Patient Stories
John Myers
Digestive Health Patient
After being in septic shock, John had the ERCP procedure at Summa Health that he credits with saving his life.
Transcription
John Myers: I had this uncontrollable shaking that would not stop. I saw my PCP who did some blood work and told me, "Go to the hospital now."
As soon as I got to the emergency room at Summa, Dr. Samiullah and his team were waiting for me and they discovered that I was in septic shock because of an infection in my pancreas. They immediately started the procedure called ERCP and that was the beginning of saving my life. Another hour outside of that surgery room, I would've not have lived.
When I saw Dr. Samiullah after the surgery, I said, "You saved my life. I am never gonna forget you." I would not be here if it wasn't for Summa and Dr. Samiullah. Now, I definitely have a lot to live for. I have a grandson, I have my wife and there's still a lot of fish to catch.
Diane Conrad
Digestive Health Patient
For years avoided a colonoscopy but now an advocate after stage four tumor removal surgery
Transcription
Diane: One morning I just woke up and I was in excruciating pain on my side. So I went to the Summa emergency room. I was just so scared.
They did a CT scan there and they discovered two lesions on my liver, and they sent me to a gastroenterologist. The doctors in digestive health actually convinced me to have the colonoscopy. That's where Dr. Welch discovered a golf ball-sized tumor in my colon. This was a stage four tumor that had spread to my liver. Dr. Welch removed that part of my bowel and the lesions on my liver all in one surgery.
For years, I avoided getting a colonoscopy but now I just wanna be a spokesperson. I want everybody to go out and get theirs. And a colonoscopy is so easy. So please, people, go and get your colonoscopy so you don't have to go through what I've been through.