It was the spring of 2003 when Deborah Cate, a journeyman carpenter and home designer took her seat on a plane bound for home after spending her vacation in Hawaii. Deborah never expected that just moments after she boarded, she would be evacuating the smoke-filled aircraft via one of its inflatable emergency exit chutes.

Although thankful to get off the ill-fated jumbo jet alive, Deborah was injured while sliding down an improperly inflated emergency exit chute. In addition to bumps and bruises, Deborah suffered a torn meniscus and two herniated disks in her neck.

It was after suffering with these injuries for nearly a year that Deborah sought Dr. Nucci. "I couldn't work or even pick up my grandchildren, the pain was so bad. I just couldn't take it anymore" Deborah explains. "I scheduled the appointment, Dr. Nucci examined me, and talked with me; he answered my questions. After my examination and looking at my films, Dr. Nucci told me that he knew what was happening to me and why I was in pain. I was so relieved! We scheduled surgery; it was such a breeze for me. There were people from the Nucci Spine Institute that met me before my surgery, chatted with me, and even sat with me. It was a wonderful experience."

Deborah underwent an anterior cervical diskectomy and fusion (ACDF). Ms. Cate's herniations were removed while her spinal cord was monitored via radio current (to ensure her safety and an optimal recovery) and her vertebrae fused together and supported by titanium plating at level C6 - 7.

"Everybody at the Nucci Spine Institute is just as polite and helpful as they can be; there's nothing but a positive attitude there. The environment at the Nucci Spine Institute is just so pleasant to be in and I never have to wait for my appointment - they get me right in, and when I'm there, fifteen minutes at the most is the longest I've waited."

When chatting about the Nucci Spine Institute, Deborah beams with appreciation for what she calls the "specialized care" she received, sharing that "Dr. Nucci takes the x-rays right then and there and talks to you about them on the day of your visit - there's no waiting for them to come back or having to reschedule an appointment for two weeks later. Dr. Nucci actually takes time with you; he listens and he answers your questions. All I can say is you are taken good care of at Dr. Nucci's office."

With her harrowing airliner accident and the surgery required to correct her injuries in her past, Deborah says she is forever grateful to Dr. Robert Nucci and his caring and dedicated staff.