If you long to be humored, enlightened, and thoroughly entertained, then a sit down with the ever-uplifting Judy Belfer is a must for anyone’s calendar.
Calling the 81-year-old dynamo engaging, spirited, and downright funny, would be understating drastically all that is amazing regarding Belfer.
Oh, by the way, she is also a straight shooter. If you are good at what you do, she will tell you, sing your praises, and put her trustworthy eggs in your basket.
If you are not…Well…
It is a shade past 11 on a dreary, January morning. However, that mood doesn’t stand a chance inside Rock Valley Physical Therapy’s Rock Island, Illinois-based clinic (1733, 30th Street, Suite 104, 309-743-0300). There, Belfer, a laugh-a-minute type just two months post knee replacement surgery, is holding court.
“My surgeon did good,’’ Belfer, a world traveler, born in Boston (Mass.), who has weaved an amazing life as part of the fabric of the (Illinois-Iowa) Quad-Cities, says with a grin. “But my (physical) therapist (Rock Valley’s) Nathan (Jacobs, PT, DPT) is simply the world’s best at what he does.
“With Nathan it’s not so much about his knowledge, but he is beyond knowledgeable as a therapist,’’ continued Belfer, who had a long and distinguished career in munitions procurement and research with the Rock Island Arsenal, and is a historical preservation institution in both Iowa and Illinois. In true Belfer fashion, she is restoring a 1946 Willy’s Jeep that was – many years ago – gifted to her by her father. The same Jeep she overhauled as a teen.
“Nathan is outstanding. His ability to relate to people – and it doesn’t matter the age – is what sets him apart,’’ added Belfer, who admitted to once blowing up a mailbox as a youngster and who also had a penchant for bringing snakes home to her mother. “He is compassionate and he cares. He can talk to any subject and relates on a level only a few can. He can talk to Edison and to Tesla, whatever subject is available. He truly is the best therapist on the planet.’’
On this winter morning, Jacobs and Belfer reached the home stretch of her knee replacement rehabilitation. A test Belfer – to date – had passed with flying colors.
“Calling Judy determined wouldn’t do her justice,’’ Jacobs said of Belfer, whose knee issues began several years ago with a skiing accident. “She can talk to and relate to everything. She has had such a distinguished career with her work with the (Rock Island Arsenal, and she is involved so much in the community and is knowledgeable about anything we talk about. My father worked at the arsenal, so I had common ground with Judy when we began our work together. Remember, I’m just the cheerleader, Judy is the one putting in all the hard work.’’
Belfer’s grit, understanding of the situation before her, and her dedication to a task, sets her apart. She understands what works and what does not, knows her body, and with apologies to no one, refuses to back down from a challenge.
“Let’s use her knee as an example,’’ Jacobs said. “It was a significant injury that required surgery several years ago. And now, with her replacement, we have worked the guidelines and parameters set down by her surgeon, who did splendid work. She has worked hard here in the clinic, but Judy’s outside-the-clinic work – “homework” if you will – truly has set her apart and put her on an amazing path to her recovery goals. Judy is smart, she is engaging but what sets her apart is her determination and a passion for life. Judy did her best to delay the surgery so she could take a trip to Europe (undergoing cortisone shots). She reached that goal (a three-week trip), had surgery, and now is reaching every goal we have set in place for her rehabilitation. If that’s not determination, I don’t know what it is.’’
It must be noted that Jacobs and Belfer had collaborated on an issue before her knee was replaced, something that had nagged her on and off for six-plus decades, Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV). Vertigo is the sudden feeling of spinning or moving. BPPV causes brief periods of mild to intense dizziness. Certain changes in the head’s position most often set them off.
At age 20, a driver determined to be under the influence of alcohol, rear-ended the vehicle Belfer was driving, leaving her in a coma for more than a week. Residual effects from the incident would cause her serious bouts of vertigo, creating severe headaches and debilitating nausea for over 60 years.
“It would leave me in a fetal position, with these sick headaches, doing my best to simply get through each bout,’’ Belfer said, noting that her mother, a registered nurse, never left her side during her hospitalization. “You know that ride in the park that goes round and round (merry-go-round), that’s what it was like for me. I was taking medication and aspirin for it and my world – when it would hit – I would have to be in a dark room and there would be bouts of vomiting.’’
Seeking help with the issues, Belfer found the perfect teammate in Jacobs and Rock Valley Physical Therapy. BPPV (Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) treatment primarily involves canalith repositioning maneuvers to move dislodged inner ear crystals (otoconia) back into their proper place, effectively resolving dizziness in most cases.
“Putting the rocks back into place is what I call it,’’ Belfer said with a huge chuckle. “Nathan showed me what to do when I have an issue and I know if it’s more than me doing the one thing with my head and an object, I can call and get help here immediately. But what he did was another life-changer for me. I have great trust in him.’’
If one needs physical therapy, the goal is to “Make Better Lives’’ and send the patient off in a far better place than when they arrived. It is the same with Belfer.
But…
“We hate when patients have to come back, but I can tell you it was a joy to see Judy’s name pop back up recently on the schedule,’’ Jacobs said. “That she is doing so well is a bonus. I’ll miss our time together when things are complete, and that is soon.’’
Relationships. It is a bonus in the world of a dedicated physical therapist.
By: Johnny Marx, Rock Valley Storyteller