Night after night, Jonathon Keene was jolted awake by severe hip pain.
Not the occasional ache or soreness that comes and goes. It was the kind of pain that steals your sleep, and slowly wears down your quality of life. For five years, he was lucky to sleep for an hour before the pain woke him up again.
Desperate for relief, he tried everything doctors recommended. He lost weight, completed physical therapy and worked with pain management specialists. Despite his efforts, the pain never let up.
The constant discomfort took a physical toll, but the emotional burden was just as difficult. Years of failed attempts to get the care he needed left him frustrated.
“It was a living nightmare,” Jonathon says. “I had insurance, but there was just obstacle after obstacle, roadblock after roadblock.”
He finally found a path forward when he made a call to Lantern.
A Care Advocate Who Never Left His Side
Jonathon says everything changed when he spoke to his Lantern Care Advocate, Reggie.
From the very beginning, Reggie made sure he understood every step of the process. Whether it was explaining treatment options, helping him navigate provider selection or answering questions about coverage, Reggie remained a consistent source of guidance and reassurance.
Jonathon says the personal attention made a lasting impression.
“He was my best friend during this entire process. Reggie was just an amazing person.”
Under Reggie’s guidance, Jonathon chose Dr. George Haidukewych and the team at Jewett Orthopedic Institute in Orlando, Florida. He says it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
From the front desk staff to the nurses, technicians and physical therapists, Lantern made him feel supported and informed. Questions were answered thoroughly, expectations were clearly explained and every member of the team seemed genuinely invested in helping him recover.
The experience was especially meaningful because it was Jonathon’s first surgery and his first time undergoing general anesthesia.
“I was made to feel very calm, aware of what was going on and anything that could potentially happen,” he says. “It was an amazing experience. And then of course after the surgery, the level of care continued. I’m so grateful to everybody there.”
Today, Keene describes his hip replacement surgery as life-changing. Looking back, he says he knew he was in the right hands from beginning to end, and would enthusiastically recommend both his surgeon and care team to others facing similar challenges.
A New Beginning
For Jonathon, Lantern provided far more than access to high-quality care. Without the financial support and guidance Lantern offered, Jonathon thinks he’d still be living with intense pain.
I truly don’t believe for a second that I would’ve been able to get this surgery without Lantern from a financial standpoint, from an opportunity standpoint.
The impact extends far beyond affordability. Jonathon can now do things that were impossible for years. He can move freely, exercise and enjoy activities he once thought he might never do again, like play the drums.
“Lantern lit the way for me to be able to move again. I can walk. I can run. I can lift weights again. It’s amazing,” he says. “Lantern gave me my life back. It’s really a miracle of modern science to be able to sit here and not be in pain, to be able to stand, bend and pick things up off the floor again.”
“You’re Going to Feel Amazing”
After experiencing Lantern firsthand, Jonathon has simple advice for anyone who may be hesitant about taking the next step.
“Do it. Sign up. Start down that path as soon as possible. Why put it off any longer than you have to?” he says. “Again, it’s life changing. If you’re in pain, if you’re suffering from any type of immobility, any type of agony whatsoever, why stay in it longer than you have to? Lantern’s going to help you get to that finish line. You’re going to feel amazing in no time at all.”
For Jonathon, the journey began with years of pain and uncertainty. Today, it’s a story of recovery, renewed mobility and a second chance at the activities he loves.
Most importantly, it’s proof that the right care, delivered at the right time, can truly change a life.
