Patient Story: Daniel Perry’s Journey to Healing and Hope
For more than five decades, Daniel Perry has called Vinton County home. Music has always been a big part of his life, playing and singing in a small band, staying active in the local music scene, and spending time with family. Life was steady, familiar, and full of the things he loved, until pain changed everything.
Six years ago, Daniel received a right hip replacement with Dr. Brian Cohen, a surgeon he had come to trust through prior joint care. For years, the surgery worked well, but in May 2025, he began experiencing pain in his knee that quickly escalated. The infection, caused by MRSA, spread up to his hip. Initially, Daniel sought care from a local surgeon in Chillicothe, who attempted to address the issue, but the infection persisted, and pus continued to run down his leg.
“I thought I was going to lose my leg, or die,” Daniel recalled. Weak, in severe pain, and unable to walk, he knew he needed the right care, and fast. That’s when he asked to be transferred to Dr. Cohen. An ambulance brought him directly to his trusted surgeon, who quickly took action.
Dr. Cohen placed a medicated rod in Daniel’s thigh to control the infection, giving him a chance to heal. After six to eight weeks, the rod was removed and replaced with a new hip implant. Thanks to Dr. Cohen’s expertise, Daniel was able to regain mobility and begin living comfortably again.
Daniel experiences only minor pelvic bone discomfort at this point of his recovery. The intense pain that once kept him bedridden is gone. “There’s no comparison,” he said. “From the pain I had before to now, it’s night and day.”
Throughout the process, Daniel felt supported and heard, not just by Dr. Cohen, but by his entire care team. “He listens. He spends time, enough time to get your answers,” Daniel shared. “If you need help, this man wants to help you.”
Daniel emphasizes the lesson he learned firsthand: choosing the right surgeon matters. In his words, “If you have problems with your hips, knees, or shoulders, this is who I’d go to. He’s the top dog when it comes to that kind of surgery.”
Looking back, Daniel calls his journey life-changing. “I just thank God every day for him,” he said. “I thought I was going to lose my leg, or die, or never walk again. Dr. Cohen saved my life.”
