By Leslie Galbreath
Leslie shared this story via the myBooneHealth.com online submission form. Click here to share your story.
I have been coming here for my infusion treatments. I always get treated with the upmost respect when I come.
The nurses run a five-star infusion center at Boone Hospital!
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Patient stories | Tagged: Boone Hospital, Boone Hospital Center, columbia, infusion and treatment center, mo | 
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Posted by Jacob Luecke
By Jacob Luecke
This story is featured in the Spring 2013 edition of myBoone Health magazine. Click here for a free subscription.
When you’re running a farm, you can’t let a little pain get in the way of a day’s work.
That’s what Lowell Woods thought five years ago as he was moving cattle from one pasture to another on the 1,300-acre farm he operates with his wife and son in Baring, Mo.
Lowell Woods on his farm in Baring, Mo.
On this day, a few of his cows were being ornery, and Lowell had to hustle to get them to stay moving. As he ran, he felt a sharp pain at the center of his chest.
“That was the first time I noticed it,” Lowell said. “I had to stop and rest a minute but then the pain went away.”
Days later, he was moving hay bales in his barn when the chest pain suddenly came back. Again, he rested and the pain subsided.
And so went the next five years of his life. Every couple days, while doing strenuous work or walking up hills, Lowell would feel the sharp pains. He’d rest and then continue onward.
The thought would creep into his mind that something was probably wrong. But on some days, he felt nothing.
“The reason I put up with this is because I might go a couple days, doing the same kind of work, and not feel any pain in my chest,” he said. “I’d think, ‘this is great, I might be over this.’”
It’s not uncommon for people to ignore pain and other cardiovascular warning signs, said cardiothoracic surgeon Eric Thompson, MD. But that’s a very dangerous behavior.
“With a situation like this, it’s not just that a heart attack could happen. You can die suddenly,” Dr. Thompson said.
He said there are several heart warning signs that should elicit a prompt visit to a family doctor or cardiologist: shortness of breath during exertion, chest pain or discomfort, strange pains in the arms, and pain in neck or back.
When Lowell’s pain kept returning and increasing in intensity, he finally listened to his wife and agreed to come to Boone Hospital Center and get tested.
At Boone, he badly failed a stress test. He was scheduled to come back for a cardiac catheterization, where his cardiologist could look for blockage in his heart.
What they found was shocking — all three of his major coronary arteries were 90-95 percent blocked. He would need quadruple bypass surgery.
The discovery was unwelcome news for Lowell. At 75 years old, he’d already had far more than his share of illness and hospitalization — at just five years old he was nearly killed when a horse stepped on his head, cracking his skull in two places.
Another major operation seemed too much to bear.
Lowell and Darlene Woods
“I was scared to death; I said I couldn’t go through it,” Lowell said. “But I thought about my wife, Darlene. I’ve got the sweetest wife any man could ever have. I thought, I’ve got to do it for her.”
Woods was immediately admitted to the hospital where he awaited his operation the next day.
At 10 a.m., Lowell was taken into the operating room where his operation, performed by Dr. Thompson, which lasted three hours.
The quadruple bypass was a success. To save a heart patient like Lowell, Dr. Thompson said it takes a team effort that extends well beyond the doctors and nurses. The team includes dozens of other hospital employees.
It’s a team that was recently honored by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons with the three star composite quality rating. That’s the society’s highest rating given to only 15 percent of hospitals nationwide.
“To care for a patient after heart surgery, there are probably 50 different people involved, all working together,” he said. “You need all of them; they each play an essential role.”
Dr. Thompson predicts the combined effort will make a profound impact for Lowell.
“His outlook, with his disease as it was, was very poor,” said Dr. Thompson. “Now, after the surgery, his life expectancy should be the same as the average, healthy 75-year-old.”
After his surgery, Lowell spent a day in the intensive care unit and then four days on the cardiac surgery unit. During this time, Darlene stayed by his side. They loved that Lowell’s hospital rooms included space for family members, including a pull-out couch where Darlene could sleep.
“It was wonderful to be able to be right there,” Darlene said. “I never had to leave.”
Lowell agreed.
“I couldn’t imagine going through that without her there with me,” Lowell said. “It is the nicest place you could ever come for health care. It was absolutely perfect. I had the best care that any person could ever have.”
Today, back on their farm in Baring, the surroundings are the same as always.
Lowell and Darlene have been tending to this land for more than 50 years now. They know it by heart. They know the small streams, the rolling pasture and the level crop fields.
But for Lowell, the experience of walking next to his wife and working the land is entirely different.
“Oh, it’s beautiful. I can walk, I have no pain whatsoever,” he said. “I owe it all to the people at Boone hospital — the doctors, the nurses and every one that saved me.”
Leave a Comment » | Cardiology, Heart, Intensive Care Unit, Patient stories, Surgical Services | Tagged: Baring, Boone Hospital Center, bypass, cardiology, columbia, heart, Lowell Woods, mo, quadruple bypass | Permalink
Posted by Jacob Luecke
By Sandra Meyer
Sandra, of Columbia, shared this story via the myBooneHealth.com online submission form. Click here to share your story.
My husband Walt was getting dressed in the bedroom, he was going to a basketball game. I was in another room cleaning when I heard a horrible noise. Not a groan or cry, but a fall that was so loud.
I ran to the room he was dressing in. He was on his stomach, face already deep purple. He fell with such force that he wedged the top part of his head under the metal bed frame. I couldn’t move him. I called 911 and I was screaming, “I think he is dead. Please hurry!”
I couldn’t do CPR, he was on his stomach, I cried, “Help, Dub (this is what i call him), wake up!” He was unresponsive. He was like someone that had no bones.
I placed my hands on his back the same way a person would do if this were his chest. I pumped up and down, I cried, “how can this work?”
I got up and lifted the bed off his head. I continued to pump, I had to leave him to put the dogs up so the ambulance people could come in.
Two ambulances and a first responder were there in five minutes – but what seemed like forever. Dub was shocked five times to try to get his heart back to normal. He was intubated. They were taking him to Boone.
I was so happy that we had talked way before this episode and said if I or Dub would become ill, we wanted Boone to care for us. He was admitted to the ICU. They put him under the Arctic Sun which lowers the body temperature to 91.4 degrees, hopefully thwarting any brain damage from the swelling.
I must also say that Jeannie our nurse was very supportive to my whole family treated Walt wonderfully. He remained unresponsive until monday at 8 a.m. when he started to respond.
I was going back to his room after having breakfast and a very sobering conversation with Dr. Scoles. When I walked to his room, Jeannie was sitting by his bed holding his hand. She looked up at me and said, “Sandy, come here, look.” He was squeezing her hand! She said, “Walt, move your feet.” He did!
From that moment, on he improved hourly.
Walt loves ice cream. Jeannie said we are going to have an ice cream party! He was then raised up in bed and his precious nurse and Dub celebrated with a ice cream party.
Walt with his granddaughter.
So instead of planning a funeral, I was planning a homecoming. Dub had a defibrillator put in on Wednesday, March 20, 2013. He was walking and doing everything just like before. No issues that were concerning.
Soon he would come home. Monday, March 25, he was dismissed — ten days after his sudden death arrhythmia (a deviation from the normal pattern of the heartbeat).
A very special thank you to Jeannie Grant for loving my family and always supporting Walt; Dr. Fairlamb, whom I believe is the best heart doctor around; Dr. Lohdi, Walt’s pulmonary doctor; and many more.
Thank all of you that helped us make it through a tough time. I was given my husband back and that was a miracle.
He continues to do well, he drives the car, mows the lawn. He is writing again. All is well at our house.
To the best nurse, Jeannie, and the doctors, we love you, and Boone Hospital is the only hospital to go to in a critical time.
1 Comment | Cardiology, Heart, Intensive Care Unit, Patient stories | Tagged: Boone Hospital, Boone Hospital Center, cardiology, columbia, heart, mo, Patient story, pulmonology, sudden death arrhythmia | Permalink
Posted by Jacob Luecke
By Brittany Pescaglia
Brittany, of Columbia, shared this story via the myBooneHealth.com online submission form. Click here to share your story.
My husband and I had our little girl, Eliana Grace, at the Boone Family Birthplace. It was such a great experience that we went through.
Eliana Grace
We were suppose to be induced on Friday, April 5, 2013, but ended up going in Friday morning. We were discharged that next Monday around lunch time. Our little girl was born on April 6, 2013, at 7:57 a.m.
She weighed 7 pounds, 11.7 ounces and was 20.25 inches long. Through the labor and delivery process we had two of the most AMAZING nurses that I have ever met. Friday morning, when we got to Boone Family Birthplace, our nurse was Rachel. She was so kind and so caring, it made my husband and I feel more comfortable going through this process.
Through the night, we then had Hilary. I felt so relaxed knowing that Rachel (an amazing nurse) was leaving us with another amazing nurse. That next morning Rachel was our nurse again. So wonderful having the same nurses go through the process with you.
Their words were so encouraging and they made the process so enjoyable. I knew our little girl was going to be in great hands. We also had them during our postpartum care along with some other nurses that were amazing — Sarah and Clare.
Dr. Thies was also so wonderful. I cannot imagine going through this whole entire process without her. She answered all of our questions and concerns when we had them and gave me great confidence in the experience we were about to go through.
I knew that no matter what happened, Dr.Thies would take such great care of both of us. Such a wonderful doctor and such a sweetheart.
All of the other staff during our stay were so kind as well. We are so glad we chose the Boone Family Birthplace and are so blessed to have a beautiful baby girl that we love so much!
Leave a Comment » | Boone Family Birthplace, Patient stories | Tagged: Birth, birth story, Boone Family Birthplace, Boone Hospital, Boone Hospital Center, Labor and Delivery, missouri, Thies | Permalink
Posted by Jacob Luecke
By Shankha Banerji
Shankha, of Columbia, shared this story via the myBooneHealth.com online submission form. Click here to share your story.
I had two stent procedures done to my heart last Friday (April 26) by Dr. Spaedy. It went well and I am doing fine now.
But I did want to let it be known about the great experience that I had while I was there. The pre-op services were very nice as nurse Brent Herbel was kind and helpful.
The recovery in the 4 South cardiac care unit was also very good with the nursing staff extremely pleasant (particularly Whitney and Lori) and helpful.
Even the catering staff (Jeff Reul) was very good. Overall, I was impressed by the high quality care provided by the hospital.
Leave a Comment » | Patient stories, Heart, Cardiology | Tagged: Boone Hospital Center, columbia, mo, cardiology, missouri, stent, spaedy, cardiac | Permalink
Posted by Jacob Luecke
By Andrew Bobbitt
Andrew shared this story via the myBooneHealth.com online submission form. Click here to share your story.
My father Lawrence L’Hote was recently in ICU before passing away after a fall.
Although this was a difficult time for us, the professional and caring way his nurses Ali and Celeste took care of him and us made it a more comfortable time to go through. Especially Celeste who called me in after his seizure in the middle of the night so I could be there for him.
If he had to be in ICU, we are thankful it was at Boone, and we are thankful for Ali and Celeste. Boone, your patients and their families are all fortunate they are there.
Leave a Comment » | Intensive Care Unit, Patient stories | Tagged: Boone Hospital, Boone Hospital Center, columbia, ICU, mo | Permalink
Posted by Jacob Luecke
By Betsy Lowenberg
Betsy, of Moulton, Iowa, shared this story via the myBooneHealth.com online submission form. Click here to share your story.
I went to see Dr. James Pitt on April 18, 2013, for a consult. He sent me right from his office to Boone for some X-rays and that is where my story started.
Everyone in X-ray was amazing and Dr. Brummett looked at my X-ray and knew right away there was a problem. So he did not send me on my way and make me wait to hear from Dr. Pitt. Knowing that I drove two hours for my appointment, he called Dr. Pitt right then.
I was kept and on Friday, April 19, I had surgery to repair my stomach. From the moment we walked in to that hospital Thursday, I felt like I mattered. I have seen many doctors at home and everyone told me it was nothing and there was nothing wrong. Dr. Pitt was a lifesaver.
I had my surgery and it was worse than they thought once they got in there. After I was out of the OR , according to my husband, Dr. Pitt sat and talked to my husband and my mother-in-law and answered all their questions.
My first night in the surgery floor in room S526 was terrible. The NG tube made me so sick, but my nurse Tony and the tech assigned to me — I wish I remembered her name, it started with an A — they were wonderful. The concern and care they took with me was so wonderful. And my daytime nurse Jill was just a doll!
They made a bad situation bearable with their kindness, concern and Tony’s humor! I cannot thank them all enough!
I was away from home and in a scary position but they made me at ease. No doubt about it, we will use Boone as much as we can, even with the two hour drive each way!
1 Comment | Patient stories, Radiology, Surgical Services | Tagged: Boone Hospital, Boone Hospital Center, columbia, Iowa, mo, surgery, X-ray | Permalink
Posted by Jacob Luecke
By Shannon Whitney
This story is featured in the Spring 2013 edition of myBoone Health magazine. Click here for a free subscription.
When he hit the pitch, he thought it might be a homerun. The score was 2-1, his Southern Boone County Eagles were trailing Osage High School. There were two runners on base, and junior Gus Goodnight watched his hit soar into the outfield.
The ball hit the ground and bounced over the fence. Gus knew he hit a ground rule double. He would get to take second base and two RBI’s.
But Gus never made it to second.
As he rounded first base, he was watching the ball. He stepped on the base awkwardly, and snap! Gus fell with a harrowing pain in his left leg.
Right away he knew something was wrong.
“My first reactions were I think I broke my leg; when am I going to be back? Did those runs score?” recalls Gus, now a senior.
A baseball player since he was 5 years old, the then high school junior was nervous about spending time away from the game within seconds of his injury.
The coaches hustled over, and someone called an ambulance. As Gus was carried off the field, both the Eagles and their opponents lined up to watch him go before saying a prayer.
The ambulance took him to a nearby hospital, but right away they knew he needed more help than they could offer. The Goodnights drove their son to Boone Hospital Center. They had heard about Todd Oliver, MD; they wanted him to take care of Gus.
Visiting team
After he was admitted and settled in, Gus and his family started getting calls and texts from his teammates and their parents.
Everyone wanted to come visit Gus. The nurses on the floor said that would be fine. The baseball team poured in at 11 p.m.
“When he was here as a patient, it really made a big difference. They didn’t have to let those kids up there at 11 p.m. at night, but they did. It was good for the kids and Gus. Even though it inconvenienced the staff, they put their patients first. We went home talking about that,” said Tima Goodnight, Gus’ mom and former Boone nurse.
“All of us moms thought, ‘Okay, guys, it’s just a broken leg. There are kids out there who are really sick,” she remembered. “But to those boys, it could have happened to any of them. It made it real.”
For the rest of the weekend, Gus followed his team through a website with regular score and stat updates. It was hard not to be on the field with his buddies.
“It made me realize a lot of things. I always thought of myself highly, but then I saw they could do it without me,” said Gus.
The day after the accident, Dr. Oliver came to see Gus. He gently felt his leg and explained how Gus would need surgery and that would mean the end of this baseball season.
“It’s never easy telling a young athlete that they have a bad injury and they’re going to miss a lot of playing time,” said Dr. Oliver. “I reassured him that he is going to get through it, and if he does things right, he’ll heal faster and get back on the field.”
Dr. Oliver put a rod in Gus’ tibia and a plate on his fibula. Gus wore a boot for the rest of the school year.
“I always tell my patients, I get the easy part. I have to put them back together. They have the hard part, they have all the work,” said Dr. Oliver.
When Gus left the hospital five days after the accident, his work was just beginning.
Adjusting to the sidelines
At his high school in Ashland, Gus played varsity baseball and football. He was accustomed to being in the middle of the action.
“We know when he becomes an adult and looks back on it, this will only be a tiny part of his life,” said Tima. “But when you’re 16, that’s a big deal to miss your purpose in life.”
With his leg in a boot, he made some big changes.
“It was hard every day getting up. I couldn’t sleep the way I used to. I had to sleep with my boot, and I couldn’t roll around,” explained Gus. “We have a batting cage in our basement, so I had to get out of bed and see that batting cage. That was rough.”
He still attended practices and games to support his team.
“It’s different to see a team from that point of view, rather than playing. You see why the coaches do stuff,” laughed Gus. “Whenever they make you run, you think this is so dumb, we shouldn’t be doing this. Whenever you are on the sideline watching and helping, you see they are out of shape and need to be running more.”
Back in the game
Dr. Oliver cleared Gus to play football on Senior Night, the final game of the season. His coach put him in as an outside linebacker, even though he played on the defensive line before the injury.
He played four plays the entire season, all in that final game.
It was easier getting back into baseball because it was a less physical game.
Early this fall, Gus returned to the mound during a fall league game. He and his mom clearly remembers the first batter.
“We were in the stands crying because he’s pitching again and we never thought we’d see the day. Then, this kid hits a homerun,” laughed Tima.
“I was furious,” scowled Gus.
He also eased back into batting, at first with the help of a pinch runner, all the while sending photos back to Dr. Oliver.
Gus goes to the Columbia Speed Academy a couple times each week to prepare for baseball season this spring. This March, his team traveled to Florida to squeeze in some spring training games before the season started.
When asked about his senior season, he replied, “I’m really excited. I’m ready to get back into it.”
Gus hopes to continue his baseball career into college. In the meantime, he’s just happy to be back on the mound.
This story is featured in the Spring 2013 edition of myBoone Health magazine. Click here for a free subscription.
2 Comments | Orthopedics, Patient stories | Tagged: Ashland, baseball, Boone Hospital, broken leg, Gus Goodnight, high school, injury, orthopedics, Southern Boone County | Permalink
Posted by smwhitney
By Merle Newland
Merle shared this story via email. Click here to share your story.
I would just like to say that every staff member at Boone Hospital that I have had to speak with regarding my surgery on April 11th has been very professional and made me feel very important.
They took the time to answer all my questions. Yesterday, when I came for blood work and joint class, I was lost and everyone went out of their way to help me get to where I needed to go.
One lady said she was heading in the direction I needed to go and said she would take me.
Kudos to the staff at Boone Hospital, job well done and management should be proud of the job that each of you are doing.
Leave a Comment » | Patient stories, Surgical Services | Tagged: Boone Hospital, Patient story | Permalink
Posted by Jacob Luecke
By Nicky Zimmermann
Jacob Thomeczek is a native of Columbia and his mother, Sheila, has worked as a Registered Nurse for Boone Hospital Center since the early 1980s.
Jacob Thomeczek
Jacob’s journey of fitness began after his mother’s heart surgery in 2010. He would drive his mother to her sessions at WELLAWARE’s Cardiac Rehab program. In May 2011, he decided to start exercising at WELLAWARE’s Fitness Center to get more physical activity. Jacob acknowledged, “I needed to make a change at some point.”
Prior to WELLAWARE, the most Jacob had exercised was walking less than a mile between home and class so he needed something to seize and maintain his attention. He found motivation in listening to audio books and podcasts. He looks forward to listening to the words of the storyteller and the journey on which it takes him. He just finished the critically acclaimed Game of Thrones podcast and is currently listening to a creative version of Moby Dick. He mentioned it helps that the story is read by a variety of people and they’ve incorporated sound effects to make it more appealing.
He didn’t anticipate that over 19 months later, he would still be regularly working out. Jacob has consistently averaged at least four to five times per week since starting at WELLAWARE.
His weight started at approximately 300 pounds and he has lost over 100 pounds. His routine includes cardio such as elliptical or treadmill, three to five days plus lifting weights for three days, per week.
Jacob is a computer gamer, enjoys history, reading on his Kindle, and follows politics. He majored in history and political science at Truman State.
He likes the convenience of WELLAWARE and the friendly people and staff.
“They help point me in the right direction,” Jacob said. “I have really enjoyed my experience down here and people are helpful.”
Leave a Comment » | Patient stories, WELLAWARE | Tagged: Boone Hospital, columbia, mo, weight loss, WELLAWARE | Permalink
Posted by Jacob Luecke
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Boone Hospital Center
Jacob Luecke
