Danielle Haddock knows her father better than anyone.

Over the nearly 4.5 years that Danny Gordon has been a resident of the Wilson Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Danielle hasn’t had to worry much about if her father is content, because he would definitely say something if he wasn’t.

“My dad is a very grouchy, grumpy man,” Danielle said with a laugh. “But they roll with it. I know he is well looked after.”

Danny is a double-amputee who is a motorcycle enthusiast. He has been the victim of a few severe motorcycle accidents, the last in 2017 in which he fractured his pelvis. Complications from that accident along with diabetes led to the amputations and long-term nursing home stays.

Danielle said her father’s stay at another facility wasn’t pleasant. Now, Danny is around a staff that has grown to know him well, and he has benefited from the stay.

“His health has improved since he has been there,” Danielle said. “He seems to be satisfied there. The communication has been very good. A nursing home is not where anyone wanted him to end up, but it is the safest place for him to be. The staff have really looked after him.”

WRNC’s care for Danny has been especially gratifying for Danielle, who is a caregiver for her sister and the mom of twin boys. She and her husband live 30 minutes away from the WRNC facility. She commended the communication of the WRNC staff concerning her father’s care, whether by phone call or email.

Danielle also acknowledge Physical Therapist Joellen Carroll and the WRNC staff for “encouraging my dad to do things that are hard.” Despite no longer being able to ride a motorcycle, Danny is still a rider at heart. He proudly displays his Harley-Davidson branded prosthetics any chance he gets. Danielle is glad to see her father in a good place.

“His silence is his answer sometimes, and he is coasting along,” Danielle said. “He’s always been a motorcycle man – rough and tough.”