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Article Category: PeopleCare

RichardCare

How an active retiree beat colon cancer with screening and the support of his Wellstar care team

Published on March 27, 2025

Last updated 01:55 PM March 27, 2025

Man hits a ball on a golf course. Text reads "RichardCare."

Richard Knox isn’t afraid to trust his gut. When the Hiram resident began experiencing abnormal bowel habits, he instantly knew something was off. What happened next involved advocating for his health, finding the right team of specialists to meet his needs and understanding the lifesaving role of a colonoscopy in catching colon cancer early.

Photo of Richard Knox, colon cancer survivor


Becoming an advocate

Born and raised in Smyrna, Richard spent a fulfilling career with AT&T and called many different cities “home” before his retirement in 1998. He moved back to Georgia and settled in a house by the golf course at Creekside Golf & Country Club.

Richard enjoyed an active lifestyle and managed to stay healthy; in fact, the only time he could remember staying in the hospital was in 1952 when he had his tonsils removed. However, his maternal grandfather died of colon cancer at age 65, so Richard wanted to stay proactive about his colon health, knowing his family history. He had his first routine colonoscopy in his 50s, per his physician’s recommendations—“just trying to be preventative,” he said. (Updated guidelines from the American Cancer Society now recommend that individuals at average risk for colorectal cancer start screening at age 45.)

His third colonoscopy, in 2018, showed no major cause for concern—though a blood test at the time revealed anemia. A few years later, Richard noticed some changes in his bowel habits, including persistent constipation, that made him question his health. He consulted a gastroenterologist, who instructed him to stop taking Tylenol at night to help alleviate his symptoms.

But everything wasn’t fine. “It went on for several months. It wasn’t changing, and it wasn’t getting any better,” said Richard. That’s when he knew it was time to seek a fresh perspective.

Right care, right time

Richard turned to his Wellstar primary care physician, Dr. Roderick Rhyant, whom he and his wife had seen regularly since moving to Hiram. Dr. Rhyant helped coordinate care by referring Richard to a Wellstar specialist, board-certified gastroenterologist Dr. Benjamin Renelus.

During his first appointment with Dr. Renelus, Richard shared the results of his previous colonoscopies and recounted the recent gastrointestinal issues he’d been having. He described Dr. Renelus as someone who “lights up the whole atmosphere” and made him feel at ease discussing what can be a sensitive or difficult topic for many people.

“Richard was by and large very healthy for his age,” Dr. Renelus explained. But something wasn’t quite adding up: “What I saw in his labs was that his hemoglobin started to trend down, [indicating] there may be a GI bleed going on… but he’s not complaining of any abdominal pain. I thought, ‘This may be a tumor.’”

Like Richard, Dr. Renelus trusted his instincts—and when he didn’t feel confident with his patient’s prior colonoscopy report, he recommended a diagnostic colonoscopy. This screening test would allow him to directly examine the inside of the colon and rectum, and take a biopsy of any abnormal colon tissue.

“[Dr. Renelus] just looked at me and said, ‘You know what I’m going to say,’” Richard recalled with a laugh. “And I said, ‘That’s fine, doc. Whatever we’ve got to do. I’ve got to figure out what’s causing this.”

Knowing Richard was fit and healthy enough to undergo the procedure, Dr. Renelus scheduled the colonoscopy at the Outpatient Surgery Center at Wellstar Vinings Health Park. As it turned out, those gut feelings were right: The screening detected obstructive colon cancer.

Collaborative approach

Dr. Renelus shared the diagnosis with Richard, explaining that he had a malignant tumor originating from his colon.

“Breaking bad news, unfortunately, is something that’s not foreign to us as gastroenterologists,” he said. “But the good news is we have all the people in place at Wellstar.”

The physician promptly referred Richard to two of his Wellstar colleagues: Colorectal Surgeon Dr. Anushka Arumugasaamy, who would remove the tumor; and Hematologist/Oncologist Dr. William Forehand, who would oversee Richard’s colon cancer treatment and management.

“He was able to be seen so quickly,” Dr. Renelus said. “And I saw him in the office in between everything that was going on. He was always in good spirits. He trusted the process; he trusted me. There has to be trust on both sides. He did everything that we laid out for him.”

Richard first met with Dr. Arumugasaamy to assess the tumor. She ordered several imaging tests, including a lower abdominal CT scan and an MRI, to help stage Richard’s colon cancer and determine the most effective surgical approach. She then performed surgery to remove the tumor at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center.

The surgery was a success, and Richard experienced minimal pain afterward. Several months later, he saw Dr. Forehand to discuss next steps. Thankfully, Richard’s cancer levels looked good, so Dr. Forehand said they would continue to monitor for any signs of cancer recurrence.

When he returned to Dr. Forehand’s office six months later, the CT scan was “perfectly clear,” said Richard. As a final step, Dr. Renelus performed a post-surgery colonoscopy, where he removed one polyp and confirmed all cancer had been removed.

Richard will continue to see Dr. Forehand annually to ensure he remains cancer-free. “People who develop colon cancer have a 3% risk of developing another cancer within 10 years, so that’s a sizable number considering what they’ve already been through,” explained Dr. Renelus. “Ongoing surveillance is very important.”

Throughout his colon cancer treatment, Richard said he was treated with respect and compassion by every member of his Wellstar care team.

He especially appreciated Dr. Renelus’ expertise and guidance at every step. “He was great,” Richard shared. “The colonoscopy experience with him and the folks at Wellstar Vinings Health Park was fantastic.”

Screening saves lives

As colon cancer continues to rise—it is now the third most common cancer worldwide and ranks second in cancer-related death—regular screenings have become even more important.

“Colonoscopy is unique in the sense that it can prevent colon cancer by removing cancerous polyps,” explained Dr. Renelus. “And if you are diagnosed with colon cancer and we’re able to catch it at an earlier stage, your chance of survival exponentially increases.”

“I want people to trust themselves and if something feels off, go to the doctor,” he continued. “The reality is early detection is best.”

It’s also essential that patients feel comfortable bringing up any concerns with their healthcare providers, as open communication can make a big difference in treatment outcomes. In Richard’s case, Dr. Renelus said that “had he not trusted his gut or not mentioned some of these cue words with me, I don’t know if the colonoscopy would have even been explored with someone like him.”

In sharing his story, Richard hopes he can encourage others to let go of their fears and go get screened.

“If you start noticing something is different—[that] a normal process of your body changes—you need to understand why,” he shared. “That’s what happened to me, and I was fortunate to get my appointment with Dr. Renelus.”

“And if it is colon cancer, don’t give up,” he continued. “It’s very treatable when caught early. The doctors and the facilities are well equipped to do it. So get it taken care of before it gets worse.”

Learn more about colon cancer care at Wellstar and how colorectal cancer screening saves lives.

If you start noticing something is different—[that] a normal process of your body changes—you need to understand why. That’s what happened to me, and I was fortunate to get my appointment with Dr. Renelus.

- Richard Knox

Colon Cancer Survivor

Tags

Vinings Health Park Cobb Medical Center Roderick Harding Rhyant
Benjamin Dwight Renelus Anushka Vavitra Arumugasaamy William Lee Forehand III PeopleCare
Related Articles
Runners take their mark on the track. Text reads XanderCare.

PeopleCare

XanderCare

Xander Garanzuay, a long-distance runner, never imagined his high school track meet would end with him being airlifted to the hospital. But when a discus struck him in the head, he suffered a depressed skull fracture and needed emergency surgery.

Thanks to the quick action and collaboration of Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center's trauma and neurosurgery teams, Xander is now back to running. His story highlights the resilience of the human body, the strength of family and the impact of expert care.

A sudden accident

After finishing the 2-mile race at a track meet in Cartersville, Xander stayed to support his Woodstock High School teammates. When he was ready to go home, he texted his parents.

A few moments later, everything changed. While tossing a ball with his friend, Xander ran to retrieve it—just as a discus struck him in the head.

The discus hit Xander on the left side of his head with such force that he fell unconscious. Xander began seizing—his condition was critical. While his friend raced to notify their coaches, Kelly, Xander’s mom, had arrived to pick him up.

“I’m sitting out front texting Xander, ‘I’m here,’ when emergency vehicles start pulling up,” Kelly said. “Then my husband called—‘Xander’s been hit.’”

Kelly stayed with Xander as EMS evaluated him. “He was awake but not coherent,” she noted. They determined he would need to be airlifted to Wellstar Kennestone, a Level I Trauma Center.

Life-saving surgery

Xander was swiftly transported to Wellstar Kennestone, where the trauma team was ready to act. Upon arrival, Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Phillip Parry assessed the severity of Xander’s injury: a depressed skull fracture causing seizures.

“The discus is a large weight—picture a five-pound Frisbee—that is flung through the air,” said Dr. Parry. “Thankfully, Xander’s skull protected his brain, but he essentially sustained a ballistic injury to the skull.”

The impact to the left side of Xander’s skull left him with a fixed-focus neurologic deficit. His right arm—his dominant arm—had no muscle strength, and his right leg was weak.

Dr. Parry performed an emergency craniotomy to remove the bone pressing on Xander’s brain. The surgery was successful, but the road ahead was uncertain.

“The biggest challenge wasn’t the surgery itself—this is something we do every day,” he said. “It was telling a 16-year-old and his mother that we didn’t know whether he would regain function in his dominant arm.”

Kelly had to trust in the care Xander was receiving. “You don’t know what you’re going to do in that situation. Nothing prepares you,” she said. “I had to have faith that he was in the right hands—and he truly was.”

Steady progress

The day after Xander’s surgery, Wellstar Kennestone’s physical and occupational therapy teams began working at his bedside to restore movement in his non-functioning arm and leg.

“You want to do everything you can to optimize the body’s ability to heal,” said Dr. Parry. “It was important that we provided that environment for him.”

Xander’s positive attitude and determination played a crucial role in regaining function. His dad, Xavier, was amazed by his son’s resilience.

“He was so proactive and driven to get better,” Xavier said. “It was inspiring to watch.”

Still, sometimes the reality of what happened sank in. “He woke up one night and said, ‘I could have died,’” his mom remembered. “I told him, ‘Yes, but you didn’t.’ He said, ‘God must have something really special planned for me.’”

Xander applied the same fortitude from running to each step of his healing. “Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy, but you can also be your biggest supporter,” he said. “If you don’t believe in yourself, how can anyone else believe in you?”

Care that made a difference

Xander spent six days at Wellstar Kennestone before being transferred to inpatient rehabilitation. The support from Wellstar’s care team made a lasting impact.

They were there for whatever we needed—compassionate and always listening to Xander’s needs,” Kelly said.

One night during his stay, Xander woke needing help to get to the restroom. When a nurse arrived, he suddenly began seizing. “I’ve never seen eight nurses in a room so quickly,” his mom recalled. “Everyone knew exactly what to do.”

One poignant moment came when Xander’s family had the discus—now a symbol of victory over his injury—signed by his care team.

“It’s rewarding as a physician to know that I played a small part in restoring his ability to use his arm again,” Dr. Parry reflected. “As a parent, I know the anxiety that comes with the uncertainty of neurologic recovery. To see Xander move his arms and legs again, as if nothing happened, is a relief that’s indescribable.”

The power of community

Xander’s recovery was supported not only by his family and Wellstar care team, but also by his school and community. After the accident, his track team dedicated the next meet to him, with “Run for Xander” wristbands and signs. A teammate also started a GoFundMe campaign, which raised nearly $13,000 to help with the family’s medical expenses.

“People from all over came together for Xander,” Xavier said. “Posts on his team’s Facebook page were shared with running clubs from Canada to Miami. We were blown away.”

Xander was especially touched by the support. “This whole experience showed me how much my family loves me,” he said. “Seeing my friends, teachers and even family from Texas come to help—it meant so much.”

A bright future

After two and a half weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, Xander transitioned to outpatient rehab and continued regular follow-ups with Dr. Parry at the Wellstar Neurosurgery clinic. “At each phase, he received the best possible care,” explained Dr. Parry. “That’s why he had such a great outcome.”

Today, Xander is almost fully recovered and back doing what he loves most—running. “Physically and mentally, he’s doing phenomenal,” Kelly said. “He has his own training program. I am so proud of him.”

Xander’s progress wouldn’t have been possible without the trauma care network that supported him every step of the way. “The benefit of the trauma network can’t be overstated,” Dr. Parry said. “It ensures people get the best possible outcome even on their worst day.”

With expert care and determination, Xander is ready for whatever comes next.

Learn more about Trauma Services and Neuro Care at Wellstar.

XanderCare collage
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Person looking at heart rate on smart watch. Text reads "Mario Care"

PeopleCare

MarioCare

Being proactive with his heart health proved lifesaving for Marion “Mario” Stokes—and paved the way for a minimally invasive artery replacement procedure that has given him renewed energy to do what he loves.

Catching a heart concern 

Mario enjoyed a busy career as an attorney practicing commercial litigation. He also stayed active throughout his life, serving as a Navy Judge Advocate General Corps officer, becoming a certified scuba divemaster, and enjoying photography and studying history. When he noticed he was out of breath frequently—and his smart watch notified him of an irregular heartbeat—he discussed his symptoms with his primary care physician. 

An electrocardiogram detected a leaky aortic valve, and after discussion with his care team at Wellstar Center for Cardiovascular Care, Mario decided to proceed with a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Advanced, minimally invasive surgery

Aortic stenosis occurs when the aortic valve narrows, preventing normal flow of blood from the left ventricle, also known as the pumping chamber of the heart, to the aorta and the rest of the body. Over time, this narrowing causes the heart’s left ventricle to pump harder to push blood through the stenotic aortic valve.

“TAVR is an amazing technology offering a minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery,” said Wellstar Cardiologist Dr. Nabil Sabbak, who performed Mario’s procedure at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. “The valve is delivered through a small catheter via a tiny incision in the groin, eliminating the need to open the chest or stop the heart. This approach is lower-risk for many patients and allows for a quicker recovery with less pain.”

Most patients are walking within hours of the procedure and leave the hospital within 24 hours, according to Dr. Sabbak. Many people return to daily activities within a week.

“I’m very sensitive to pain, but nothing ever hurt,” Mario said about his procedure.

‘It’s like a new heart’

Mario said his valve replacement has given him more energy than he had before, allowing him to enjoy his retirement and time with family. The improvement is evident in his regular walks around his neighborhood and exercise at Wellstar Health Place.

“There's a steep hill that's near our house. Before the procedure, I couldn't walk up the hill without stopping at least once or twice to pause and get my breath,” he said. “Now I can just walk right up—no problem. It's made a huge difference in my life."

He stays busy with his fiancée and their three-year-old granddaughter—taking her on trips to the zoo, botanical gardens and nature center—as well as visiting his two children in Las Vegas and Philadelphia.

“It's like a new heart. It's unbelievable really,” Mario said. “I slept twice as much before. Sometimes I'd sleep 10 or 12 hours a night and then maybe take a nap. I was really out of energy.”

He is also building strength at cardiac rehabilitation three times a week at Wellstar Vinings Health Park, as well as continuing treatment with his Wellstar heart care team.

“I have been super pleased with Wellstar,” Mario said. “The folks there are very professional, and they have a wonderful combination of intelligence, education and caring, from the receptionists to the nurses, physician assistants and doctors.”

Learn more about heart care at Wellstar.

Photo of Mario Stokes

Mario Stokes

Keep reading
Back to school after receiving highly coordinated stroke care at Wellstar, Assistant Principal De'sa Fuller, enters her office to start a new school year.

PeopleCare

De'saCare

De'sa Fuller, an assistant principal in West Georgia, greeted teachers in the hallway like every other morning. But her day turned upside down when she lost her balance and couldn’t rise from the floor. Thanks to the immediate actions of those around her—from the teacher who called 911 to emergency medical services and her Wellstar team—De’sa recovered and is back to school. Her story is a powerful testament to how recognizing symptoms of a stroke, calling for help right away and having highly coordinated care can lead to remarkable outcomes.

Getting help when things go wrong

At 34, De'sa Fuller was living a vibrant life. She was a 6th grade assistant principal at Gardner Middle School in LaGrange. She loved her job, enjoyed traveling and was saving up to buy her first home. April 15 started out like any other day. Smoothie in hand, she greeted teachers in the hallway as she made her way to her office.

“I felt a little off,” De'sa recalled. “I just thought I was going too fast—I didn’t put much thought into it.” Then she fell. A concerned teacher asked if she was okay. De'sa, thinking she had simply tripped, said “Yes.” Her vision blurred as she tried to get up and she fell again. “I said, ‘I am not okay.’”

What began as a typical morning turned into a race against time. One teacher's quick thinking to call 911 activated a rapid chain of events that would save De’sa from permanent disability.

The critical first minutes

“The ambulance got there quickly. It was like they were around the corner,” De'sa remembered. 

“We got a call that EMS was bringing in a female who had been found on the floor at work, experiencing right-sided weakness,” explained Ginger Truitt, stroke coordinator at Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center, a Primary Stroke Center. The EMS professionals also reported confusion, headache and vomiting. “Those symptoms suggest stroke. We activated quickly.”

As a result, Dr. Reginald “Ashley” Orr, an emergency medicine physician, was ready for her arrival. 

“I was worried about an acute stroke by their description of her symptoms,” he remembered. “I evaluated her on the stretcher when she came through the door.”

A Code FAST was called with the goal of speeding up the time to start treatment to improve De’sa’s chances for better outcomes. They skipped the emergency department and took her for a CT scan. Then she was seen by the onsite neurologist, and the team quickly administered tenectoplase—or TNK—a clot-busting drug.

“Her symptoms were markedly improved,” Dr. Orr noted. “She was more awake.”

However, the CT angiogram showed an MCA M1 occlusion—a blockage in a major blood vessel in the brain. While she had shown some improvement, it wasn’t enough. De'sa needed a thrombectomy, a procedure to remove the clot and restore vital blood flow to the brain.

 

A seamless transfer

De’sa needed an immediate transfer to a thrombectomy center, and there are only a few in the state of Georgia. After a quick virtual consult with Dr. Ovais Inamullah, a telestroke neurologist at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center—a Comprehensive Stroke Center—she was accepted for transfer. The Marietta-based Neuro Care program performs one of the highest volumes of thrombectomy and aneurysm treatments in the country.

Because time is of the essence with successful stroke treatment, transport by air is preferred. However, weather conditions threatened the flight’s safety. The ground EMS crew dutifully stood by in case they needed to drive De’sa. 

Mercifully, the clouds lifted after a few tense moments and she began her trip to Wellstar Kennestone via helicopter.

“When we have this type of emergency, our goal is to get patients out the door for a thrombectomy in 90 minutes,” Ginger said. “In De’sa’s case, we did it in 102 minutes, which was still impressive because there was cloud cover and we weren’t sure at first if she would be able to fly.”

Upon arrival, De'sa was taken directly to the angio suite where Dr. Ahmad Khaldi, a Wellstar neurosurgeon, and his team were waiting. “Every minute counts,” he emphasized.

A thrombectomy is a procedure that treats a stroke without open brain surgery. A tiny catheter is threaded through a blood vessel in the arm or leg to the brain to remove a clot, restoring blood flow to help prevent permanent disability or even death.

“We finished surgery by 11:25 AM,” Dr. Khaldi said—just 20 minutes after the procedure began.

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