Don Neily is a study in determination, a father who refused to give in, exhausting every option before him in hopes of sharing a lifetime memory with his sons.
A dream that became reality thanks to his hard work, his never-ending perseverance, and Rock Valley Physical Therapy.
One of life’s truly good souls, Neily, of Elkhorn, Nebraska, had lived through a bevy of injuries throughout the years. A knee (ACL), assorted strains and sprains, and a pesky back – complete with serious disc issues – that had him on the verge of surgery.
A husband, father and retired from a career in law enforcement, the tough-as-nails Neily is also dedicated to the scouting world, playing a positive role in the lives of many young men, including his own sons, who have reached scouting’s Eagle rank.
Neily and his sons had their sights set on a shared adventure at the legendary Philmont Scout Ranch in the summer of 2025.
Located in New Mexico, Philmont is a huge rite of passage for all involved in scouting and requires a reservation process of two years for all Philmont hopefuls. There, the Neilys would hike the famous Tooth of Time.
A once-in-a-lifetime challenge, Tooth of Time comes complete with extreme elevation challenges and a steep scramble at its end. Tooth of Time is 9,003 feet above sea level with an elevation gain from the base of the hike over 1,800 feet (about twice the height of the Empire State Building), making for a strenuous climb that includes bouldering and rock scrambling.
Sadly, Neily’s balky back stood before them. Pain, and all failed attempts to relieve it, turned him frustrated. There was legitimate talk he would have to de-commit from the Philmont adventure and undergo surgery.
“When you take the dog for a walk and you cannot bend over and pick up after the dog, you are in trouble,’’ Neily said. “There you are, in the middle of the walk with the dog and you are in pain, and the dog does what it does, and you cannot bend over. It dawns on you that if you can’t do that, you can’t make the trip to Philmont. It’s too challenging and you need a doctor’s OK. And then if you must wait two more years until you can go back, it might not work for me and my sons.’’
It must be noted, Neily, after two failed cortisone shots for his discomfort, sought other physical therapy and treatment options before a friend – who he would later thank for sharing – recommended Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Vicki Watton.
Watton, PT, DPT, Clinic Manager at Rock Valley’s Elkhorn facility (1405 N 205th St., Suite #140, (402) 289-5013), would be the answer Neily had been looking for to help with his back.
His life, thanks to Watton and Rock Valley Physical Therapy, would soon change.
For the better. The way, way better.
“I’ll be honest, I tried other options,’’ Neily said, noting his back problems took a troublesome turn in November of 2024, but he did not find Rock Valley until March of 2025. “Finally, at my last stop, I felt I found the right help. I walked in like an 80-year-old man not doing well, but that changed once I had a chance to work with Vicki.’’
Neily still marvels at Watton’s immense knowledge, her skill, compassion, ability to relate, and uncanny knack for making a demanding situation better.
“The changes were immediate,’’ Neily said. “Vicki’s knowledge was amazing, and I felt like I was having a conversation with my orthopedic surgeon. She asked questions, and she constantly checked my level of pain while we were working on something. We tried dry needling and that was a great help as were the exercises we worked on together.
“I was seeing her three times a week and my pain – which was always at a 6-or-7 level (out of 10) in the morning – had turned to a 1,’’ Neily added. “Let’s just say it wasn’t working elsewhere and that all changed with Vicki. She also gave me the Medbridge-Go app, which was huge in helping me on days I wasn’t in the clinic.’’
Thanks to Watton and Rock Valley, Neily said he felt like he could handle a week at Philmont and take on the challenge of Tooth of Time. There would be practice, however. He would have to sleep on tent-covered floors and prepare to make the trip carrying a 45-pound pack, which included the trek up Tooth of Time.
“Vicky immediately had me holding a 35-pound weight up to my chest as I did steps,’’ Neily said. “We were going to find out right away how that would work or if it would work. She helped me adjust the pack so it would be easier to support through the hips, then I tested sleeping on a tent floor for two nights. To the surprise of my whole crew, I was ready. Thanks to Vicki, I was ready to go.’’
The rest, as they say, is history. Father and sons sharing the Philmont experience and the trek – together – up the Tooth of Time trail. It was at the summit that Neily and his boys took a photo thanking Watton for her work and their moment.
Making a difference in someone’s life – like Watton has done with Neily – is why she chose the profession she has.
“Don was discharged from PT after he completed his hike and was successfully able to delay (hopefully avoid) his back surgery,’’ Watton said. “I was a patient, and it solidified that I wanted to do physical therapy. We had fun, it was effective and helpful, and I really enjoyed getting to know my PT. I hope to have the same impact on people as my PT, who was Rock Valley’s Mike Stodden (MPT, CIDN, Director of Relationships) had on me and my family.’’
Don Neily is glad Vicki Watton chose the career path she did.
By: Johnny Marx, Storyteller