Download same day - Valley Baptist Medical Center

PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Teri Retana, Asst. Vice President of Strategic Marketing & Communication
Valley Baptist Health System, Phone: (956) 389-1950 or 371-1017
[email protected]
www.valleybaptist.net
DR. ASHRAF HILMY PERFORMS
CAMERON COUNTY’S 1ST “SAME DAY”
BARIATRIC SURGERY AT
VALLEY BAPTIST
VALLEY WOMAN BECOMES 1ST TO GO HOME
SAME DAY AFTER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY
HARLINGEN – A Valley woman has become the first Cameron County
resident to go home the same day as having weight-loss (bariatric) surgery.
Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, General & Bariatric Surgeon, performed the first sameday “Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy” surgery at Valley Baptist Medical Center in
Harlingen on Celeste Ramirez, age 59, of Brownsville. Dr. Hilmy has performed
various types of weight-loss surgeries through the years – but until now, none
have resulted in such a quick turn-around time for the patient to
leave the hospital.
During the surgery, 85 percent of Ms. Ramirez’ stomach was
removed, which is expected to facilitate a dramatic loss in weight for
her – as well as other health benefits that were already evident
before she even left the hospital.
“Ms. Ramirez was admitted on blood pressure and diabetic
medications,” Dr. Hilmy said. “After the surgery, she was
discharged with better-than-normal blood pressure - and almost
normal levels of blood sugar. And she left with a big smile on her
face.”
“They have taken me away
from my blood pressure and diabetes
medication – which makes me feel
like a new woman,” the patient, Ms.
Ramirez said. “I’m not hungry; I’m
doing great. It’s been a wonderful
experience. I feel like I’ve been
blessed with water and given new
life.”
Ms. Ramirez said she also
feels like she’s been cured of sleep
apnea. “Before the surgery I used to
wake up four or five times a night.
Now I feel rested when I get up in the
morning. Every day I wake up with
joy and a smile on my face, because
I don’t feel groggy and I don’t feel pain. And now I feel like I have so much more
energy.”
Ms. Ramirez said having that extra energy helps in caring for her 10-yearold granddaughter, who is also learning about healthy eating -- such as
substituting yogurt and cucumbers and other vegetables in place of ice cream
and popcorn. Ms. Ramirez also cares for her 27-year-old disabled son, which
was very difficult for her before the weight loss surgery. She also has two other
grown sons, a daughter who passed away, and five other granddaughters.
Dr. Hilmy noted that being able to have bariatric surgery and then leave
the same day, without having to spend the night at the hospital, saves both time
and money for Valley patients.
“Just six years ago, it was common for patients to spend two days or more
in the hospital after bariatric surgery,” Dr. Hilmy added. “This advancement will
really benefit patients who need to get home sooner or get back to work sooner.”
Other patients who have undergone the sleeve gastrectomy surgeries with
the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program at Valley Baptist have reported
losing 100 pounds or more. So far, Ms. Ramirez has lost more than 28 pounds
– and expects to lose much more over the coming weeks and months.
Several bariatric patients say the dramatic weight loss has been a lifechanging experience, which, like Ms. Ramirez, gave them more energy to devote
to their work and family.
With both obesity and diabetes at epidemic portions in the Valley, the
weight-loss surgery has in many cases had the double effect of reversing or
stopping diabetes. Valley Baptist’s Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program
promotes a healthy lifestyle of diet and physical activity which are key elements
in preventing diabetes, controlling it, and even returning blood sugar levels to
normal in some cases.
A part of the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program at Valley Baptist is
medical weight management. Each patient is taught what a healthy lifestyle
“looks like”, and how to integrate it into their life. Ms. Ramirez lost 18
pounds before she even had her surgery. She met with Dr. Julio
Savinon, Internal Medicine and Certified Metabolic & Bariatric
Medicine physician, who worked with the program’s bariatric dietitian
to educate Ms. Ramirez on healthy eating choices, portion control
and physical activity. Implementing these lifestyle changes prior to
surgery helped increase Ms. Ramirez’s metabolism, which promoted
quicker weight loss results after surgery.
Dr. Savinon noted that helping a patient lose weight is a
comprehensive, multi-disciplinary team effort at Valley Baptist, which
also involves a dietitian, as well as a nurse, Dawn Rodriguez, RN,
BSN, who serves as Program Director for Valley Baptist’s Surgical & Medical
Weight Loss Program.
Ms. Rodriguez herself went through a powerful transformation after
undergoing gastric bypass surgery at Valley Baptist in 2006 -- and uses her own
experiences to help personally guide patients through the whole process, from
pre-surgery requirements, registration, surgery, lifestyle changes, and free
support groups offered by Valley
Baptist.
Ms. Rodriguez said Valley
Baptist’s inter-disciplinary team has
become very advanced and efficient
with providing high quality patient care
for bariatric surgery, from the time
patients attend an information seminar
to post-operative continuous care.
“Our multi-disciplinary team works
closely together to provide exceptional
care that is individualized to the
patient’s specific needs,” Ms.
Rodriguez said.
Ms. Rodriguez expects that
many more patients will be able to go home the same day as their surgery, as
Ms. Ramirez did. “Our goal is to have the patient feeling well enough that they
can go home the same day,” Ms. Rodriguez added. “As the first patient to go
home the same day as her surgery, Ms. Ramirez is doing just fantastic; in fact
she’s on Cloud 9.”
A retired teacher, Ms. Ramirez taught for 35 years with the Brownsville
Independent School District, in grades kindergarten through 6th grade, including
most recently as a 3rd grade teacher at Yturria Elementary School. She advises
other Valley residents to seek help early for weight problems.
“Take care of your health … don’t wait until your body is aching … don’t
wait until your whole body is falling apart,” Ms. Ramirez said. “Before the
surgery, I would go to bed with excruciating neck pain … and every night I felt
Iike I could have a heart attack. But from the moment I got out of the operating
room, I feel like I’ve been given a whole new life. I thank God for all the support,
including from my best friend Cynthia Duran, who helped guide me every step of
the way.”
Valley Baptist’s Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program is located in a
one-story building across the street from the hospital, at 2220 Haine Drive, Suite
38, in Harlingen. For more information on weight-loss medical and surgery
options, contact your physician and Dawn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, at (956) 3896896 or at [email protected].
PHOTO
SAME-DAY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY - Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, left, General &
Bariatric Surgeon, checks on patient Celeste Ramirez, who recently became the
first Cameron County resident to go home the same day as having weight-loss
(bariatric) surgery. At right in April Gonzalez, medical assistant. Dr. Hilmy
performed the first same-day “Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy” surgery at Valley Baptist
Medical Center in Harlingen.
PHOTO
WEIGHT LOSS TEAM - The Valley Baptist’s Surgical & Medical Weight
Loss Program assists patients through a multi-disciplinary team, including from
the left, Dawn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, who serves as Program Director for the
Valley Baptist Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program; Dr. Julio Savinon,
Internal Medicine and Certified Metabolic & Bariatric Medicine physician; Dr.
Ashraf Hilmy, General & Bariatric Surgeon and Medical Director of Valley
Baptist’s bariatric surgical program; Amanda Thornburg, Office Manager; and
Amy Silva, RD, LD, Dietitian for the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program.
Team members not pictured include dedicated anesthesia, surgery, and surgical
floor teams at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.
PHOTO
Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, General & Bariatric Surgeon and Medical Director of
Valley Baptist’s bariatric surgical program, recently performed the first same-day
“Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy” surgery at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.
The surgery enabled a Brownsville woman to become the first Cameron County
resident to go home the same day as having weight-loss (bariatric) surgery,
without having to spend the night in the hospital.
PHOTO
Dr. Julio Savinon serves as Internal Medicine and Certified Metabolic &
Bariatric Medicine physician with the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program at
Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.
PHOTO
Dawn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, serves as Program Director for the Surgical &
Medical Weight Loss Program at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.
About Valley Baptist Health System
Valley Baptist Health System is an 866-bed faith-based regional health system
located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is focused on helping people achieve health
for life through compassionate service inspired by faith.
Valley Baptist extends many of its services beyond its facilities and into local
communities, offering free screenings for the community, support groups and numerous
educational opportunities. For more information, visit www.ValleyBaptist.net (and
www.FaceBook.com/ValleyBaptistMedicalCenter).