was created and developed by Dr. Liden. He invented the special cast that went on her foot to prevent healing and to keep her from touching it.

“They called my foot the Frankenstein foot. I couldn’t give him enough credit if I tried. I’ve told everyone I know who has trouble with their feet. I even brought in two pumpkin pies to say thank you!”

Tamii Cramer, Dorothy’s daughter says, “We truly feel that she would have lost her leg and foot without him,” referring to Dr. Liden. “He’s not only kind and generous with his knowledge, but also with his heart. We were able to call him or send photos via text messaging when we were changing mom’s dressings at home and if we had any questions he would let us know what to do. His main focus is not only on the patient but also on the family.”

When Mrs. Norris arrived in the ED she presented her seam ripper which she brought along to show the depth it had entered, as it still had the blood on it from the accident. Requiring several stitches, both internally and externally, she commented that “Dr. Robert Sivier did as good of a job as the best plastic surgeon would have! He was amazing.” Showing off her leg and the barely visible scar, she says “I received wonderful care in the Emergency Room that day! I wouldn’t hesitate to go there again.”

She goes on to share that in addition to having returned to HVCH for other health care needs herself, many of her loved ones have visited the local hospital and received excellent care and service. She is grateful to Robert Sivier, M.D. for being there in her time of need

My brief, first terrified thought was that I had broken my hip, and then I felt the pain, excruciating pain from my groin to my knee. Managing to roll over, I attempted to raise myself on all fours, but given the pain I could barely lift myself six inches.  Lying there, wondering what I could do, two women came to my aid lifting me upright so that I was able to sit on a nearby log.  After four failed attempts at trying to stand on my own, one of the women hiked higher up in the gorge in order to call for a med-vac team.  Were it not for these two good Samaritans my circumstances could have been dire.  Ladies, you’re unknown to me by name, but I am so grateful for your help, and thank you again for staying with me.

The all men med-evac crew arrived quickly, and not only were they courteous and considerate, but cautiously moved me, and carried me safely from the gorge. In the Emergency Room at Hocking Valley Community Hospital, Doctor C. Prince and the on-duty nurses Crescent, Darcy, Susan and Tia, provided friendly, timely and exemplary care.  They even went the ‘extra mile’ and arranged for a state park ranger to transport me back to my vehicle at the trailhead parking lot which was some distance from the hospital.