Specializing In You: Helping A Community Icon

Community icon Wanda Bowman had had enough of an ailing knee that was slowing her down. Injections that once worked wonders were no longer doing the trick. Now, less than 50 days after a total knee replacement at MMC, she’s back to being the old Wanda: The dynamic philanthropist, dedicated community advocate, avid NMSU Aggie fan, and world traveler.

The former longtime owner of Ashley Furniture underwent her knee replacement with well-known and highly experienced orthopedic surgeon Robert Schwartz, MD, on January 22. It was truly a moment when two community legends came together. She sought out Dr. Schwartz after her husband, Jerry Strange, underwent two very successful hip replacements at MMC in the last couple of years.

“The doctor was exceptional, the service in the hospital was exceptional. Everything is so immaculate,” Wanda said. “And the people that we worked with were all very professional.”

From surgery to recovery, Wanda said the team members at Memorial were full of warmth and compassion. Even though she was a total stranger, they treated her like a close family member.

“It just makes you feel like they’re not just here because they provide a service. They're here because they have compassion,” she said. “They still have to provide the service, but they want to take care of the patient. And I think there's a real heartfelt warmth about that.”

At 83, Wanda is still full of ambition, hopes, dreams and plans. She knew the time was right to undergo surgery and took the challenge of rehabilitation head-on – even when it wasn’t easy. The mantra and message of “where do you want to go and what do you want to do?” was a driving force in her head. The idea of using a walker forever was not on the table.

Wanda has lived in Las Cruces since 1971 and vividly remembers when Memorial General Hospital opened that year as a brand-new, four-floor hospital at the current Telshor campus location. She reflected on the medical center’s growth. “You know, as we were walking down the hospital hallways today, I thought, ‘This is so amazing. How big all this is now and how well you serve the community.’”

An avid traveler who has already visited every continent, Wanda now looks forward to even more globetrotting adventures with her family – as well as continuing to make a world of difference right here in our community.