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Article Category: Highlights

Vital Valentines: Celebrating Our Healthcare Heroes

Published on February 10, 2021

Last updated 10:43 AM February 19, 2021

"We love our Vital Valentines" poster.

You may be wondering why Valentine’s Day has become such a big deal for a healthcare system like Wellstar. It’s because we aren’t sending our heartfelt thanks and virtual hugs to just anyone. This year, we believe our healthcare heroes deserve all the love and appreciation.

At Wellstar, people are at the heart of everything we do. Our mission is to enhance the health and well-being of every person we serve, and nothing would be possible without the continued commitment of our team members.

Whether they are fighting the virus on the frontlines or working behind the scenes to keep our facilities sparkling clean, each and every team member plays a vital role at Wellstar Health System.

From February 10-14th, we want to honor Wellstar healthcare heroes as “Vital Valentines”—those dedicated to delivering world-class care to Georgia. Our team members always put the health and safety of our patients and communities first, even through the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of backing down from the challenges over the past year, our team members have rolled up their sleeves, taken on new responsibilities and shown fearless leadership to continue the life-saving work we do every day.

Please join us in celebrating the selfless commitment of Wellstar’s “Vital Valentines” as we continue to move forward into a new era of hope and healing.

Show Your Support on Social Media


Have you had a standout experience with a Wellstar team member? Tell us how our team has gone above and beyond. Simply write a sweet social post on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtags #WellstarHealthSystem and #VitalValentine.

For more feel-good stories about our “Vital Valentines,” follow Wellstar Health System on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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John Elliot smiles after getting control of Parkinson’s symptoms with the Wellstar Parkinson’s and Tremors Program and a procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS).

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John Elliot was a builder who enjoyed meeting with clients and planning their future homes. But the effects of Parkinson’s disease made it hard for him to meet with clients and live his life. Then he found a new sense of hope thanks to the Wellstar Parkinson’s and Tremors Program and a procedure called deep brain stimulation (DBS). His experience is a powerful testament to the value of comprehensive care and how his neurologists, functional neurosurgeon and nurse navigator helped him rebuild his life. 

Symptoms that were hard to shake

 

John has been building custom homes in Marietta for 45 years—a career defined by personal relationships with his clients. He loves spending time with his family, hunting, fishing and bushhogging the multi-generational family farm.

But in 2015, John’s hands began to shake. A former client and friend who was a retired neurologist recommended he see Dr. Thomas Holmes, a Wellstar neurologist. 

A DaTscan, a type of nuclear imaging test that takes images of the brain, helped Dr. Holmes see a loss in John’s dopamine-producing neurons, which indicates Parkinson’s disease. The progressive neurological disorder affects a person’s motor functions and movements. 

At first, medication helped. But years after his diagnosis, John’s medications were barely effective.

“A big part of custom home building is your interaction with your client,” John said. “Meeting with the customer became somewhat of a problem.”

His tremors and involuntary mouth movements left him feeling embarrassed.

“I kind of went into a shell and didn't want to see people because they would make comments, particularly about the mouth movement,” he said. “You want to hide.”

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Runners take their mark on the track. Text reads XanderCare.

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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.

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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

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