The Saga of the Christmas Pajamas: Raymond Sinele’s Road to Recovery

When Beverly Sinele packed for a holiday trip to Panama City, Florida, she had a specific wish: to spend a cozy weekend away from home in matching Christmas pajamas with her husband Raymond.

She ultimately got exactly what she wanted, though certainly not in the way she expected.

For the Sineles, Christmas 2024 was supposed to be a relaxing start to their retirement with a trip in their RV. The couple enjoyed a quiet walk by the beach, a nice meal and an evening to themselves. Unfortunately, their calm holiday plans changed in an instant.

“I stood up in the RV, and the next thing I remember, I hit the floor,” Raymond said. “I don’t remember the fall at all. When I came to, I couldn’t move anything but my mouth and my eyes. I could talk to Beverly, but I couldn’t move my arms, my legs — nothing.”

Raymond was rushed to a local hospital where scans revealed a serious spinal injury. He would need surgery but only after stopping his blood thinner for five days. The couple faced a difficult choice: wait in Florida for surgery or return home to Mississippi to be near family.

They made the decision to transfer Raymond to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, the facility Beverly describes as “the only place we wanted to be.”

Once admitted to UMMC, the Sinele family connected with Dr. Andrew Smith, a neurosurgeon specializing in spine surgery. For the Sineles, he was a familiar face from home. Beverly had taught Smith at Madison Central High School years ago, where he and the Sinele’s daughter were classmates.

“When he walked into the room and said, ‘Mr. Sinele, how are you?’ I realized it was Drew,” Beverly said. “We hadn’t seen him in years, but hearing his voice and seeing a familiar face made us feel instantly at ease. We knew we were in the right place.”

Dr. Smith quickly assessed the situation and developed a surgical plan to stabilize Raymond’s spine.

“Mr. Sinele’s injury required immediate stabilization to give him the best chance of regaining close to full mobility,” explained Smith. “We wanted to move quickly to relieve pressure on the spine and get him started on the best road to recovery.”

“The level of care here is unmatched,” Raymond said. “Dr. Smith has an incredible gift. He could look at me and know exactly what I was feeling. It’s more than education; it’s instinct.”

Following surgery, Raymond remembers the first time he stood up with Dr. Smith’s encouragement.

“I was sitting in the recliner when Dr. Smith asked, ‘Do you want to stand up?’ I hesitated, but he just held his hands out and said, ‘If you want to stand, you can stand.’ And I did. That moment gave me hope.”

Within days, Raymond was walking short distances with the help of UMMC’s physical and occupational therapy teams.

“From the ICU to step-down to therapy, every single person who touched our lives here made us feel like we were the most important patients in the hospital,” Beverly said.

The Sinele family spent nearly a week at UMMC before heading home on New Year’s Day. It was a holiday season they will never forget, now jokingly referred to as “The Saga of the Christmas Pajamas.”

Those matching outfits Beverly insisted on packing, a tradition usually reserved for home with their daughters, became the couple’s wardrobe for three days straight during the chaotic emergency transfer. After surgery, Raymond even told his care team they could easily identify his wife in the waiting room because she would be the one wearing Christmas pajamas that matched his!

Though their plans had been derailed, the couple walked away with a renewed appreciation for life and the people who cared for them.

“This was our first Christmas after retirement, and we thought we were starting a new chapter,” Beverly said. “We didn’t expect this, but God placed the right people in our path. From the nurses and residents to Dr. Smith, everyone went above and beyond.”

Raymond added, “We were at the best place with the best people. I couldn’t have asked for better care.”

One year later, Raymond has made a remarkable recovery and is finally enjoying the active retirement he once envisioned. The Sineles are back to making memories together, grateful for a second chance at the future they had planned. This Christmas, they look forward to celebrating at home with family and friends, reflecting on the many blessings that carried them through and especially thankful for Dr. Andrew Smith and the team at UMMC who helped make that recovery possible.