11 minute read
Caring Like Family
AVID RUNNER SHARES HER EXPERIENCE RECEIVING TWO MACI PROCEDURES
Megan DeYoung is a mother of five and wife, who keeps her plate full as she is a travel planner, actor, and singer. A few years ago, she added running onto her plate and absolutely fell in love with the sport. She competed in several races throughout the year, such as the River City Half Marathon. Then, shortly after she hit the age of 43, her left knee started to give her some trouble and she shared that, “While moving my daughter into college, I helped to move the bed and all of sudden it felt like my knee exploded.” The remainder of that bittersweet weekend in August of 2021, she was unable to move. That Monday, she visited Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. J. Cuyler Dear at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak and it was determined that a piece of cartilage had gotten loose and was floating around within her knee joint. Three days later, she had surgery to remove the cartilage piece. After her initial surgery, she also became a candidate for the Matrix-induced Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (MACI) procedure. The MACI procedure begins with a minimally invasive biopsy that procures a sample of cartilage cells (chondrocytes). The sample is then sent to a laboratory and allowed a period of time to grow. Then during a second minimally invasive procedure, the cartilage cell sample will be embedded on a special collagen membrane, and implanted into the knee. Megan had her MACI procedure in October of 2021 and said, “The recovery is about six weeks without putting your foot on the floor and with a lot of physical therapy.” Around six months after the procedure and just as she was about to start running in the Alterg anti-gravity treadmill at physical therapy, her right knee pain started to creep in. Immediately contacting her physician and getting imaging done, it showed that she was experiencing the same cartilage issue as her left knee. Then by happenstance, her right knee qualified for the MACI procedure as well, which she had completed in June of 2022. Although Megan is still a few months away from being able to run again, she is enjoying her new mobility, sharing that “Being able to walk up and down the stairs without a lot of pain is totally worth it.”
RETIRED TEACHER AND VETERAN SHOWS FAST RECOVERY AFTER SUFFERING A STROKE
Strokes can happen to anyone at any age. According to the American Heart Association, every 40 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke. World Stroke Day reminds us about the importance of recognizing stroke symptoms and knowing how to respond. Like many patients, Rocky Burke did not realize he was having a stroke nor did he know the symptoms. “I was just living my normal life,” said the military veteran and retired teacher. “Suddenly I woke up in an ambulance.” He had suffered memory loss and wound up on the side of the road when highway rangers found him and called his wife to pick him up. Memory loss is a sign of stroke, but Rocky was unaware at the time.
As a result of the stroke, his right leg, right arm, and the left half of his face were paralyzed. He was taken to Methodist Hospital | Texsan where he is recovering and undergoing physical therapy. Rocky said the team at this hospital has been “awesome and very helpful.” He has worked with speech, physical and occupational therapists. Nurses also educated the couple on exercise regimens for home therapy. “I am super lucky,” he said. He now realizes the importance of diet, exercise and proper medical care, such as keeping up with his high blood pressure treatment. Rocky has shown great progress—he is up and walking with assistance. Nursing staff are very impressed with the progress Rocky has made while being in the hospital. “I am very grateful for this hospital,” says Rocky. “I love these guys and girls, they are extremely attentive.” Knowledge is power and we encourage everyone to learn the F.A.S.T. warning signs of stroke: face drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulty, time to call 911. Other stroke symptoms include numbness of the face, arm or leg, confusion, vision impairment, trouble walking and severe headache. Stroke is largely treatable. It’s a matter of getting the right treatment, right away.
CARING LIKE FAMILY
AIR FORCE VETERAN RECEIVES LIFE-SAVING LIVER TRANSPLANT
“Everyone’s journey is different, but we all have the same end-goal,” says Hector Villarreal, liver transplant recipient. It was a long and rocky road to liver transplantation for Hector Villarreal, but well worth it. Not only did he cheat death several times, but he lived to see his daughter get married and meet his grandson. This year, he also organized a Veteran’s Day reunion for those who served with him in the Air Force in Germany. Hector moved from Houston to San Antonio in 2008. Overwhelmed by different areas of his life, he began consuming an excess amount of alcohol. A few years later, he underwent a procedure that gave him access to hydrocodone. He continued drinking alcohol while on this medication, and before he knew it, he was addicted. Hector’s health concerns began to worsen when he was diagnosed with cirrhosis, a chronic disease of the liver.
While on a trip to Green Bay in December 2016, he experienced encephalopathy, a reaction of the brain to his condition. Friends found him lost in the city and unable to manage the cold weather. Hector was then transported to the emergency room and spent eight days in the ICU, where he experienced hallucinations and near death. Hector needed to be alcohol-free in order to become eligible for a liver transplant. In January 2017, Hector began to feel extremely sick again, but this time he also suffered from pneumonia. At this point, his liver was worn out. The family began preparing for his passing. Though he began working with a hepatologist, Hector went into septic shock in April. He did not think he would make it, but he did. In June, he was back in the hospital needing transfusion and palliative
care was suggested. On June 21, 2017, he was transferred to Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant in very poor condition. Fortunately, Hector received notice that he was set for transplant surgery on July 29. Throughout his transplant journey, Hector experienced a lot of anxiety, stress and depression; luckily, he had the support of the liver transplant team and his wife, Darlene. “I was very well taken care of by all the staff at Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant,” he said. “They are very professional in what they do.” “The first thing I do every morning is thank God and ask him to help me fight the pressure to drink alcohol,” Hector said. “I’m following all directions from my physician to recover properly, going to therapy, and keeping up with my medications.” Post-surgery, Hector decided it was time for him to give back. In October 2018, he became part of the liver transplant support group at the hospital. He also volunteers at the Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, talking to groups about his experience and signing up people for organ donation.
CARING LIKE FAMILY
MALE BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR SPEAKS OUT
As a deputy for Bexar County for 32 years and a Navy Veteran with over 20 years of service, Joe Villarreal says he had never been seriously ill before his diagnosis. So, when he found a lump in his left armpit, he wasn’t too concerned. But in August 2021, he went to his doctor after the lump hadn’t gone away. Joe’s doctor ordered a scan and biopsy for safety reasons and ultimately found three small cancerous tumors on the side of his left nipple. He started chemotherapy to treat the tumors, but with HER2-positive estrogen cancer, the chemotherapy wasn’t working. Surgery was recommended as the next step in his treatment, and a Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan breast cancer surgeon performed a mastectomy,
removing the tumors and cancerous lymph nodes. After surgery, he was treated with radiation. Now, he is in remission and taking oral medications. “I had a great experience with my oncologist, Dr. Raul Portillo, and everyone at the clinic was nice and very supportive,” Joe said. Debbie Williams, a Bluebird Auxiliary volunteer who is 11 years cancer free, provided much-appreciated support, calling and checking on Joe regularly. “Debbie is good at what she does,” he added. “I am doing well, taking my meds and feeling blessed that I wake up every day,” said Joe, 73. “I never gave breast cancer a thought.” His father and two brothers died of prostate cancer, and his mother died from cancer as well. “I always expected to get some kind of cancer, but I thought it would be prostate cancer, so I wasn’t being screened for breast cancer,” he said. Joe feels that breast cancer in men is not talked about enough. “It needs to be brought more to light,” he said. “Statistics show that it’s rare, but it takes a back seat to breast cancer in women. For men, there’s not much education about it or the symptoms. Hispanic men especially don’t want to admit they could have breast cancer; they are embarrassed.” Joe said his wife and friends have been very supportive, and he is willing to talk with other men diagnosed with breast cancer. “You may not be happy to share your breast cancer diagnosis with others, but it doesn’t help when you don’t talk about it,” he said. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2022 about 530 men will die from breast cancer. Among the risk factors are aging, a family history of breast cancer, inherited gene mutations, alcohol, and obesity.
A DECADE OF EMPLOYEES BRINGING HOLIDAY CHEER TO UNDERSERVED FAMILIES
For the tenth consecutive year, Methodist Healthcare and Methodist Healthcare Ministries donated nearly 120 decorated Christmas trees to underserved families in San Antonio.
As part of our annual holiday celebrations, several departments of Methodist Hospital, Methodist Children’s Hospital, Methodist Hospital | Texsan and Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan participated in a tree decorating contest. Following the competition, the trees, along with 64 wreaths decorated by departments at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak and Methodist Hospital | Specialty and Transplant, were given to families in need served by Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “Having an opportunity to spread some Christmas joy to families in need continues to bring incredible pride and joy to our team members who work tirelessly every day to help support resilient families across the communities we serve” said Jaime Wesolowski, President & CEO at Methodist Healthcare Ministries. “This annual tradition between our organization and the Methodist Healthcare System hospitals that participate further supports our shared mission of ‘Serving Humanity to Honor God” and we are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share the Christmas spirit and holiday cheer with our community.”
This year, the San Antonio Spurs also partnered with Methodist Healthcare to help spread even more holiday cheer as players Doug McDermott and Isaiah Roby, the Spurs’ Coyote and the Spurs’ Hype Squad were on hand to greet families and help load up the Christmas trees. The families that received Christmas trees were selected from Methodist Healthcare Ministries’ existing patients and clients who receive care through its Parenting Programs, Recreation & Enrichment services, Behavioral Health, and the Wesley Nurse program. This year, a Winter Wonderland was created inside the Wesley Health & Wellness Center for the families to enjoy while waiting to pick out their tree. Along with their Christmas trees, families were also given a holiday wreath to complete the experience. Courtney Burgoon, Director of Patient Safety and Marnie Jones, Chest Pain Coordinator at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak (Cover) donated their time creating festive wreaths. “Giving back to our community and doing so in a fun and creative outlet is the perfect way to spread holiday cheer,” shared Courtney. In total, the staff at Methodist Hospital | Stone Oak decorated 24 wreaths to donate to families to bring joy to their holiday celebrations.
