Four Joint Replacements Provides Oscoda Grandmother a Full Refresh
Mother, Grandmother, 4X Joint Replacement Patient
"Thanks to Dr. Lemos and my fantastic therapists, I can play with my grandkids and walk the beach without pain. I highly recommend the great staff at MyMichigan."
When you have ten grandchildren to keep up with, "slowing down" isn't an option. Just ask 69-year-old Julie Doherty of Oscoda. After a fulfilling career working with young, health-impaired children, her focus shifted to family, but years of activity had taken a toll on her joints. For Julie, a series of shoulder and knee replacement surgeries wasn't an ending. It was a necessary step to maintain her active life. With the help of MyMichigan Orthopedic Surgeon and Sports Medicine Specialist David Lemos, M.D., and dedicated physical therapists from MyMichigan Rehabilitation Services in Oscoda, Julie is back on the move and showing no signs of stopping.
After four total joint replacements, both knees and both shoulders, Doherty has become very familiar with Dr. Lemos. She is also extremely grateful she didn't have to travel far for such extensive, specialized care. “We are very fortunate to have Dr. Lemos at MyMichigan Medical Center Tawas,” she said. “It has been extremely convenient for me to make the short trip to Tawas and I’ve been able to receive excellent therapy right here in town. The team of therapists in Oscoda has been absolutely wonderful. As you can imagine, they all know me pretty well.”
Doherty specifically mentioned Physical Therapist Holly Fulsher, D.P.T., and Occupational Therapist Taylor Brown, O.T.R.L., for their professionalism and compassionate care. “My experiences with them have been awesome,” she said. “They knew how to keep me engaged without pushing too hard. They also had great communication with Dr. Lemos, and I appreciated their teamwork.”
Her most recent surgery was a shoulder revision in March 2025. During a recent follow-up with Dr. Lemos, multiple X-rays showed that she has healed nicely from all procedures. “Dr. Lemos is fair and reasonable. He took the time to completely review all my X-rays with me including the results from my shoulder revision,” she said. “My knees look identical, and they are feeling and working great!”
Doherty’s journey to full mobility is a testament to coordinated care. She is a highly motivated patient, following all directions and completing the exercises prescribed by her therapists at home. This collaborative effort means she can now bend and move without the pain or impingement that once limited her. “I love to attend all my grandkids’ games and activities and play together. I also enjoy being around the water and walking on the beach,” she added. “I wouldn’t have the freedom to do it without pain if it weren’t for Dr. Lemos and my fantastic therapists. I would recommend working with the great staff at MyMichigan to anyone.”
Those interested in more information about Dr. Lemos, may visit www.mymichigan.org/lemos. Additional information about MyMichigan’s Rehabilitation Services is available at www.mymichigan.org/rehab.
