On March 15, 2021, Bobby arrived at Bon Secours Memorial Regional Medical Center complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. A heart catheterization was done, which is a procedure used to diagnose and possibly treat certain cardiovascular conditions.
In Bobby’s case, a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was needed. CABG procedures are used for patients with severe coronary heart disease. It diverts critical blood flow around narrow or clogged parts of the major arteries to improve life-sustaining blood flow and oxygen to the heart.
Bobby’s doctor was Brody Wehman, MD, one of our cardiac surgeons who has advanced training in structural heart procedures and robotic heart surgery. The surgery took place several days later, on March 22.
Bobby’s condition before the surgery was serious. While Dr. Wehman was pleased with how things went during the surgery, Bobby was expected to have a challenging recovery. He spent 59 days in the hospital, most of those in the critical care unit.
Overall, Bobby was in the right place at the right time. Memorial Regional Medical Center consistently earns high quality ratings from multiple independent agencies and organizations that evaluate hospital quality.
“I am so proud of the team here at Memorial Regional Medical Center,” shares Robin Johnson, MHA, BSN, RNC-OB, NE-BC, chief nursing officer at the hospital. “Our care for Bobby truly exemplifies our team’s dedication their patients, and how important holistic care of the person is to each of them.”
Eventually, Bobby was stable enough to be able to go outside to have a popsicle! He was so excited and loved posing for pictures with his care team. He sent the photos to his mom so she could see that he was starting to get better and was enjoying some fresh air in one of the healing gardens on the hospital’s campus.
Bobby is grateful for the outstanding care from Dr. Wehman, Christen Brown, his primary nurse, Bonnie Summerlin, his cardiac surgery nurse navigator and Erika Richardson, his patient care tech, along with countless others who made sure he could go home in better health.
He also credits his successful recovery to his therapy team, which included Tiffany Bogan, PT, Shawn Fovel, OT, and Christine Glowatsky, SLP.
Learn more about the heart and vascular care services we offer at Bon Secours.
