By: Krysten Brenlla

Kevin Stalbaum, 63, and his wife, Amy Stalbaum, 53, live for adventure. After Kevin worked for the U.S. Air Force and Arizona’s Power and Water Company for years, the couple decided a quiet retirement awaited them in the Caribbean island of St. Croix.

“The scuba diving in St. Croix is amazing. We’re renovating our hurricane-damaged dream house on the island ourselves, and there is a great cycling community there,” Amy said. “Cycling is one of our favorite things to do together.”

They never thought the activity they loved the most would almost cost them their lives.

On September 17, the Stalbaums began their bike ride at 6:45 a.m. Less than 10 minutes into their ride, a car crashed into both of them from behind.

“We’re both experienced cyclists, and we do everything we can to be as visible and as safe as possible,” Amy said. “Despite our precautions, we were hit, and we don’t know why. The driver and the car are still missing.”

The impact from the crash left both Amy and Kevin unconscious on the road. Emergency medical services arrived to the scene and rushed the couple to the nearest emergency room on the island, where doctors diagnosed Kevin with leg, cervical, and lumbar fractures, and Amy with severe road rash, a brain bleed, and a spinal fracture.

“At one point, I remember being on a gurney, with Amy on her gurney next to me,” Kevin said. “I remember asking, ‘what’s going on?’ And that’s the last thing I remember before waking up in Miami.”

Because of the severity of their injuries, Amy and Kevin needed to be medically evacuated to the nearest trauma center, and by Monday, September 18, the Stalbaums arrived to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial by helicopter, where they were prepped for emergency surgery.

“The first thing we had to do with Kevin was make sure he was stabilized from a cardio pulmonary standpoint,” said Stephen Shelby Burks, Jr., MD, a UHealth – University of Miami Health System neurosurgeon and spinal cord surgeon at Jackson. “He needed a collar due to his cervical fracture, and a custom lumbar brace. For Kevin’s lumbar surgery, we used a CT-based navigation surgical system, which enabled us to direct the screws in the exact position needed. With this procedure, we hope to mitigate Kevin’s pain, and avoid any deformities in his spine from forming in the future.”

At the same time, Amy was also undergoing spinal surgery.

“The ligaments of Amy’s spine were ripped apart,” said Evan J. Trapana, MD, a UHealth orthopedic spine surgeon at Jackson. “Amy is very young and active, which is why we went the route we did by placing rods and screws in her spine to stiffen the spine’s structure, giving her a stable construct for her body to weigh on. In six months, when everything is healed up, we’ll remove the rods and screws to preserve most of her motion and lower the risk of her needing future spinal surgery.”

Amy’s surgical team used robot-assisted surgery to place the screws and rods in her spine; Jackson Memorial is one of a few hospitals in the nation with the robot technology available for use in spinal surgery.

“It really helps us, as surgeons, safely implement screws with pinpoint accuracy,” Dr. Trapana said. “It also shaves time in the operation, and provides a better recovery rate for patients.”

After spending nearly three weeks in the hospital, the Stalbaums were discharged on October 10. They received rehabilitation therapy at Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial, and created comprehensive plans with therapists to help with their mobility, balance, endurance, and strength.

With the help of physical, occupational, and cognitive therapies, the couple look forward to making a full recovery, so they can return to St. Croix.

They’re grateful to the teams at Ryder Trauma and Jackson Memorial for not only saving their lives, but giving them the chance to keep their adventures going for years to come.

“We count our blessings that we landed here,” Amy said. “Jackson’s staff and our community back home in St. Croix really helped us get through this.”

By: Miranda Torres

When Michelle Ramkumar Langlois welcomed her first child, Bruce Noah Langlois, on November 29, 2020, she never could have predicted what the next few years of their lives would look like. Noah, born prematurely at 25 weeks and hardly weighing more than a pound, spent his first 207 days of life in a neonatal intensive care unit in Ft. Myers.

Almost seven months later, Noah was finally discharged, but the celebrations were short-lived. Four days later, Noah’s father, Bruce Langlois, unexpectedly passed away.

“His dad was an amazing guy and I think Noah gets a lot of his spirit from him,” Langlois said. “His dad was very outgoing and extroverted and Noah is that in spades. I think he gets his sweetness and his kindness from his dad for sure.”

Despite the heartbreak Noah’s family was experiencing, Langlois was determined to give her son the best life possible.

On his first birthday, she found a strange lump on his stomach. One week later, it was determined that the lump was a tumor that occupied 90 percent of his liver – also known as a pretext 3 hepatoblastoma since it was in three zones of his liver.

“When we got the diagnosis of hepatoblastoma, I was just so concerned for his future,” Langlois said. “I was thinking, ‘What is my little guy going to go through?’”

Noah’s oncologists told Langlois that his treatment options included chemotherapy with the hopes of shrinking the tumor, and eventually a liver transplant or resection. After four rounds of chemotherapy in Ft. Myers, Noah’s tumor did not shrink.

His care team contacted Jennifer Garcia, MD, medical director of pediatric transplant services, adult and pediatric intestinal rehabilitation, and intestinal transplant at the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), an affiliation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System.

Dr. Garcia meet with Noah and his doctors via telehealth one month after his diagnosis. They decided Noah should be transferred to Holtz Children’s Hospital at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center on March 24, 2022.

The night before his scheduled transfer, Noah went into cardio-pulmonary arrest. While he was quickly resuscitated and intubated, the Ft. Myers team didn’t think Noah would survive the transfer. Thankfully, Juan Pablo Solano, MD, a pediatric critical care specialist at Holtz Children’s, was the attending physician in the pediatric intensive care unit at the time and approved his transfer.

On March 29, 2022, Noah was airlifted to Holtz Children’s. Upon arrival, he was battling respiratory failure due to a sepsis infection and effects of his recent cardio-pulmonary arrest. His tumor was pressing against his diaphragm, making it difficult for him to breathe and eat. He mainly survived on parenteral nutrition (TPN) for a year.

He spent six months in the pediatric intensive care unit undergoing more rounds of chemotherapy. Noah’s mom and grandmother moved into the Ronald McDonald House, which is conveniently located on the Jackson Memorial campus, allowing them to spend their days alongside him.

“Noah and God gave me the strength to keep going every day,” Langlois said. “It’s hard to stay in a state of sadness and despair when this little guy is saying, ‘I’m not giving up, I’m still here, and I’m still fighting.’”

Noah’s care team reached out to Prasoon Mohan, MD, a UHealth interventional radiologist, who researched whether forms of a Y-90 embolization could be safely performed on a patient of Noah’s age and size.

A Y-90 embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that combines embolization and radiation therapy to treat liver cancer. Dr. Moha’s research found that this procedure had never been performed on such a young patient.

Noah’s family and the rest of the medical team decided to move forward with the experimental treatment. The results showed the liver was indeed responding. Dr. Mohan then treated Noah with two rounds of bland embolization, and the tumor significantly reduced in size, making him eligible for transplant.

“I want to stress that this kind of success can only happen at a place like Jackson, and that is because of the wide-range of expertise that we have here,” Dr. Mohan said. “The expertise of the different specialists and the trust we have in each other allows us to work as a team. We really do make miracles happen here.”

“You pray for months and months for these things to fall in place, but it’s a hard thing to pray for because you know what it means for someone else,” Langlois said. “I prayed that no matter how it happened that God would provide a way for Noah to have a long, healthy, beautiful life.”

On December 29, 2022, Langlois received the call that would forever change their lives – a donor had been found for Noah.
“He has come out of so many very difficult situations before his transplant, which showed us he would be able to overcome a transplant surgery,” said Akin Tekin, MD, liver, intestinal, and multivisceral surgeon at MTI.

Vighnesh Venkatasmy, MD, transplant surgeon at MTI, travelled out of state to procure the donor liver. Gennaro Selvaggi, MD, transplant surgeon at MTI, cut down the liver to fit Noah’s small frame. .Dr. Tekin then performed the transplantation of the new liver into the young boy.

While Noah was undergoing his transplant, his family rallied together in prayer. “Noah is a fighter; he was born fighting and he hasn’t stopped yet. He is an inspiration not only to us, but to so many people that have come to know him,” said Molly and Albert Ramkumar, Noah’s maternal grandparents.

Post-transplant, Noah underwent his two final rounds of chemotherapy. In April, he officially rang the bell on the oncology floor of Holtz Children’s, signifying the end of his cancer treatment, and marking the eminent end of his chapter as an inpatient.

“The past two years have been a rollercoaster, but I would not have missed this time with Noah and Michelle for anything,” said Stacy Langlois, Noah’s paternal grandmother. “We have been a part of every procedure, surgery, chemo treatment, infection, sleepless night, devastating news; but also a part of his smiles, love, his effect on everyone he meets, and his love for life.”

A year and three months later, Noah and his family are preparing for discharge. Before he heads home, he is undergoing physical, speech, and occupational therapies.

“This child has such a desire to live and play and be social from such a young age that he motivates everyone around him to do more and help him improve,” said Heidy Carbot, a pediatric physical therapist at Holtz Children’s.

The family plans to split his follow-up care between Holtz Children’s and a local hospital closer to their home in Ft. Myers.

“When we got here a year ago, we didn’t know if we would be leaving Holtz Children’s with Noah, ever. Chances were so high we that he was not going to survive this,” Langlois said. “But here we are at the end of this journey, and it is because of the team here at Holtz Children’s who never gave up on him and the care he has received. ‘Thank you’ is not adequate, but it is all I’ve got.”

In September 2013, Danielle Press suffered life-threatening injuries in a boating accident off the coast of Key Biscayne – the very place where her father is police chief.

Danielle, 26 at the time, was rushed to Ryder Trauma Center with several deep, lacerating injuries to her upper leg. Trauma surgeons immediately operated on Danielle, who had lost a lot of blood and nearly died.

But Allan Levi, MD, a UHealth neurosurgeon at Jackson Memorial Hospital, obtained approval from the FDA to perform a unique procedure on Danielle, combining standard nerve grafting with her own Schwann cells, in hopes of regenerating the nerve and restoring her function. Dr. Levi also led the world’s first Phase 1 of FDA approved clinical trial, through The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, using a patient’s own Schwann cells to treat paralysis, so he felt this would give Danielle the best chance at some level of recovery.

The world’s first procedure, performed in October 2013 at Jackson Memorial Hospital, was a success – and the progress Danielle has made since then has been remarkable.

In the nearly four years since the near fatal accident, Danielle moved to Taiwan, where she climbed one of the highest mountains and volunteered to carry water jugs to temples. She visited one of the world’s largest caves in Borneo, swam in turquoise lagoons in the Philippines, camped all over Japan, became certified as an advanced diver, and dove with a school of hammerhead sharks. She has become a writer, and her writings about the accident, her recovery, her passion for fitness, and travel have been published on several websites.

Danielle recently married her longtime boyfriend, Jeff. The couple is living in the Jamaican countryside, working and learning on a vegetable farm. Their next adventure will bring them back to North America, where they plan on following their dreams of opening a “Farm to Table” bed and breakfast lodge.

All this, she says, would not have been possible without the second chance she was given at Ryder Trauma.

“My gratitude for the staff, the doctors, the nurses, and the specialists knows no bounds,” Danielle said. “They played such a paramount role in my recovery and I will never forget them.”

By: Krysten Brenlla

Romualdo Segurola, MD, 58, is no stranger to heart health. A practicing cardiovascular surgeon for 20 years, Dr. Segurola has seen patients from around the world with extensive heart disease, and has dedicated his life to helping them.

That’s why when Dr. Segurola, Jackson Health System’s chief of cardiac surgery and medical director of Jackson Heart Institute, felt intense chest pain on the night of January 22, 2022, he knew what he was feeling.

“For some time, I was feeling discomfort – my brother had just passed away, and my health was suffering as I grieved his passing,” Dr. Segurola said. “Months before, I was checking my heart health frequently, but that night, I started feeling chest discomfort, and in a very short period of time, that chest discomfort went south. It was the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life.”

From his home, Dr. Segurola immediately called Alexandre Ferreira, MD, chief of cardiology for Jackson Heart Institute, to let him know his symptoms.

As soon as he received the call, Dr. Ferreira rushed to Jackson Memorial Hospital to care for his colleague and friend.

“It is a strange emotion when you see one of your close colleagues experiencing severe pain,” Dr. Ferreira said. “Dr. Segurola’s case was different than any other patient I’ve treated because when he called me, he already had a diagnosis for himself. He said, ‘my friend, I’m having a heart attack.’”

When he arrived at Jackson Memorial, Dr. Segurola was rushed to the catheterization laboratory for life-saving treatment. Upon evaluation, Dr. Ferreira and his team found that Dr. Segurola suffered a “widowmaker” heart attack, a type of heart attack that involves an obstruction of the left anterior descending artery, one of the most important arteries that provides blood to the heart.

“When all this was happening, the fact that these are my friends and colleagues didn’t matter to me,” Dr. Segurola said. “At that moment, I was just seeing my doctors, and I put all my trust in them to save my life.”

One year later, Dr. Segurola feels healthier and stronger than ever. He exercises regularly, and follows a strict regimen with medication and a healthy diet.

“The fact that we are able to see him every day, ask him how he’s doing, have him continue to provide patient care, and know that he’s doing well – it’s a great joy,” Dr. Ferreira said.

Dr. Segurola continues to do what he loves by helping patients maintain their heart health, and saving their lives from deadly diseases that may lead to a heart attack – an experience he knows all too well.

“Going through something like this, you really understand your patients better, and that’s priceless,” Dr. Segurola said. “I knew that whatever I would have to face, we would have been able to take care of it here, at Jackson, because this is the only true comprehensive program in South Florida.”

“I can’t thank my friends and colleagues at Jackson enough for saving my life.”

Jeffrey Hackman, a firefighter with the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Aviation Division, was used to jumping in front of danger to save lives.

However, in 2015, he found his life in danger when his doctor discovered traces of blood in his urine during a routine physical.

For the next six years, Hackman, 47, saw a nephrologist annually, who tested him for kidney damage.

“I’ve had some blood in my urine on and off since my teens, but never thought anything of it,” Hackman said. “I felt fine and had no symptoms of anything else being wrong, but we still monitored it every year like clockwork.”

It wasn’t until September 2021, during an annual checkup with the fire department, that his doctor found something concerning.

Hackman’s kidney function dropped from 30 percent to 17 percent, and he became a critical case.

“The hardest thing for me was when I was pulled off of my fire truck to regular duty in the fire department,” Hackman added.

“I wanted to pretend nothing was wrong, but no longer having my truck after 27 years was when I finally realized things were serious.”

By October 2021, Hackman was experiencing leg swelling from his knees down to his feet and ankles, a symptom of chronic kidney disease.

It became clear he needed a kidney transplant.

After several inquiries across the U.S., Hackman found the perfect place to prepare for the procedure, and it was right in his backyard– the Miami Transplant Institute (MTI), an affili­ation between Jackson Health System and UHealth – University of Miami Health System.

All he needed was a donor.

“I was still in denial, thinking I’d get better on my own,” Hackman said. “I had tough-guy syndrome, and thought everything would be fine, when in reality, it wasn’t.”

Finally accepting his condition, Hackman took to social media to find a solution. He posted his story, and soon, support came flooding in.

Within a few days, his ideal match came from his own family – his big sister, Dawn Martin, who lives in Atlanta.

“I’ve always looked up to my brother, and now he needed my help,” Martin said. “I called him and said, ‘Are you busy December 8?’ and he said no, and I said, ‘Good, because you’re getting my kidney!’”

Martin and Hackman’s loved ones and friends were part of their journey for the next three weeks, providing them with a place to stay, daily meals, and the resources they needed to face this life-changing event.

On the day of the transplant surgery, the siblings were prepped and transferred to two separate operating rooms – one for the donor and one for the recipient.

Rodrigo Vianna, MD, PhD, director of Transplant Services, and chief of liver, intestinal, and multivisceral transplant at MTI, removed Martin’s kidney using robotic surgery.

“The biggest difference in using robotic surgery is the pain level during the patients’ recovery,” Dr. Vianna explained. “Most of the living donors return home within 24 hours –that’s a huge benefit.”

In the other operating room, the MTI surgical team was confident that a living kidney donor was the best way to save Hackman.

After a successful recovery, Martin was discharged the day after surgery, well enough to continue recovering at home. Just weeks after her first follow-up appointment, she and her husband were ready to drive back to Atlanta to reunite with their children.

Hackman was discharged after three days in the hospital. His wife, Aly, and his parents took over his care and recovery.

Martin now sees her health in a new perspective – she’s adding more exercise to her daily routine and is eating healthier.

When she looks at her new tattoo of the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue emblem on her forearm, she is reminded of her brother, and how sometimes, even heroes need help.

“It’s a tribute to my brother, but it also gives me a chance to talk about the donor program at MTI and how important it is,” Martin said.

After a few weeks, Hackman settled back into his routine, and has returned to saving other people’s lives with a healthy kidney in place.

“I believe my diligence in listening and trusting the surgeons and caretakers at Jackson sped up my recovery,” he said. “I feel fortunate to have such an incredible team of healthcare professionals close to home.”

Lloyd Henry, MD, has spent decades saving lives as a general surgeon at Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. At age 84, he had lived a healthy life with no prior medical concerns. However, that changed on November 16, 2021.

While assisting in an open gallbladder removal surgery, Dr. Henry suddenly began to experience fainting episodes. Fainting, also known as syncopal episodes, results from a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. It is often due to strain, stress, or long periods of standing, all of which Dr. Henry experienced.

“We were finishing up and I just felt strange,” he recalled. “I looked at the other surgeon and told him that I felt funny.”

The next thing Dr. Henry remembers was waking up in the operating room with severe right lower back pain, numbness, and difficulty moving his right foot. Upon evaluation, the medical team revealed the situation was much more serious. He would need medical attention at a facility with the expertise and resources to give him the best care.

The next day, Dr. Henry was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Jackson Memorial’s cardiothoracic medical team immediately performed an echocardiogram and a computed tomography angiography (CTA) of his chest and abdomen that revealed a tear in his aorta, also known as the coronary artery – the artery that delivers oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. According to the National Library of Medicine, less than 50 percent of patients with a ruptured aorta survive. Exams also revealed that there were signs of mild-to-moderate aortic valve regurgitation, which is a condition that occurs when the heart’s aortic valve does not close tightly.

The team called in the expertise of Romualdo Segurola, MD, Jackson Health System’s chief of cardiac surgery and director of the Jackson Heart Institute.

“The most impressive thing about Jackson to me is that it’s the only true comprehensive health system in South Florida. Our advanced technology also sets us apart,” Dr. Segurola said. “The teams that treated Dr. Henry involved cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, and critical care. Together, they were able to see to all his needs in a timely and effective way.”

Dr. Segurola performed multiple surgeries on Dr. Henry, including an emergency ascending aortic dissection repair, aortic valve replacement, and an exclusion amputation of the left atrial appendage that helps prevent strokes by sealing off a small section of the heart called the left atrial appendage. This is a site where blood clots may form during an arrhythmic episode.

All the procedures were successful. Dr. Henry was able to return home to St. Croix within two weeks and was back at work two months later. Today, in addition to his work at the hospital in St. Croix, he takes pride in his gardening, time with his wife, and seeing his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren grow up.

“Jackson is like the major leagues. The staff is excellent from beginning to end,” Dr. Henry said. “I owe my healthy track record to my faith, taking care of myself, and giving back to my community, but I thank the top medical care I was able to access that has given me my life back.”

Lloyd Henry, MD, has spent decades saving lives as a general surgeon at Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. At age 84, he had lived a healthy life with no prior medical concerns. However, that changed on November 16, 2021.

While assisting in an open gallbladder removal surgery, Dr. Henry suddenly began to experience fainting episodes. Fainting, also known as syncopal episodes, results from a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. It is often due to strain, stress, or long periods of standing, all of which Dr. Henry experienced.

“We were finishing up and I just felt strange,” he recalled. “I looked at the other surgeon and told him that I felt funny.”

The next thing Dr. Henry remembers was waking up in the operating room with severe right lower back pain, numbness, and difficulty moving his right foot. Upon evaluation, the medical team revealed the situation was much more serious. He would need medical attention at a facility with the expertise and resources to give him the best care.

The next day, Dr. Henry was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Jackson Memorial’s cardiothoracic medical team immediately performed an echocardiogram and a computed tomography angiography (CTA) of his chest and abdomen that revealed a tear in his aorta, also known as the coronary artery – the artery that delivers oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. According to the National Library of Medicine, less than 50 percent of patients with a ruptured aorta survive. Exams also revealed that there were signs of mild-to-moderate aortic valve regurgitation, which is a condition that occurs when the heart’s aortic valve does not close tightly.

The team called in the expertise of Romualdo Segurola, MD, Jackson Health System’s chief of cardiac surgery and director of the Jackson Heart Institute.

“The most impressive thing about Jackson to me is that it’s the only true comprehensive health system in South Florida. Our advanced technology also sets us apart,” Dr. Segurola said. “The teams that treated Dr. Henry involved cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, and critical care. Together, they were able to see to all his needs in a timely and effective way.”

Dr. Segurola performed multiple surgeries on Dr. Henry, including an emergency ascending aortic dissection repair, aortic valve replacement, and an exclusion amputation of the left atrial appendage that helps prevent strokes by sealing off a small section of the heart called the left atrial appendage. This is a site where blood clots may form during an arrhythmic episode.

All the procedures were successful. Dr. Henry was able to return home to St. Croix within two weeks and was back at work two months later. Today, in addition to his work at the hospital in St. Croix, he takes pride in his gardening, time with his wife, and seeing his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren grow up.

“Jackson is like the major leagues. The staff is excellent from beginning to end,” Dr. Henry said. “I owe my healthy track record to my faith, taking care of myself, and giving back to my community, but I thank the top medical care I was able to access that has given me my life back.”

Lloyd Henry, MD, has spent decades saving lives as a general surgeon at Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. At age 84, he had lived a healthy life with no prior medical concerns. However, that changed on November 16, 2021.

While assisting in an open gallbladder removal surgery, Dr. Henry suddenly began to experience fainting episodes. Fainting, also known as syncopal episodes, results from a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. It is often due to strain, stress, or long periods of standing, all of which Dr. Henry experienced.

“We were finishing up and I just felt strange,” he recalled. “I looked at the other surgeon and told him that I felt funny.”

The next thing Dr. Henry remembers was waking up in the operating room with severe right lower back pain, numbness, and difficulty moving his right foot. Upon evaluation, the medical team revealed the situation was much more serious. He would need medical attention at a facility with the expertise and resources to give him the best care.

The next day, Dr. Henry was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Jackson Memorial’s cardiothoracic medical team immediately performed an echocardiogram and a computed tomography angiography (CTA) of his chest and abdomen that revealed a tear in his aorta, also known as the coronary artery – the artery that delivers oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body. According to the National Library of Medicine, less than 50 percent of patients with a ruptured aorta survive. Exams also revealed that there were signs of mild-to-moderate aortic valve regurgitation, which is a condition that occurs when the heart’s aortic valve does not close tightly.

The team called in the expertise of Romualdo Segurola, MD, Jackson Health System’s chief of cardiac surgery and director of the Jackson Heart Institute.

“The most impressive thing about Jackson to me is that it’s the only true comprehensive health system in South Florida. Our advanced technology also sets us apart,” Dr. Segurola said. “The teams that treated Dr. Henry involved cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, and critical care. Together, they were able to see to all his needs in a timely and effective way.”

Dr. Segurola performed multiple surgeries on Dr. Henry, including an emergency ascending aortic dissection repair, aortic valve replacement, and an exclusion amputation of the left atrial appendage that helps prevent strokes by sealing off a small section of the heart called the left atrial appendage. This is a site where blood clots may form during an arrhythmic episode.

All the procedures were successful. Dr. Henry was able to return home to St. Croix within two weeks and was back at work two months later. Today, in addition to his work at the hospital in St. Croix, he takes pride in his gardening, time with his wife, and seeing his seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren grow up.

“Jackson is like the major leagues. The staff is excellent from beginning to end,” Dr. Henry said. “I owe my healthy track record to my faith, taking care of myself, and giving back to my community, but I thank the top medical care I was able to access that has given me my life back.”

In September 2019, John Pendleton suffered life-threatening injuries at work after more than 4,000 volts of electricity entered through the top of his head and exited out of the back of his neck.

The father of two was rushed to a nearby trauma center in West Palm Beach, where he underwent an emergency tracheotomy after aspirating in his lungs.  Once he was stabilized, he was airlifted to the Miami Burn Center, located inside Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

His medical team at the Miami Burn Center determined he had suffered a traumatic brain injury, a skull fracture, brain bleed, and third and fourth degree burns to 30 percent of his upper extremities. His organs were also shutting down.  He was placed under a medically-induced coma, and remained in the burn intensive care unit for seven days.

“I was sleeping at home with our one-year-old when I received the devastating call,” said Tiffany Pendleton. “They told me my husband was taken to Ryder Trauma, and that they didn’t know the extent of his injuries other than what they could see on his scans, and that it could take some time before he could wake up.”

Pendleton, then 31, was in extreme pain, and had a long journey ahead of him.

“At that point, John’s diagnosis was very grim,” said Dr. Louis Pizano, medical director of the Miami Burn Center. “We didn’t know if he would be able to walk, talk, and live independently if he survived his severe injuries.”

Pendleton’s burns were so severe. He lost his right ear, and 40 percent of the left one. Doctors also had to extract part of the latissimus dorsi muscle – the large, flat muscle covering the width of the middle and lower back – to reconstruct his head flap, which was severely burnt in the accident.

A critical part of Pendleton’s recovery at the Miami Burn Center was intense inpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Miraculously, he beat the odds, and walked out of the Miami Burn Center 60 days after his accident.

“It was a very rough time in my life, but we have remained optimistic through this entire journey,” he said. “After my injuries, my outlook on life has changed.  I am so grateful, as tomorrow is not promised.”

Since his injury, Pendleton has had 10 surgeries in total, and is expected to undergo more reconstructive surgeries in the near future.

The Pendleton family is grateful to the medical team at the Miami Burn Center for all the care he received.

“Having relationships with the doctors who saved my life, participating in burn events, and bringing everyone cookies when we visit means the world to me,” said Pendleton. “Even after all the pain I’ve been through, I’m still standing here and I owe it all to them.”

After traveling for 14 days to flee the warzone in her native Ukraine, 46-year-old Olena Orlova arrived in South Florida mid-April in the hopes of receiving treatment for a nine-centimeter cyst on her neck.

Two years ago, Ukrainian physicians discovered the mass. At the time, doctors explained the gravity of Orlova’s diagnosis, and she was advised to seek the help of a specialist. However, while searching for the care she needed, the mass continued to grow, making it difficult for Orlova to swallow and move her neck easily.

As she began to worry about the severity of her condition, she received news that a doctor was available to take on her case. Orlova was scheduled to undergo surgery on February 24. Unfortunately, all that changed the day before the procedure was supposed to take place when Russian troops invaded her hometown of Kharkiv.

“I was told in Ukraine that I only had six months to live,” Orlova recalled. “My home was destroyed; there was no access to food or health care.”

As the country faced uncertainty, Orlova became more concerned about her health. She reached out to her son Oleh Orlov to determine how she could evacuate. Orlov, who lives in Miami, began his mission to help his mother and possibly save her life.

Through the assistance of loved ones, friends, and good Samaritans, the family was able to get the financial help they needed for Orlova to begin her journey. She would travel alone through Poland, the Netherlands, Mexico, and California before her son was able to meet her in South Florida.

Thinking his mother’s life was in danger, Orlov did not want to waste time. On April 21, he took Orlova to the Emergency Department at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she was evaluated and treated by a multidisciplinary team, including Elizabeth Nicolli, MD, a UHealth – University of Miami Health System otolaryngologist who specializes in head and neck surgery.

Orlova was diagnosed with a branchial cleft cyst – a congenital condition that occurs when tissues in the neck or collarbone fail to develop normally.

“While the mass was benign, it could continue growing and ultimately compress vital structures in her neck if left untreated,” Dr. Nicolli said. “There are important nerves and blood vessels in the neck, and our ability to speak, swallow, and breathe is centered there. We wanted to make sure to preserve and protect these areas.”

The news came as a relief for Orlova’s family, who thought her condition was life threatening.

“After what she’s been through, I felt everything was going to go well for my mom,” Orlov said. “I knew we were at one of the best hospitals, so we did not hesitate to move forward with her care.”

Upon learning of the patient’s long journey to seek help, Dr. Nicolli wanted to contribute in her own way. She advised Orlova that she would waive her physician fees to perform her surgery. Dr. Nicolli also worked with Jackson Health Foundation, Jackson Health System’s fundraising arm, to find additional support.

“This is an example of the community coming together to help someone in need,” said Flavia Llizo, the Foundation’s co-president and chief development officer. “Through the generosity of two private donors, we were fortunate to obtain the funds to pay for the additional hospital costs.”

On May 23, Orlova successfully underwent surgery at Jackson Memorial to remove her cyst.

“I am very grateful for all the support I’ve received, and to everyone who has helped me along the way,” Orlova said.

After an overnight stay at the hospital, she is now recovering well at home. She hopes to start over in South Florida and spend quality time with her son.