After a bad fall in January 2024, Luis A. Mendes felt like his life was over. “It was my third major injury to my shoulder in just a few years,” he says. “I really thought it was beyond repair — I couldn’t do anything. I wasn’t sure how I was going to survive.” Then Luis met Dr. Xinning “Tiger” Li, an orthopedic surgeon at BMC.
“Dr. Li told me I had a massive rotator cuff tear. But he said he could help me, even though my insurance was not the best,” says Luis. “He said most surgeons would probably completely replace the rotator cuff, but he could use innovative surgery to repair it instead.” This option would not only offer Luis a faster recovery time, but it would also save him from needing to replace the rotator cuff again in 15 to 20 years. “I could not believe my luck that Dr. Li could help me get my life back. I thought it was only by the grace of God that I had met this man on the right day and at the right time.”
Because Luis’ shoulder kept dislocating and he was in so much pain, Dr. Li’s team scheduled him for surgery quickly. “I had my surgery on February 2, and it was the best decision I ever made,” says Luis.
As the owner of a small home restoration business, Luis relies on his physical health to support his family. So, after surgery, he was careful to follow Dr. Li’s instructions to ensure he wouldn’t reinjure his shoulder. After three months he could move his shoulder out of the sling, and after four months he started working with a physical therapist who helped him gain enough movement to get back to work. In July, Luis was back to work full time. Now, he has no limitations, but he’s more careful with his body because he doesn’t want to get injured again. “I don’t work the same crazy way I used to. I’m trying to take better care of my health.”
Luis credits Dr. Li for where he is today. “He went above and beyond for me and helped me in my time of crisis. And not only that, but he and his team explained everything, and they listened. I know I fell into the right hands.”