Wellstar is more than healthcare

Maria Fernanda Ortiz was a college junior, pursuing a degree in interior design. But at just 26 years old, her life took an unexpected turn. She discovered a lump in her breast, which led to a cancer diagnosis and expert, multidisciplinary care at Wellstar that would shape her professional aspirations in the future. Maria feels her hopeful attitude and compassionate care team at Wellstar helped her come through treatment with positive outcomes.

Feeling heard in healthcare

After Maria discovered a lump, she initially saw a doctor who went through the motions but didn’t seem to take her concerns seriously. 

“He was so sure it was nothing because I am so young,” she remembered. “I didn’t think it was cancer, but I wanted someone who would get to the bottom of it.”

She then saw her OB/GYN who referred her to Dr. Laura Pearson, a Wellstar breast surgeon at Wellstar North Fulton Cancer Center, for a second opinion. 

Maria got what she was looking for: a doctor who listened and would help her find answers. 

“Maria is the perfect example of a patient advocating for themselves,” Dr. Pearson said. “She did exactly what she was supposed to do for someone her age who finds a lump. When it didn’t go away, she got it looked at. When she didn’t feel like she was being heard, she didn’t let it go.”

A surprising cancer diagnosis

Dr. Pearson immediately performed an ultrasound in the office, followed quickly by a biopsy, which came back positive for cancer. 

"The diagnosis was scary," Maria said. “Dr. Pearson made it as simple as possible to understand by making sketches. She took the time to answer my questions—and she gave me hugs.”

Dr. Pearson added, “I try hard to be methodical and build a story: ‘This is what this means. This is how it applies to you.’ It’s important for patients to understand their plan and how it’s based very specifically on their situation.”

Maria was diagnosed with stage 2A breast cancer, meaning it was a small tumor but had spread to a nearby lymph node. 

“The stage helps us understand how the patient is going to do with standard treatment,” Dr. Pearson explained. “At stage 2A, we’re looking at a 90% survival rate.”

When Katie Fox walked into Wellstar North Fulton Medical Center nearly a year after her devastating car crash, she felt the weight of the full-circle moment.

Across the atrium stood the people who had helped save her life—doctors, nurses and first responders who had seen her at her most critical and were now seeing her fully herself.

Katie had no memory of the three weeks she spent at Wellstar North Fulton—but her family remembered everything. So did her care team, who had been there through emergency surgery, intensive care, multiple procedures and round-the-clock support.

Now, just 10 months later, Katie was back—walking, smiling and thriving—thanks to her own resilience, an unwavering support system and the highly skilled trauma team at Wellstar North Fulton.

The crash that changed everything

Katie was involved in a car accident on Georgia State Route 400 that sent her to Wellstar North Fulton in critical condition. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury, a lacerated spleen and multiple fractures—including to her ribs, left ankle and pelvis.

Wellstar North Fulton is specially equipped to care for patients like Katie. Designated a Level II Trauma Center by the Georgia Department of Public Health and American College of Surgeons, the hospital serves the Northeast Atlanta community with immediate surgical intervention, 24/7 trauma coverage and seamless coordination across specialties.

“When they first brought her in, she was obviously severely injured in multiple areas,” said Dr. Stephen McBride, a trauma and general surgeon at Wellstar. “She had a large scalp laceration that was bleeding. We also noticed significant internal bleeding from her spleen and multiple pelvic fractures.”

A CT scan revealed a buildup of fluid in Katie’s abdomen, likely blood. She was taken straight to the operating room for what Dr. McBride called a “damage control operation.”

“We opened her abdomen and took her spleen out, which was very severely injured,” he said. “Then it was a matter of getting her stable.”

The surgery was a success—but it was only the beginning. Katie spent the next 10 days on a ventilator in the ICU. During her 19-day stay, she underwent multiple procedures and received care from a collaborative, multidisciplinary team: trauma surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedics, therapy and nursing.

Finding clarity and compassion

Katie’s parents, Mary Lou and Jeff Fox, flew in from Virginia as soon as they learned about the accident—first alerted by a message from Katie’s smart watch.

Jeff recalls speaking with Dr. McBride before takeoff and again after landing. “He was keeping us updated with what was going on with Katie from the start,” he said.

At Wellstar North Fulton, the couple were met with empathy and reassurance under unthinkable circumstances.

“When we got in, they took us straight to Katie,” Jeff said. “I didn’t know what to expect. It was probably the hardest moment of my life—seeing my baby there.”

Katie was unconscious and on a ventilator, but her care team made space for both expert treatment and emotional support. Jeff remembers nurses and even the front desk team checking on them constantly—offering updates, comfort and prayer.

One quiet act of compassion stood out. “The night of Katie’s accident, we stayed in the room with her,” said Mary Lou. “But her boyfriend, her roommate and a friend stayed in the waiting room. We don’t know who it was, but one of the caregivers placed blankets over each of them while they slept.”

That moment—and so many others—confirmed they were in the right place. “I’ll never forget the love and care we received,” Mary Lou said.

Milestones that mattered

Amid the uncertainty of Katie’s condition, small moments brought glimmers of hope. From the way her vital signs responded to blood transfusions to the subtle movements that followed, each step forward reminded her care team and loved ones that she was still fighting.

One emotional turning point came when her boyfriend, Will Henley, sat with her for the first time since the accident.

“I started talking to her about my day, and she opened her eyes,” he said. “I immediately asked her nurse if she had done that for anyone else and she said no. It wasn't much, but it was all I needed to keep my faith.”

Even while unconscious, Katie’s team spoke to her directly. “That was very special,” Mary Lou said. “Her doctors always included her in conversations about her care.”

Wellstar Neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Zussman became one of her biggest cheerleaders, celebrating every sign of progress.

“We were exhausted and reality was beginning to set in,” Mary Lou said. “His enthusiasm helped us so much.”

Slowly, Katie began following motion with her eyes. At one point, she mouthed lyrics to Taylor Swift songs when Will played them at her bedside.

Throughout her time in the ICU, Katie’s care extended far beyond medicine. Nurses Sarah Kozarcanin and Sydney Dawson spent hours gently washing Katie’s hair to carefully clean around her head wound.

“That was an act of love that was above and beyond to me,” Jeff recalled.

Care united by purpose

As Katie came off the ventilator and slowly regained strength, the therapy team stepped in to help her sit up and begin basic movements. Her parents saw how seamlessly everyone worked together.

Dr. McBride credits the hospital’s collaborative approach. “Our hospital does a great job having the appropriate consultants available—neurosurgeons for severe brain injury, orthopedic surgeons for severe musculoskeletal injury and, of course, trauma surgeons, physician assistants (PA) and nurse practitioners who care for our patients from start to finish,” he said. “And then there are the therapists, social workers and case managers—all of whom play a key role in recovery.”

Jeff especially appreciated how the team included him and Mary Lou in the process. “Every morning, all the departments involved in Katie’s care would meet,” he said. “They’d always ask, ‘Do you want to join us?’ They valued our input.”

Looking ahead with hope

Katie was discharged and transferred to inpatient rehabilitation, where her memory gradually returned. She and her family celebrated every milestone—especially the day she no longer needed a wheelchair.

“Walking again felt like I gained a lot of freedom back,” Katie said.

Just over four months later, she was back to work, driving and living independently. She credits her recovery to her care team, family and Will—now her fiancé.

“His unwavering support and love during those months showed me that he would be the perfect husband,” Katie said. “If he could be my anchor and love me through that, I knew he would love me through anything.”

Katie also discovered a new sense of purpose. “This confirmed every desire I had to become a PA,” she said. “I think it will give me a different connection to patients.”

In the months after her discharge, Katie returned to the ICU several times to meet the people she had heard so much about—but hadn’t been able to remember.

“Each time we visited, they’d say, ’You can go in the back way—you’re like family now,’” Mary Lou said with a smile.

For Katie’s family, the hospital’s trauma survivor reception brought closure and gratitude. “We had always wanted to meet the first responders who got her out of the car and to the hospital,” said Jeff. "It was awesome that we finally had that opportunity.”

“Seeing good outcomes is the best part of my job, without a doubt,” said Dr. McBride, who attended the event. “For someone like Katie—young, healthy and just in the wrong place at the wrong time—it’s rewarding to see her get her life back.”

Katie’s story is a testament to the power of expert trauma care, teamwork and hope.

“I will forever be grateful for the care, kindness and love the people at Wellstar North Fulton gave my family and me,” Katie said. “We will never forget any of them.”

Learn more about trauma services at Wellstar.

For Phyllis Burgess, staying on top of her health made all the difference. When lung cancer showed up on a routine screening, she was ready—and so was her Wellstar care team.

Proactive primary care

When Phyllis retired after nearly 50 years as a bookkeeper, she looked forward to a slower pace and more time for herself. A breast cancer survivor and former smoker, she also wanted to be proactive about her health.

Encouraged by her Wellstar primary care physician, Dr. David Gose, Phyllis committed to regular lung cancer screening at Wellstar Paulding Medical Center —staying one step ahead of a disease that usually goes unnoticed until it's too late. Wellstar’s lung cancer screening program is a national leader in early detection, offering low-dose CT scans that help detect early-stage lung cancer before clinical signs or symptoms become evident.

Her first three CT scans came back clear. But on her fourth screening, doctors spotted something suspicious.

Quick answers with the STAT Clinic

Phyllis was quickly referred to the Wellstar Specialty Teams and Treatments (STAT) Clinic for Lung Cancer at Wellstar Paulding. The program quickly moves patients through screening to diagnosis and treatment with a multidisciplinary team of experts. Patients with lung and other chest cancers meet with multiple specialists in one place, often on the same day, to reduce delays and improve outcomes.

"Most of the time you don’t get two or three or four or five people on your case from the get-go,” said Phyllis. "But knowing that I had this group of qualified professionals looking at my tests, discussing what we need to do, how best to do it, when to do it—it’s very comforting."

At the Wellstar STAT Clinic, Phyllis’ care team included a thoracic surgeon, medical and radiation oncologists, pulmonologist and nurse navigators, who bring a highly personalized level of guidance and support to each patient and their family members.

"The support staff was just fabulous,” Phyllis said. "They’re like best friends. They’re there for you."

Behind the scenes, her care team was already working in sync to coordinate fast care.

“We plan patients’ appointments ahead of time, ordering multiple tests that will be necessary for the treatment decision-making. These can include PET scans, CT scans, MRIs and/or a pulmonary function test,” said Dr. Daniel Fortes, Wellstar chief of thoracic surgery. "We’re always gaining time in the patient’s overall treatment because we are anticipating and creating a plan as a team."

Dr. Fortes emphasized that timing matters when treating lung cancer. "We have data to show that if we delay treatment, even in early-stage cancers, we do decrease the chance of a cure,” he said. “The goal of the STAT Clinic is to get them the quickest we can into their final treatment plan."

Expert diagnosis and advanced surgery

To diagnose her cancer, Phyllis underwent a robotic bronchoscopy at Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. The advanced procedure allowed the pulmonary team to examine her lungs and collect tissue samples.

The biopsy confirmed lung cancer. Having already caught one cancer early, Phyllis was grateful she had remained vigilant—keeping up with annual screenings and following through on care every step of the way.

"I am sort of a walking advertisement for early detection," she said. "My mammogram showed up with stage zero breast cancer. And I think they described the lung cancer as 1.1—very early, no metastasis. I’ve been very fortunate. These processes that are there for people to take advantage of saved my life.”

Phyllis returned to the STAT Clinic, where the same team who had evaluated her case before came together again to review her results and finalize her treatment plan.

"Every single patient who comes through our clinic is discussed collaboratively by a group of lung cancer specialists so we can make a fast, informed decision as a team," Dr. Fortes explained. "Because Phyllis had good overall health and an early-stage diagnosis, she was an excellent candidate for surgery.”

Soon after, Phyllis had a lobectomy at Wellstar Kennestone. Dr. Fortes performed the robotic-assisted surgery using the  da Vinci Surgical System to remove the affected part of her lung.

"They told me what they would do, what kind of incisions they’d be making and what I could expect in the way of healing," Phyllis said. “So, I went in feeling like this is not some strange, scary process.”

Dr. Fortes noted that complex cancer surgeries are best performed at major centers like Wellstar Kennestone. "Complex cancer care demands a comprehensive structure of care around the patient that includes more than just physicians and technology," he explained. "At the same time, we are continuing to expand our STAT Clinics to bring them closer to people's homes and with the aim of improving access for patients.”

Ongoing care, close to home

Phyllis’ lung cancer surgery took place the day before a snowstorm was forecasted to hit the metro Atlanta area. However, thanks to Dr. Fortes’ minimally invasive techniques—which resulted in less pain, less scarring and less blood loss—she was able to be discharged from the hospital that evening and avoid being stuck at the hospital for several days due to poor road conditions.

Phyllis described her recovery as “easy” and now feels great. She continues her follow-up care for both lung and breast cancer at the Wellstar Women’s Imaging Services at Wellstar Paulding, close to home.

“Wellstar Paulding feels like home, even when I’m dealing with someone who I haven’t met before,” she shared. “Whether it’s the receptionist or the admissions nurse—they’re always very, very friendly and helpful. There’s a family feel to it."

Hope, health and staying vigilant

As she settles into retirement, Phyllis is sharing her story to encourage others to set aside any fear or guilt and talk to their healthcare provider about lung cancer screening.

"Cancers are so insidious. You’re not going to just go, 'Gee, I don’t feel good; it must be cancer,'" she said. "There’s no big warning signs until it’s serious. Early detection is absolutely our best weapon. It’s our best defense.”

Dr. Fortes echoed the importance of early detection. "We can only cure lung cancers if we pick them up in an early stage. That’s why lung cancer is the No. 1 cancer killer in the world,” he said. “The only way we can change that is by diagnosing early. And then they are truly curable.”

Phyllis is thankful for Wellstar’s STAT Clinics that are designed to move quickly when it matters most.

Her advice to others considering treatment at a STAT Clinic? "Please do it. It’s the difference between life and death,” she urged. “At the same time, it’s in an environment where you don’t feel like you’re a sample in a petri dish. These are people, and they’re warm, and they care."

Learn more about who is eligible for lung cancer screening, find a location near you or schedule your lung cancer screening at Wellstar.

Learn more about STAT Clinics at Wellstar.