Surgery Patient Stories
November 3, 2021
Retired Educator Living Life to Fullest after Innovative Heart Surgery
This has been a very busy year for Rosie Coleman of Sherwood.
But if it wasn’t for the foresight and quick-thinking actions of Jay K. Bhama, M.D., a cardiac surgeon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, she likely wouldn’t have lived to see 2021.
June 4, 2021
UAMS Aortic Center Uses Advanced Treatment to Save LR Artist
Linda Yates has long found comfort in her art, and one of her latest creations holds a particularly special meaning. Before she retired, the Little Rock woman spent years as a graphic artist and ran her own business for 17 years. “I thought I’d paint a lot more once I retired, but then things started happening,” Yates said.
December 23, 2019
Benton Woman Trusts UAMS Orthopaedics for Both Knee Replacements
Jackie Dawson is teaching her four grandchildren to enjoy the outdoors. So far, they have learned to hike and bike. The two oldest boys (9 and 11) have also learned to waterski. In spring 2018, Dawson found herself slowing down because the pain in her knees became unbearable. “I understand the benefits and risks of…
December 10, 2019
Orthopaedic Surgeon Mends Friend and Colleague
Orthopaedic surgeon Charles Pearce, M.D. joins a chorus of other happy patients when he says he would have had his knee replacement years ago if he knew how smooth the recovery would be. Pearce had been in pain for decades and learned to live with the discomfort until it became debilitating this year. “I injured…
October 7, 2019
UAMS Pain Study Device Gets Amputee off the Couch
A year ago, Jared Jackson, 40, was spending a lot of time sitting or lying around. But not because he was lazy; his right leg had been amputated below the knee in 2011, and the pain was almost too much to take. In fact, sometimes he passed out. “My pain started about a month after…
September 3, 2019
Cabot Man Back in the Garden after Carotid Repair
As he waits for a follow-up appointment at UAMS, Samuel Anderson cannot help but smile when he talks about his love for gardening. “This year I planted tomatoes, beans, peas, okra and squash,” Anderson said. “It was a good garden this year.” Anderson, 77, and his wife Brenda grow enough vegetables to preserve and freeze…
February 15, 2019
Patient Uses FaceTime to Call Family During Brain Surgery
Before his seizure on May 31, 2018, Chris Stephenson, of Horatio, Ark., had no idea he had a tumor the size of an orange in his brain. He was logging about 4,000 miles a week in his big rig and happened to be driving when the seizure happened. “It took four paramedics to get me…
December 19, 2018
Santa Gets Back to Work After Wrist Repair at UAMS
For the first time in decades, James Pruss is spending this December making appearances as Santa Claus. Until the Spaghetti with Santa event in North Little Rock on Dec. 2, Pruss says he had forgotten how much he enjoys the gig. “It’s fun to see the looks on the kids’ faces when they see me…
December 3, 2018
Violinist Plays Again Thanks to Spinal Cord Stimulation
Alventena Cobb of Conway is a professional musician. She’s played the violin for more than 30 years and has instructed many students. Cobb uses her instrument as a method of expression. So when a shoulder injury prevented her from picking up her bow and strings, she felt incomplete.
November 28, 2018
Morrilton Mom Donates Kidney to Toddler Son
The pain following surgery ended up being greater than she anticipated, but Jessica Stacy says she would change it for nothing. The Morrilton mother smiles as she watches her 2-year-old son play happily with his toys, 10 days after she’d given him one of her kidneys.
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