Nutrition Support in Critical Care

When patients cannot help themselves in any capacity, there are professionals that step in and take the necessary steps to ensure that they receive the type of care that will sustain and nourish them back to the point where they can do it on their own. In the clinical nutrition field, professionals like Debbie Foster do just that.
Debbie’s career as a licensed and certified nutrition support dietitian began with Texas Health HEB and Texas Health Fort Worth.
“When I was a student working part-time, day after day I observed a culture of compassion, care and professionalism at both hospitals. It had a strong impact on me and I knew this is where I wanted to be.”
When asked about her daily motivators, she said “My satisfaction comes from having a direct impact on improving my patient’s overall outcomes”.
“I enjoy being able to use nutrition as part of the healing process that helps to get patients back to a productive and healthy life.”
Family members find it comforting to know that when their loved ones may be unable to eat on their own, there is someone ensuring that they are receiving the best source of nutrition.
Healthcare and science have always been a passion for Debbie. The profession allows her to use her passion to help others. She enjoys being part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team dedicated to the improving the health of the community mind, body and spirit.

Debbie Foster

Registered Dietitian

Get Your Metabolism Fire Burning!

Alarm rings, kids won’t get out of bed, you forgot to iron your clothes for work, dog is barking…eat breakfast? Ya right! This is a typical morning for many families in the United States. They run out the door without fueling for their day. So what is the problem? A nutrient-rich breakfast is key to helping people feel energized, stay focused and feel less hungry later in the day. Research shows that people who eat a complete breakfast typically manage their weight better and children think better, problem solve more efficiently and stay focused on their school work.

September is National Breakfast Month and we would like to encourage you to get your metabolism burning with breakfast! Think of your metabolism like a fire…in order to get a fire going you have to use a sufficient amount of wood. Same with your metabolism fire…you need to fuel your body with a sufficient amount of nutrition to get the fire burning. Try to wake up five to ten minutes earlier and make time for breakfast whether you are a mom, dad, single adult or teenager…everyone needs breakfast!!! Here are some examples to get you started…

5 Quick Breakfasts for YOU and your KIDS:

2 slices 100% whole wheat toast each with 1 Tbs. natural peanut butter and top with slices banana
1 scrambled egg, 2 oz turkey sausage, 1 whole 100% wheat mini bagel with 2 Tbs. 100% fruit jelly and 8 oz low-fat milk
1 cup cooked oatmeal topped with ½ cup fresh blueberries and 2 Tbs. chopped pecans, 8 oz low-fat milk
Yogurt Parfait: 6 oz low-fat Greek yogurt, 1 Tbs. honey, ¾ cup whole grain cereal and 2 Tbs. chopped nuts (or flaxseed)
Non-traditional breakfast: 1 – 100% whole wheat tortilla rolled with 2 oz turkey and 1 slice 2% cheese in addition to a pre-made yogurt smoothie

Breakfast Check List:

Make sure your breakfast consists of complex carbohydrates (ex: whole grain cereal, wheat bread, fruit, low-fat milk), protein (ex: eggs/egg whites, lean meat, nuts), and some healthy fat (peanut butter, nuts, light cream cheese)
Look for whole wheat bread and grain products
Choose low-fat (skim, 1% or 2%) milk and dairy products
Limit your intake of fried foods, grease, and extra gravies & sauces
Aim to get fruit into your breakfast either as a juice or as a whole fruit

Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD

Registered Dietitian

If you have a question for the dietitian, visit www.texashealth.org/askamy

The journey has speed bumps…

Well I have been pretty busy over the last couple weeks. My stress level reached an all time high, but finally settled down a little bit last Friday. I changed careers with little to no notice, went out of town a couple times, posed for a photo shoot, got sick and scared myself senseless, and the list just keeps on going.

So I am a big believer now that stress and bariatric surgery do not mix well. I went to the Bariatrics support group a couple weeks ago and was not feeling all that well. I talked with our dietician Jaime Bass about what was going on and she suggested that I give Dr. Lorimer a call the next morning. Little did I know that before I could make it home that all hell would break loose and I would start panicking enough to make me call the doctor. For those who don’t know me very well, I avoid calling doctors at all cost and very rarely will even take aspirin if I can help it.

On the way home, I started feeling worse than when I was at the hospital so I pulled over on the side of the road to give myself a moment. Next thing I know I was vomiting uncontrollably on I-30 and feeling like I was about to die right there next to my truck. After calling my dad (who is also a bariatric patient) to get his thoughts, I got back in the car thinking the worst was over. This was probably a very bad idea, as it got worse the longer I drove. I got home and called Dr. Lorimer and talked things through. I took it easy all weekend eating mostly soup until I got a chance to go see Dr. Lorimer this last week. Last Wednesday, I got in to see the good doc and we talked everything through further and then I went over to see a gastro doc. The appointment was short and sweet and I am now scheduled for Friday September 16 to have another procedure to get to the bottom of some of these recent issues. I am a little nervous about it just because I am a little worried about knowing what is really going on inside. I will admit though that I am excited about potentially being able to expand my diet further than soup menu!! I will update everyone after I find out more on Friday.

Another exciting thing I did last week was I became a model (Fashion Week, here I come). Only temporarily, but I drove to downtown Dallas to pose for photos for an upcoming article the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star Telegram are doing in a special section for Texas Health Resources. There are going to be some amazing articles in the section. I brought in a bunch of my old clothes from before surgery and diligently stood between them, laid on top of them, and manipulated myself through them for about an hour. It really made me take a look back at how big I had really gorwn just over a year ago. One of the biggest eye openers during this experience was holding a photo of my son and I this past spring from our t-ball team. I don’t think I really ever realized how big I looked until last Friday. I am proud to say that I can now see a huge difference from before.

-Casey Armstrong

Bariatrics Patient

Giving the Gift of Life

My name is Claudia and three years ago I was diagnosed with Good Pastures Syndrome, an autoimmune disease that attacks the kidney and lungs. As I was told by one of the doctors, it was simply my “bad luck” that I contracted this disease because the odds of getting it are very rare. The disease took both of my kidneys, but thanks to the wonderful team of doctors at Texas Health Fort Worth, its progression was stopped before any further damage could be done.
As a single mom it impacted not just me, but my son as well because I am the only family he has. Through everything he was so scared that he would lose me. But I knew the Lord would get us through this. I do often think and say a special prayer for my donor and their family. I sent them a thank you letter for being so thoughtful. While my family and I rejoiced over receiving the gift of life, they were grieving the loss of a loved one. I only wish they knew how much I value them and am so grateful for everything because if it wasn't for them, my son wouldn't have his Mommy.
On June 30, I will celebrate the one-year anniversary of my transplant. This whole experience has changed my life completely. It gave me back my life; my independence and most important, more time to cherish with those I love the most, my family and friends.
I have always lived a good, healthy Christian life, but now I go to the extreme! I exercise regularly and pay more attention to my diet. And most importantly, I enjoy every day. If you are a donor or the family of a donor THANK YOU and if you are not, please consider becoming one. This decision can many lives!

Fall into Nutrition with Winter Squash

Shop seasonal this fall! Winter squash is available from August through March; however, they are at their best from October to November when they are in season. Winter squash, members of the Cucurbitaceae family and relatives of both the melon and the cucumber, come in many different varieties. While each type varies in shape, color, size and flavor, they all share some common characteristics. Their shells are hard and difficult to pierce, enabling them to have long storage periods between one and six months. Their flesh is mildly sweet in flavor and finely grained in texture. Additionally, all have seed-containing hollow inner cavities.

Winter squash are also rich in a variety of vitamins and minerals. It is a great source of Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Beta-carotene is able to prevent the oxidation of cholesterol in the body. Since oxidized cholesterol is the type that builds up in blood vessel walls and contributes to the risk of heart attack and stroke, getting extra beta-carotene in the diet may help to prevent the progression of atherosclerosis. Winter squash is also an excellent source of Vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber and manganese. Potassium may help lower blood pressure and Vitamin C is known for its ability to strengthen the immune system. In addition, dietary fiber is significant in helping lower bad (LDL) and total cholesterol.

Get to know your 5 winter squashes:
Butternut Squash: Shaped like a large pear, this squash has cream-colored skin, deep orange-colored flesh and a sweet flavor
Acorn Squash: With harvest green skin speckled with orange patches and pale yellow-orange flesh, this squash has a unique flavor that is a combination of sweet, nutty and peppery
Hubbard Squash: A larger-sized squash that can be dark green, grey-blue or orange-red in color, the Hubbard's flavor is less sweet than many other varieties
Turban Squash: Green in color and either speckled or striped, this winter squash has an orange-yellow flesh whose taste is reminiscent of hazelnuts
Pumpkins: The pumpkin with the most flesh and sweetest taste is the small sized one known as sugar or pie pumpkin, the latter referring to its most notable culinary usage

Amy Goodson, MS, RD, CSSD, LD

EHP Registered Dietitian
Ben Hogan Sports Medicine Dietitian

If you have a question for the dietitian, visit www.texashealth.org/askamy

The Role of Palliative Care to Improve Quality of Life

Why do only cancer patients get Palliative care? This is often the question posed by many patients and family members with other terminal illnesses such as Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), or neurological diseases with difficult to manage symptoms. The fact is, end-stage COPD typically results in debilitating dyspnea, poor quality of life, and increased morbidity and mortality. Patients frequently require several hospital admissions a year for relief of acute exacerbation of COPD symptoms. This negatively impacts patient’s quality of life as they enter the final chapters of their life. Additionally, COPD sufferers become increasingly homebound with limited mobility and ever reliant upon family members to assist with everyday care and ADLs.

Palliative care has been proven to improve perceptions of quality of life and decrease health care costs to patients with terminal cancer. The same positive influence can be utilized in those with end stage COPD, CHF, or any terminal illness. Unfortunately, patients suffering from these conditions typically are not as prepared to face end-of-life decisions, discuss dying, or prepare for death with family members in comparison to those same patients entering the end stages of cancer. This has as much to do with the unwillingness of patient’s to engage in end-of-life care planning, as it does the uncertainty of general practitioners to relay poor prognostic features of the disease or shrinking survival rates.

Palliative Care can be of great assistance in this setting by providing holistic care, active listening to fears, anxiety, and concerns of the patient and family members alike, improve perceptions of quality of life, and assist in end-of-life preparation. Palliative care’s role in symptom management for the end stage COPD patient is crucial in regaining modest amounts of self care, facilitate energy conservation, and maximize function.


Amy Lunsford, RN, MSN, ACNP
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

The Special Grief that Follows a Miscarriage

Typically, when a pregnancy is realized, the mother and father begin to dream of this new one to be added to their lives, to their family. The mind allows us to imagine what it will be like to first hold this baby, to bring this little boy or girl home from the hospital. We wonder what this little one will look like; will this child have mama’s hair, or daddy’s toes? Sometimes we even project out, dreaming about the first holiday with a baby, considering what it might be like when this child goes to school. All of this is a normal part of pregnancy.

But not every pregnancy develops normally. And not every dream becomes a reality. During my year of residency as a chaplain with Texas Health Fort Worth,I was assigned to the Women and Infants unit. With my anxiety about providing pastoral care to those who experience loss through a miscarriage, I wrote to family and friends and asked them to share with me stories, feelings, and grief associated with the loss of an infant. To my surprise I received many responses, some from family members who for years had silently been carrying this hidden grief . I soon learned that many women and men remain silent about the pain of a miscarriage. And, I learned how the pain of grief does not go away, even when it is ignored.

Through my ministry with grieving mothers and fathers, children, grandparents, and staff, I am learning the importance of recognizing the significance loss that occurs through a miscarriage. I encourage folk to mourn and to expect a variety of emotions. There may be numbness and shock initially. Seeing and holding the baby is an important option to give each person who experiences a miscarriage. For some, naming and blessing the baby are sacred rituals that help to recognize the child’s worth and spirit. In addition having a funeral or memorial service is an important option. If it is determined to have a funeral, then waiting until the mother is able to attend is important.

Rev. Denise Hill

Supervisor Candidate/Chaplain in Pastoral Care Department

Planning to Have A Baby?

Taking care of your baby doesn’t start the day they are born. It starts long before.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET PREGNANT:

Most women don’t know they are pregnant until they miss their period. The baby is often 4-5 weeks gestation at that time and many of the vital organs are already in critical stages of development. Alcohol and other drugs (even over-the-counter remedies) can cause problems for your unborn child. It is wise to avoid alcohol and other unnecessary medications if you are trying to become pregnant. One thing that you should NOT avoid is folic acid. Folic acid is a vitamin that plays an important role in the development of baby’s brain and spinal cord. Deficiencies in folic acid are known to cause neural tube defects (also known as spina bifida). Spina bifida is a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal canal do not close before birth. The spinal cord is exposed at birth and these children do not have normal function of their bladder, bowels, or legs. Many are confined to wheelchairs. This birth defect is largely preventable by taking 400mcg of folic acid per day. All women of child-bearing age are encouraged to take 400mcg of folic acid daily, either as part of a multivitamin or by eating cereals or grains with added folic acid.

I’M PREGNANT-WHAT NOW?

Once you find out you are pregnant, you need contact your obstetrician to start prenatal care. Prenatal care is EXTREMELY important for the health of you and your baby. Your doctor will prescribe prenatal vitamins to be taken throughout your pregnancy, and will send screening tests for infections that may compromise the health of your baby if untreated. In addition, your doctor will perform at least one complete ultrasound of your baby to screen for birth defects or problems with the baby’s growth. All expectant moms are screened routinely for the development of diabetes and the development of high blood pressure during pregnancy. Both of these disorders are often asymptomatic and can be very dangerous for the health of mom and baby if untreated. Last, your obstetrician can help you to prepare for the birth of your baby. They will have recommendations about prenatal classes, can discuss options for pain control during labor, and can give you important information about the benefits of breastfeeding your baby. Prenatal Care is the most important gift you can give your unborn child.

Fran Lynch, MD FAAP

Neonatatologist

Teen Talk: Underage Drinking

We are now in the middle of another sizzling Texas summer. Yard work and grilling on the back porch are weekly events in my neighborhood. There are children outside in the evenings chasing dogs and soccer balls. Students that graduated from high school have already headed off to college. A recent study from the University of Rhode Island has shown that this is a time when teens tend to increase their alcohol consumption. In fact, many American teenagers begin to drink at the age of 15. By the time they leave for college, most have considerable drinking experience. Parents should take the opportunity to have conversations about alcohol throughout high school, but it is never too late to begin a dialogue concerning drinking. More than 1800 college students die each year in alcohol related crashes. 750,000 are involved in alcohol related physical or sexual assaults. It is important for parents to make known their beliefs and guidelines as well as to provide clear and fair consequences associated with crossing the line. Research shows this combination of factors decreases alcohol use and problems all through adolescence and into college. Parents have so many tools available to communicate with their students now. I proudly admit to texting 748 times last month. Of course that is nothing compared to my 17 year olds 2332 rambling banters. Adolescents tend to increase their alcohol use the summer before entering college and during their first semester at college. Research has proven that parental involvement influences the decisions students make. This internalization of values, attitudes and expectations continue to exert a positive effect. These students are less likely to transition to heavy drinking or experience alcohol-related problems. This same research also shows students overestimate how much their peers are drinking, and correcting this false impression results in lower levels of alcohol use and alcohol problems. So go ahead and be bossy but informative. Set the standard and then hold firm. Let your teens know you care by communicating in a way that they will listen. Who knows, I may just twitter or update my Facebook status to get their attention…


MaryAnn Contreras, RN
Injury Prevention Coordinator

Bariatric Diary # 7: Frustration sinks in

You remember that time when your parents told you not to stick your finger in the hole because it might get cut off? As a child we always did it anyways, just to find out. Well now I am faced with same dilemma after having weight loss surgery. I really want to be on the full foods diet like I should be at this point post surgery. Well everyone keeps telling me to take it easy and take it slow. Everyone has some tidbit of advice on what I should or shouldn’t eat. Do I listen? Kinda sorta, but not really.

This month has been extremely busy. By the end of the month, I will have gotten so frustrated that I actually called Tiffany in bariatric services, traveled for almost two weeks throughout Texas and Oklahoma for work, been sick, been to the hospital, be banished to a week of liquids, do an interview for the newspaper, and turned another year older. Sounds like fun but this has been one of the most frustrating months I have had since I had my surgery in May.

So let’s break this all down.
Frustration- Yes, I admit it. I sometimes want to scream I get so frustrated. See 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 below. Then I realize I got myself into this situation and I have to grab the ole boot straps and keep trucking. One of the nice perks of having surgery at Texas Health Fort Worth is that you get to call and voice questions and concerns with Tiffany Norris and Jaime Bass in bariatric services. I sometimes wonder why they have not reached sainthood for dealing with everyone’s whining… Oops I meant answering everybody’s questions and addressing concerns. I am kidding of course; every question is a good question!!!
Work- Aren’t we glad we are all grown up and get to be responsible? HAHA. It was actually kind of nice to get out and meet some of my new clients and make new ones.
Sick- Had a few rough weeks with food not agreeing with me. I talked with Dr. Lorimer and we game planned, which lead to both the liquid diet for a week and the trip to the hospital. The last week has proven that the plan is working fairly well. I guess that is why they call him a doctor.
Liquid Diets- At least it wasn’t clear liquids. Seven days of full liquids to give my stomach some time to try and recalibrate its thingy-ma-bob so it would quit rejecting anything solid that entered it. Not too horrible actually.
Hospital- Well shortly after the liquids wore off; I found a couple things that still made me sick, so I went to have an Upper GI performed at Texas Health Fort Worth. Barium breakfast is something that I highly recommend passing off if ever given the opportunity. The good news is that it came back normal and now I just need to stick to what my body will allow until I can advance things.
Interview- While on my way back from my first work trip, I did an interview with the Fort Worth Star -Telegram about minimally invasive bariatric surgery and my experience. I should probably apologize for all the dropped calls that almost resulted in my phone becoming a casualty on the highways of Paducah, TX. Maybe if one person reads about my experience and is able to make a life changing decision, I will earn some brownie points with the big guy upstairs
Birthday- I turned 31 this week. I am starting to get old. I still remember kindergarten when I was not willing to let 0+0=0.

So in summary, when the staff at the hospital tells you take it easy, don’t charge forward full steam. I have learned my lesson several times now. This is a huge adjustment for every patient who goes through the procedure and just because something works for one person doesn’t mean it will work for everyone. You have to listen to your body when it says stop and not your eyes and taste buds. Nobody said this was supposed to be all fun and games!!

Overall things are going well. I have slimmed down to a much more aerodynamic 238 lbs. I feel relatively strong and my energy to do different things in the yard and around the house seems to be better than ever. Since I started this journey in January I have now lost 116 lbs. Keep in mind about 20 lbs of that was before I started the liquid preoperative diet in May. Nonetheless, I am happy as a clam in the sand.
The journey continues……


Casey Armstrong- bariatric patient

Eating to Live Healthy

Recently, I read an article suggesting that fast food restaurants provide statins (a class of cholesterol-lowering medications) to their customers. The idea is that taking a statin with a fatty meal would help prevent some of the harmful effects of that meal. Statins are essential in the fight against heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. They prolong survival and improve quality of life for many.
Has our society’s health conscience waned so much that we now dress our burger with extra cheese, the special sauce, and an extra shot of Simvastatin? The authors appear to equate taking a statin before a fatty meal to safety measures like wearing your safety belt when driving or wearing a helmet prior to riding a bike. These medications are intended to treat high cholesterol when lifestyle changes like exercise and diet have failed. Statins, nor any other medication, should be taken so that the patient can make poor health choices and “get away with it”. The truth is no one can “get away with it”. Poor food choices cause so many other health problems that are unrelated to cholesterol. If you really wanted to premedicate prior to a massive fast food binge, the condiment tray needs to include a statin for cholesterol, a blood pressure pill, a diuretic to get rid of all of the added salt, and don’t forget to top it all off with a shot of insulin to help digest all of the extra sugar and simple carbohydrates. If this sounds ridiculous, that’s because it is!
If your doctor has prescribed you medication to treat cholesterol, diabetes or other health problems, it is in your best interest to keep taking such medication as prescribed. Remember that good health requires us to make good lifestyle choices. Medication to treat cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure is not an excuse to reject a healthy lifestyle – Instead it’s a second chance for many to start making new ones. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health.

Randy Martin, Pharm.D.
Pharmacy Department

A Lesson in Celebration

With the palliative care unit having been opened a little over a year, this is a time to celebrate and reminisce. What a year! The palliative care unit is a special unit with very special patients and families. One thing we have all learned is that “Life doesn’t stand still, even when you are ill.” We have witnessed weddings, baptisms, deaths, and many other memorable events on our unit.
One of the most special events that come to mind was the birthday of an “elderly” gentleman turning 103 years old. Minus him being hard of hearing, he was relatively healthy!!!! The Palliative Care (PC) Team of Harris 2nd floor worked above and beyond the demands of their daily jobs to ensure this would not be an ordinary day for this beloved man. The staff purchased streamers, banners to decorate his room as well as birthday hats, party blowers, plates, napkins, and birthday cake. They even made arrangements for his son to retrieve his wife so that she, too, could participate. To make this occasion even more memorable, the patient’s wife of 64 years arrived to our unit walking with the use of her walker (she was just 97 years old, herself). The party was complete with decorations, singing, laughter, and cake and the whole Palliative Care team! I do not think this 103 year old birthday party is one that the patient, family, or staff will ever forget.
Although there is quite a bit of sorrow within our specialty, we also see a lot of joy. We learn to celebrate each day that we are fortunate to have and share with others. We have learned from our patients and families to embrace life with death and refocus our priorities daily. What a wonderful blessing it has been to share in these life lessons and experiences on this unit and with this INCREDIBLE staff of friends!!!

Hayley Brown, RN,MSN,ACNP-BC

Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner

Medical snippets

There is even more evidence from recent medical publications that nearly all patients hospitalized are at increased risk for blood clots. Fortunately, there’s also ever-growing evidence that current pharmacological approaches to prevention have reduced the risk of blood clots in hospitalized patients. Unfortunately, the evidence of protection is not as strong for non-pharmacologic approaches, but when used in combination with medications to prevent blood clots, the overall results are quite satisfactory. One of the more exciting developments is the growing awareness that the use of medications to prevent blood clots in patients who have undergone surgery rarely results in bleeding from the operative site. Earlier applications of medicines to reduce blood clots will improve outcomes in our patients.

More good news: evidence now exists that suggests hospitals that use automated processes for early detection of infections have better outcomes when compared to hospitals that use manual processes. Texas Health Resources hospitals use automated electronic processes for infection surveillance. Early detection leads to quicker treatment and better outcomes.

There’s mounting evidence that many women who have had children by C-section may still be able to have natural vaginal deliveries if they subsequently become pregnant. These results offer a choice to mothers who want to experience natural childbirth.

Remember that each patient we touch is someone special. If we treat each patient as if they were our mom, we will advance exceptional outcomes.





-Dr. Joseph Prosser
Chief Quality Officer

Healing Through Artwork

The hallways that lead up to the Texas Health Harris Fort Worth surgery area can be an anxious place at times. Before major surgeries, it’s common to see loved ones kiss the patient in the hallway before they go into surgery. In order to create the most peaceful environment possible, these high traffic hallways recently got a “therapeutic upgrade” with the addition of many beautiful pictures and original paintings. Perioperative Services Director Megi Ball and her department coordinated this initiative with a number of physicians.

One of the many art work contributors is E.L. Young. E.L. works in the Surgery Department and is also a brilliant painter who was kind enough to loan some of his original works of art to the surgery area. E.L. is known by many for his quick smile and kind words and it’s my privilege to offer this short interview question and answer (Q and A) with him:

Q: How long have you worked at Texas Health Harris?
A: October 1990, so around 20 years.

Q: When did you start painting?
A: Since 1960. My elementary teacher saw that I stayed in the lines better than the other kids and helped me get started out. I’ve enjoyed honing the craft since then and my passion is drawing pastels. I also love to draw realistic paintings of people that end up looking like real photographs.

Q: What would you like for patients and families to get out of your pictures?
A: A sense of peace so people can focus on what’s important in life and not get carried away by their circumstance. For instance, in one picture there’s a storm cloud overhead but the pond’s waters are still and confident that things will be ok.

Q: Do your paintings have any common theme?
A: Yes, all my pictures tell different stories but the underlying theme is that I like to show the celebration of life even through adversities.

Q: Any other comments?
A: I just hope people stop for a minute and look at the paintings and are grateful for ourselves and one another. I hope that people feel this during their challenging time with the surgery.

Thank you E.L. for giving this personal part of yourself and touching the lives of many people during their time of need. I also wish to thank the many other Perioperative staff and physicians who donated other works of art as just one of many initiatives Texas Health Harris Fort Worth uses to make sure patients and their families have a very satisfied experience.

- Craig Pomykol
Patient Advocate

A 3-year-old embarks on a space ship journey to recovery!

Most people would give up when faced with insurmountable odds, but then again, Bella isn’t like most people. Bella Counts is a three-year-old leukemia patient who developed necrotizing fasciitis, otherwise known as flesh-eating bacteria, as a result of her weakened immune system. She was sent to Texas Health Fort Worth for hyperbaric wound treatment to heal skin grafts that were unsuccessfully healing.

Hyperbaric wound treatment exposes patients to 100 percent oxygen at below sea-level pressure. The oxygen is forced into the bloodstream at a quicker rate to promote quicker cell growth. It is a therapy typically used to treat elderly diabetic and carbon monoxide poisoned patients. Bella is the first child to undergo treatment for these types of wounds at the hospital. For her parents, the forty treatments have meant a chance to save her tiny legs from amputation.

For 40 treatments, Bella climbed into her “space suit” and “space ship” to begin the healing process. Without any complaints, she embarks on the two-hour treatment with a smile on her face and brightening the staff and other patients around her. Her bravery has been an inspiration to others and has been a big part of her healing process.

If you know a child or individual who you believe might also benefit from wound care and hyperbaric treatment, leave us a comment and we will be happy to get into contact with you!