I’m well because of Dr. Maykel. He saved my life About eight years ago I was diagnosed with diverticulitis. Since then, my issues with IBD slowly twice.
advanced and a normal life became increasingly difficult. Misdiagnosed with Crohn’s disease, I spent all of 2013 unable to leave my house, taking all sorts of medications/treatments and injections to help relieve my discomfort. For several years I have provided “Grampy Daycare” to my two grandchildren two days a week and even that proved to be a challenge, as I was having 20-25 bowel movements a day with extreme pain and bleeding. In January 2014, my wife was frustrated with my increased discomfort and declining health and went online to find a colorectal surgeon who could help me. She found Dr. Justin Maykel at UMass Memorial and made an appointment. After a thorough review of my records, Dr. Maykel determined that I had a severe case of ulcerative colitis. On February 4th he performed a proctocolectomy which included removal of my entire large intestine and my rectum. The end result was a permanent ileostomy and I was on my way to recovery. I felt that Dr. Maykel had saved and rejuvenated my life. On day 6 of my recovery, I was scheduled to be released mid-afternoon. At about 10 am I noticed a strange pain in my left arm which quickly radiated under my armpit and to the center of my chest. Fortunately, there was a nurse in the room and she immediately called for assistance and the room filled with doctors and nurses. In less than 5 minutes I suffered a heart attack. Dr. Maykel just happened to be on the floor at the time and ran to assist in my room. He was the one who jumped on my bed and began CPR. They then shocked me back to life, rushed me to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and found a blood clot in an artery on my heart, unrelated…
…to my colitis surgery. They cleared the clot and gave me a stent. Dr. Maykel had saved my life a second time. The following morning I was awake about 3 am and noticed the same symptoms in my left arm once again. I was again brought right to the Cardiac Catheterization Lab where they found two more blood clots and put in a second stent. Ten days later I was released and sent home. To say that I have a new life would be an understatement. I adapted to life with an ostomy bag very easily. Dr. Maykel gave me what I call a perfect stoma. I have had zero issues of any kind since surgery over a year ago. As retired Marine at age 59, life is good. I’m able to do anything I could do 10 years ago without hesitation and I now plan things I thought I would never do. I can come and go as I please, anytime, anywhere. All of my friends and family have supported me throughout my difficulties and we constantly enjoy good humor, often including “Stanley” (my stoma’s name) in our conversations. I tell anyone who will listen that I love my new friend Stanley! I’m well because of Dr. Maykel. He saved my life twice and words cannot express my gratitude towards him and his assistants. I was always treated with the utmost respect and given the best care anyone could ask for. I can now do and plan to do things that I thought I would never be able to do again. I love taking care of my grandchildren and draw pictures on my ostomy bag for them. They call it Grampy’s bandaid.
—Steven Russell
I am well because‌ I am well today. In 2009, I was diagnosed with late-stage colon cancer that had penetrated the wall of the colon into my abdomen. Following surgery to remove a section of the colon and a total hysterectomy, I went through six months of chemotherapy. I regained my strength, returned to work and began traveling with my husband. My medical oncologist followed my progress every three months and with frequent CT scans. I dreaded those visits to his office to hear CT results because I was sure there would be bad news. It was all good until my mammogram in the spring of 2014, and a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer. More surgery to remove the cancer, six weeks of radiation and follow up with my oncologist, and I am well today because of the excellent care I received from the doctors, nurses, and staff at UMass Memorial Medical Center. —Carol Conrad