Patient Stories
Behind every successful surgery, there's a life - and a story.
Everyday, East Georgia Regional Medical Center is helping Statesboro families get back to the life they love. Here you’ll find their stories.
Kim F.
Like so many breast cancer stories, Kim Futch’s begins with finding a lump. She felt it in June, and had it checked out. By January it had grown and by February she was having breast cancer surgery. She was referred to Dr. Jean-Claude Schwartz and felt immediately comfortable in his care. Dr. Marc Bisseck became her plastic surgeon and Dr. Harsh Bhushan, her oncologist.
“The three doctors communicate well,” she said, which made the whole process easier on her and her family.
“The doctors know who I am. They know me,” she said. “I ran into Dr. Schwartz in the cafeteria and he recognized me. That might not happen at bigger hospitals.”
Kim was grateful to be able to have surgery and chemotherapy locally.
“I was sick the first three months. I couldn’t have made it driving out of town,” she said.
She completed chemo last month. Already, her hair is growing back and she’s trying to figure out what to do with all the scarves and hats she bought during treatment.
“Part of me is still in shock,” she admits, and she’s trying to be strong to get through it all. Kim was just 34 when she was diagnosed. She’s turned 35 since then. She and her husband have a 7-year-old son to raise, and she counts on her strong faith to get her through. That, and the personalized care she received at East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
Genelda R.
Genelda Reese was holding a ticket for a long awaited European river cruise, and she wasn’t about to let anything—including breast cancer—keep her from that departure. Although she worked in the healthcare industry, she hadn’t gotten regular mammograms. So, when the hospital was installing new digital mammography technology, she volunteered to help test the new equipment.
That’s when they discovered a lump. Dr. Jean-Claude Schwartz recommended chemo first, then surgery. The chemo did an even better job than he had expected. Thanks to East Georgia Regional Medical Center, Genelda was able to get quality care and treatment right here at home.
“I was totally satisfied, and so thankful that Dr. Schwartz had decided to settle in Statesboro,” she said. “I liked him and the concern he had for me. He took extra time to clarify things.”
When the first wisps of hair fell out, Genelda went to her hairdresser and told her to buzz all her hair off. During treatment, she remodeled her home. She was already eating well — Genelda was the director of nutritional services at East Georgia Regional Medical Center for more than 44 years. At a recent family reunion, she realized that four of her 25 guests were breast cancer survivors. During the event, she handed down her wig to her cousin, who had just started treatment. Today, she’s retired. She’s taken another cruise—this time to Russia. She’s very grateful for Dr. Schwartz and everyone at East Georgia Regional Medical Center.
“I had everything I needed right here,” she said.
Tom R.
Throughout his retirement, Tom Ritchie of Metter exercised on a regular basis and managed to maintain a sensible diet, allowing him to lose 20 pounds along the way. Even though he seemed like the picture of health, Tom didn't know that his life would take a dramatic turn for the worse. One afternoon, while working on the roof of his barn, Tom broke out in a sweat that soaked him from head to toe. All alone and having a difficult time breathing, Tom was able to call 911. He remembered that his mother-in-law had mentioned a new doctor coming to East Georgia Regional Medical Center, so he asked EMS to take him to Statesboro.
Upon arrival at East Georgia Regional Medical Center, Tom was met by Dr. Christopher Leggett, the hospital's new interventional cardiologist. Results from Tom’s exam showed a 99.9 percent blockage in an artery known as “the widow maker.” Dr. Leggett immediately transferred Tom to the hospital's advanced cath lab, where Dr. Leggett inserted a stent and opened Tom’s blocked artery.
Without access to an interventional cardiologist like Dr. Leggett and a hospital like East Georgia Regional Medical Center, Tom would have been taken to a facility some 50 miles away - a long time to wait in such an emergency. Today, Tom Ritchie is back to leading a healthy and active life, has finished the roof on his barn, and realizes that heart disease can happen to anyone.
Marisa S.
She’d taken her blood pressure medication. The stress at work was at its usual peak level. But Marisa Smith knew something was different. As information services director at East Georgia Regional Medical Center, she was close to quality care and admitted as a patient. When her pain didn’t subside, Dr. Ajay Jain took her to the cath lab, where interventional cardiologist Dr. Christopher Leggett was finishing an unscheduled case. And thank goodness. She had two blockages and had they gone untreated, they would have resulted in a heart attack.
“I’m just so glad I was here to take care of you,” Dr. Leggett told her. Marisa doesn’t smoke and exercises daily, but both of her parents died from heart ailments.
“I have to take even better care of myself,” she said. “Doctors can mend, but it’s up to me to do the rest.”
Norman R.
Norman Riggs didn’t exactly feel bad, but his brothers were having medical difficulties. And he thought, “If it could happen to them, it could happen to me.”
His primary care physician discovered high blood pressure, and referred him to a cardiologist. Dr. Stanley Shin monitored Norman, and sent him to an interventional cardiologist.
“I’m glad you came to me,” said Dr. Christopher Leggett, who found four blockages, including one in “the widow maker” artery. Within days, Norman had two stents on the left side and two on the right, in a procedure he calls “a piece of cake.” A week later, Norman was back on the golf course.
“Now, instead of 69, I feel like I’m 49, or 39,” he said. His golf game hasn’t improved, but he’s fit enough to walk the course instead of using a golf cart.
“The tag team saved my life,” he said. “Dr. Leggett is a diamond in the rough.”
“I had bilateral hip replacement at East Georgia Regional Medical Center on May 5, 2017. Dr. W. Stephen Tankersley was my surgeon and there are not enough superlatives to describe how much I appreciate his compassion as a doctor and excellent skills as a surgeon.
"When I arrived at East Georgia Regional on the morning of my surgery, I had to wait only a few minutes before I was taken back to begin my in-processing. The waiting room and all other areas I saw were modern and exceptionally clean. My in-processing was handled quickly and professionally and then I went back to the best surgical center I've ever experienced. There were so many medical professionals checking in on me, being positive, encouraging and doing everything in their power to make me comfortable and not anxious. When I was cold, they brought me warm blankets...ahhh! When I expressed my only pre-surgery apprehension being the starting of an IV in my hand, I was told not to worry because they would deaden the area before starting the IV and I wouldn't feel anything. Well, for the first time in my life, I experienced a totally pain-free IV! This was a huge surprise to me since I've had many surgeries but never has anyone deadened the area so that the IV needle is undetectable. I had no idea that it was possible to get an IV without feeling it! After this, it was all smooth sailing for me!
"I don't remember going to the OR (did I mention I had a great EGRMC anesthesiologist too?) or anything until I got to my room and was thrilled that I truly did not feel any pain...and never really did after my surgery. I had the anterior minimally invasive approach (AMIS) so that no muscle had to be cut like the way my first hip replacement was performed 12 years prior. In the long run, the AMIS technique changed what had been a 3-month recovery into a 2-week recovery with virtually no pain, just uncomfortable swelling from tissue healing. I stayed at East Georgia Regional for two nights, merely because I'd had two hip replacements vs. one. Two great physical therapists came to get me up and walking very soon after I got moved into my room. They asked if I could help get myself to the edge of the bed so I just swung both of my legs out of bed and stood up. They were both pretty amazed and remarked that they'd never seen anyone do that before! I walked with the walker the two days I was in the hospital and didn't need it after I came home.
"I could not be happier with my East Georgia Regional experience. Every RN, CNA, PT, dietitian and all other medical staff could not have been more professional, cheerful and helpful...they truly made my hospitalization a great one. Although I was in the hospital over the weekend, my doctor checked on me and staff members were always there in a moment if I needed them. The nursing care I received was excellent. I live in Eatonton, GA, about 2.5 hours away, but my EGRMC experience was worth the extra miles. East Georgia Regional Medical Center will always be my hospital of choice when I have a doctor who practices there. Thanks again to Dr. Tankersley, his staff and his OR team for making my bilateral hip replacement seem easy...and giving me back my active lifestyle!”
- Lynn B.
“Having been born with spina bifida in 1975, I have had numerous occasions to be hospitalized at different hospitals across Georgia. Of them all, I can honestly say that I have received the best and most attentive care from the doctors, nurses and CNA’s at East Georgia Regional Medical Center than at any other hospital I have been to.
"There are numerous reasons as to why I would bypass a local hospital close to home to drive the hour to East Georgia Regional Medical Center. For starters, I feel the nursing staff at East Georgia Regional Medical Center is extremely experienced, allowing me to feel more than comfortable having them care for my highly involved and fragile condition. Secondly, the hospitalists there allow me to be involved in the decision making of my care plan.
"My most recent visits to East Georgia Regional Medical Center took place in January 2016, February 2016, July 2016, August 2016, and June 2017. While I felt comfortable and well attended to by almost everyone, Dr. McCracken, Dr. Penn and Dr. Miles, as well as Brooks Lord in radiology, were among those who made my stay less stressful overall.
"I will continue to choose East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro as my healthcare provider of choice.”
- Ryan M.
“I remember walking down the halls of my job, and my chest began hurting. I could hear and see myself breathing hard, and looking around to see if anyone was looking to see me catch my breath. I was embarrassed. I had always been what they called 'the big girl with the cute face.' I was active, I loved to dance and just hang out.
"I believe it was when I reached my highest weight at 385 lbs. I decided enough was enough. I was a mom of three, and there was no way I was going to let myself or my kids down anymore. So a week or so later, I was talking to a coworker, and she told me one of our new physicians would be doing the gastric sleeve and I should go to the seminar. The day of the seminar, I was scared and excited at the same time. I gave my information to Mrs. Paula and I knew I was ready. Not for anyone but myself, because this was a definitely a mental and physical lifestyle change that I had to prepare for.
"This was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. This isn't a quick fix, because you will have to work hard and change your life for the better. I am now proud to say I'm 252 pounds. I still battle with some things, but I can definitely tell you this is just the beginning. I want to lose about 80lbs and keep and maintain it off. Meeting Dr. Musielak and his staff has been life changing. Some of the positive outlooks of my experience is I no longer have blood pressure issues, no high cholesterol and I have given myself more time with my kids and enjoying life. I am happy, I'm becoming healthy and the gastric sleeve is working for me. If I can do it, anyone can.”
- Yvonne R.
“I had gastric sleeve weight loss surgery on March 21st, 2018, with Dr. Matthew Musielak. My heaviest weight was 637 pounds and I am currently at 386 pounds and still losing. I have been obese all my life; since I was 11 years old. Before surgery, I was able to work but I didn’t have much energy. Now my family tells me I need to slow down and that they can’t keep up with me.
"My blood pressure was very high, I took two medications for it, I was on anxiety meds, I couldn’t breathe and I got no sleep. I’m sure there were other things wrong, but I was scared to get tested. Today, I do NOT take ANY medications other than my vitamins. I’ve had a wonderful support system through all this: my wife, kids, other family members, Ms. Yvonne (another bariatric patient on FB) and Ms. Paula (EGRMC bariatric coordinator).
"Since surgery, I have started my own lawn business. Also, I will begin my dream job tomorrow with the sheriff’s department. I will soon achieve what I once thought was the unachievable…the police academy. I’m not going to lie, I was scared, and in fact, I canceled surgery three times! But, if I’d known then, what I know now… I have no regrets, and I love it!!! I tell everyone about my experience and that they don’t have to go way off from family, work and home to have bariatric surgery, they do it in Statesboro.”
- Eric B.