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health news from
Spring/summer 2013
health system
Compliments
of
South Texas
Health
System
Deep Brain
Stimulation Therapy
Helps patient suffering from
Parkinson’s disease
Blood Cancers:
An uncommon term
for three common cancers
Finding Strength in support
Patient-centered OB/GYN care helps four women cope with personal challenges
in this issue
is Blood
4 What
Cancer and how
is it treated?
More than 100,000 adults
are affected by blood
cancers each year.
finding
6 women
strength with
supportive
physicians
Four OB/GYNs are
providing patient-centered
and family-focused care to
women in the Valley.
Helps Patient
11 DBS
Suffering from
Stay focused and
march on (for babies)
In Texas, approximately 7,840 babies are born each week.
One in seven of those babies are born prematurely – another
350 will be delivered with major structural birth defects. And 48 babies in
our state will die before reaching their first birthday.
These saddening statistics, which represent real children and real families
– some right here in the Rio Grande Valley – are the reasons we decided
to serve as the co-chairs for this year’s March for Babies® walking event.
At South Texas Health System, we support the mission of the March of
Dimes® to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects,
premature birth and infant mortality … to give all babies a fighting chance
against the threats to their health.
The March for Babies®, the March of Dimes’ premier walking event, was
held Saturday, May 4 in McAllen. We were overjoyed to see the support
of our community, and thank the hundreds of walkers that came out to
join us. With 900 communities participating across the country, the walk
attracts more than 7 million participants each year and raises thousands for the cause.
Parkinson’s
Disease
After successful treatment
overjoyed patient is able to
dance with his daughter-inlaw at his son’s wedding.
Jennifer Garza, CEO
Edinburg Regional
Medical Center/
Edinburg Children’s Hospital
Elmo Lopez, Jr., CEO
McAllen Medical Center
In 2012, the March of Dimes local chapter raised
more than $375,000 – its highest total ever. This year,
the local chapter is committed to raising $400,000.
It is estimated that our walkers raised more than
$30,000, but the fundraising continues even after we
put the running shoes away. It’s not too late to give.
Ongoing support is crucial, so consider making a
donation even now. No donation is too small. Simply
go to www.marchforbabies.org and utilize the online
fundraising tools to help spread the word about
how to help.
e thank you for your continued support of the
W
March of Dimes.
We Are South Texas Health System
EDINBURG
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
EDINBURG REGIONAL
MEDICAL CENTER
EDINBURG REGIONAL
REHAB CENTER
2
South Texas Health System Health News
McALLEN HEART
HOSPITAL
McALLEN
MEDICAL CENTER
SOUTH TEXAS
BEHAVIORAL
HEALTH CENTER
CORNERSTONE
REGIONAL HOSPITAL
This hospital is co-owned with
physician investors.
Parents and babies
bond in the NICU
Nurturing NICU Babies with
open arms and soft music
Sometimes, newborns require special
medical care right after birth. If a
baby arrives too early or is born with certain
health problems – such as a low birth weight or
pneumonia – he or she may need special care in a
neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. The NICU is
a place where newborns receive around-the-clock
medical attention to help them thrive.
McAllen Medical Center’s NICU is staffed with
specially trained healthcare professionals who
have access to equipment and technologies
expressly for new babies. We established the
first NICU in the Rio Grande Valley and have
been serving the community for more than 35
years. Our NICU provides neonatal surgical
procedures for babies.
There are several reasons a baby might require a
stay in the NICU:
• Kidneys and digestive tracts don’t function well
• Breathing problems due to immature lungs
• Intestines damaged by infection
• Slow heart rate
• Fluid buildup on the brain
• A low red-blood-cell count
• Damage to the eyes
During a baby’s stay in our NICU, he or she may
have blood tests, X-rays and even an ultrasound.
These tests help doctors diagnose problems and
track progress. The infant may be attached to
medical equipment, may need special medicine
and he may be lulled to sleep by soothing classical
music, thanks to a new sound system installed at
McAllen Medical Center.
AnatoLiy Ilizarov, md
Neonatolgist
The sound system
was the idea of
Anatoliy Ilizarov, MD,
the hospital’s NICU
medical director. Dr.
Ilizarov, a lover of
classical music himself,
read in the journal
Pediatrics last year that
music helps premature
infants grow faster.
“Babies are accustomed to listening to their
mother’s heart beat and sounds of placental
blood flow. The womb was their microcosm for
many months,” said Dr. Ilizarov. “Imagine all of a
sudden being taken out [of that] into the NICU
environment. Providing a similar ambience goes a
long way to alleviate a stressful transition.”
Dr. Ilizarov advocated for the installation of the
music system last year, and since late 2012, the
babies at McAllen Medical Center have been
exposed to the sounds of Bach, Mozart, Chopin,
and even a little Russian pop, courtesy of the
musical medico. Dr. Ilizarov notes that not only
have families been happier and babies sleepier,
which is good for their health, but the nursing staff
works even more efficiently with the music in the
background.
Music is just the latest addition to an already
well-equipped NICU. Coupled with advanced
technology, McAllen’s NICU is staffed with skilled
neonatologists, surgeons, nurses and other
specialists.
Parent and baby bonding can begin in
the NICU. Babies need their mommies
and daddies just as much here as they
do at home – maybe even more. Some
of the ways parents may be able to
interact with their baby in the NICU
include:
• Breastfeeding or bottle feeding
• Helping the child suck on a pacifier
• Doing “kangaroo care” – holding the
baby skin-to-skin
• Holding in a tucked position to
instill security
• Touching with a gentle,
massage-like movement
• Talking or singing to the baby
Parents’ involvement with their babies
during this critical time has been proven
to speed recovery – and helps everyone
feel better.
After NICU ...
the journey home
Babies usually go home from the
NICU when they are gaining weight
consistently, can be fed by mouth and
can stay warm on their own. A baby’s
length of stay in the NICU will depend
on the severity of illness, weight,
gestational age and family readiness,
which includes proper training prior to
going home.
NICU babies may still require extra
care, so communication with a physician
about future tests or treatments your
baby might need, how to give medicine
and when to get medical help is
recomemended.
To read more about Dr. Ilizarov’s
work with music in the NICU, visit
www.southtexashealthsystem.com/music.
www.southtexashealthsystem.com
3
What is Blood Cancer
and how is it Treated?
T
he Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) said that more than 100,000 cases of
blood, bone marrow and lymph node cancers
are diagnosed in the United States each year. According
to the CDC, more than 50,000 adults die from blood
cancers annually.
Suresh Ratnam, MD, FACP, said that he sees more blood
cancer patients each year because the population of the
Rio Grande Valley continues to grow.
Types of blood cancers
Risk factors
There are three common types of blood cancers.
Dr. Ratnam said smoking and the environment can
contribute to the risk of getting a blood cancer.
• Leukemia is the uncontrolled proliferation of
abnormal blood cells – usually white blood cells –
overtaking the bone marrow and spilling over into
the blood stream.
• Lymphoma occurs when there is uncontrolled
production of lymphocytes, which impacts the
lymph tissues, including the lymph glands, liver,
spleen, bowel and bone marrow. The condition
includes a dozen different forms of the disease,
though Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s
lymphoma are most common.
• Myeloma is a cancer of the plasma cells. In
myeloma, the cells overgrow to form a mass or
tumor located in the bone marrow.
The American Society of Hematology said that
blood cancers begin in the bone marrow, where
the blood is produced. In most cases, the normal
blood cell development process is interrupted by
the uncontrolled growth of abnormal, or cancerous,
blood cells. These cancerous cells prevent
the blood from performing important healing
functions, such as fighting infections or preventing
hemorrhages, and affect the production of new
healthy blood cells.
Dr. Ratnam said there are some similar symptoms
among blood cancers. “They are fever, frequent
infections, bleeding, bruising easily and overall
weakness and fatigue,” he said. “If someone is
experiencing these symptoms, they should see their
family physician immediately.”
4
South Texas Health System Health News
Other factors for developing blood cancers,
according to the National Cancer Institute, may
include:
• Radiation exposure
• Exposure to benzene
• Chemotherapy
• Family history
Substantial benzene exposure can damage bone
marrow, causing anemia, and in severe cases,
immune system damage or leukemia.
Treatment
Dr. Ratnam said cancers can be treated with
chemotherapy. “However, in some cancers,
for example, patients may receive radiation in
combination with the chemotherapy, but radiation is
used less frequently,” he said. “Hodgkin’s lymphoma
can be treated with chemotherapy, radiation, bone
marrow or stem cell transplants or a combination of
these methods.”
Suresh Ratnam, MD, FACP
Medical Director
Oncology
Where to Get
Blood Cancer
Treatment
If you or a loved one is seeking a
place for inpatient cancer treatment,
consider McAllen Medical Center’s
new Oncology Unit. The unit offers
advanced cancer treatment for adults
dealing with all types of cancers.
The unit features private rooms, a
recreation area and a skilled and
compassionate nursing staff.
For more information on McAllen
Medical Center’s Oncology Unit,
call 956-632-4677 or visit
www.mcallenmedicalcenter.com.
McAllen Medical Center’s
Oncology Unit staff get
together to participate in
the Upper Valley’s Relay
for Life on April 25-26.
Volunteers
Gain While
They Give
Recognizing
Auxiliary’s 60
Years of Service
With the support of Lifetime
Members from throughout McAllen
and surrounding communities, the
South Texas Health System Auxiliary
is continuing a tradition of supporting
the local community.
T
hroughout the year, junior and
adult volunteers give a little time,
and get back a lot of love. Some
volunteers serve the community by
giving just four hours a week; others give
much more. South Texas Health System
volunteers contributed more than
112,000 hours in recent years, making for
an enormous pool of knowledge, talent,
expertise and experience.
Dedicated service
The tradition started in 1953 when the
McAllen Medical Center Auxiliary was
formed with its first 65 members. At
that time, members provided service at
the information desk (1953), gift shop
(1953) and book cart (1954). Patient
transport was introduced in 1976.
• The hospitality cart volunteer goes to each
waiting room offering coffee, water or other drinks
and reading materials that have been donated to
family members who are waiting long hours to see
their loved ones.
Dedicated volunteers at South Texas Health
System perform a variety of tasks – everything from
baby cuddling to clerical work – but the positions
in highest demand continue to be serving at
the information desks, working in the gift shop,
transporting and escorting patients, and taking
the hospitality cart to patients and their families in
the waiting rooms. This is where you can make a
difference.
Who can volunteer?
• Information Desk volunteers welcome all patients,
visitors and families to the hospital with a smile,
and they answer a variety of questions. They answer
phones, give directions and even deliver mail
to patients. Gift shop volunteers assist hospital
guests and staff with purchases and help stock
merchandise. Did you know that gift shop profits
fund scholarships for local students pursuing
careers in healthcare?
South Texas Health System, the largest hospital
system in the Rio Grande Valley, offers many
volunteer opportunities to choose from. You
can volunteer during the day, in the evening or
on weekends at either our McAllen or Edinburg
locations. If you have four hours a week to make a
difference in someone’s life, please join one of our
volunteer organizations.
• Transporters help patients get from point A to
point B. Maybe it’s taking a new mom and her
baby down to her waiting car or escorting a patient
to a sunny area outside for a break. Regardless
of the destination, transporters are necessary
in the hospital. Other transporters deliver labs,
medications, medical records and supplies to and
from departments.
Almost anyone can volunteer. If you have a clean
health record and background check, are over the
age of 16 and able to volunteer at least one, fourhour shift a week, join us!
To Join our team
of Volunteers,
call 956-388-2020 for more information
or go to www.southtexashealthsystem.com
to apply.
From 1953 to 1985 the auxiliary also
donated $872,279 in capital assets
to McAllen. In 1985, a scholarship
committee was formed to support
educational needs in the community.
The committee began awarding
$700 scholarships each semester.
Today, recipients are awarded $1,000
a semester. And, since 1985 the
auxiliary has provided more than $2
million in scholarships.
In 2001, McAllen Medical Center
acquired the McAllen Heart
Hospital, merging the two volunteer
organizations and also formed the
Gift & Memorials Committee. In
2001, the Auxiliary created a Junior
Volunteer program. Now more than
340 dedicated men, women and
young people volunteer in various
departments in the hospitals.
In March 2013, the Edinburg Auxiliary
and McAllen Auxiliary began merging
to form the South Texas Health
System Auxiliary.
With the continuing support of
Lifetime Members, the South Texas
Health System Auxiliary continues a
long-standing tradition of supporting
the local community.
To see a list of Lifetime members, visit
www.southtexashealthsystem.com/
lifetime or stop by our Tree of Life.
www.southtexashealthsystem.com
5
Irma Muñoz, with her husband Oscar Chapa, admires her son Cruz Mateo
and newborn daughter Olivia, after giving birth at McAllen Medical Center.
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South Texas Health System Health News
Photo credit: Photo here and on cover courtesy of Johnny Q Photography
www.JohnnyQPhotography.com
Women's Reproductive Healthcare
at valley care clinics
Finding Strength
in Support
This four-part story shows how four women found compassionate
physicians who met their individual needs and expectations in some
planned – and as you will see – some unplanned situations.
responsive doc eases mom’s worries
Irma Muñoz, the chief operating officer
for the IDEA Public Schools in Weslaco,
Texas, was determined to have a good
birth experience the second time around.
Daniel C. Lee, DO
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
The birth of her first child at a local hospital,
Muñoz recalls, was fraught with anxiety
because of the “assembly line process of
birthing” and the “bad attitude” of the
nursing staff.
But Dr. Lee’s care doesn’t stop in his office. “It wasn’t unusual to get a
call or a text just to check in. If I had a question between visits, I could
just ask and get medical advice or support. Whether I was travelling
for work or simply in need of a quick answer to a question, Dr. Lee was
always accommodating and responsive. It was refreshing,” Muñoz said.
These days, it is common for people to do their own medical research.
Muñoz was no different. “No matter the question or concern I shared
with him, I was always reassured. Dr. Lee inspired the utmost confidence
that what I was doing was right,” she adds.
Muñoz wanted to find a doctor who suited
her needs better – who responded to her questions, would support and
nurture her desire to breastfeed – and someone who would honor her
birth plan to the fullest extent possible.
From the moment Muñoz and her husband arrived at McAllen Medical
Center, she was amazed by the experience. Muñoz gave birth to her
daughter, Olivia, by way of a scheduled repeat C-section on January 18,
2013.
She found both doctor and hospital upon meeting Daniel Lee, DO,
an OB/GYN doctor with the Valley Care Clinics. Not only did Dr. Lee
become her doctor of choice, but McAllen Medical Center became her
hospital of choice.
At McAllen Medical Center, Munoz said she received true patientcentered care. The hospital staff was kind, listened and answered her
questions. Her birth plan was thoroughly honored.
Dr. Lee’s thoroughness, expertise and care were the three main
attributes that made him stand out, according to Muñoz.
Medical advice and support
“He takes the time at every checkup to make sure that you and your
baby are in good health. With Dr. Lee, you don’t wait hours in the
waiting room, only to be rushed through a visit. In fact, as the patient,
every time I was treated as a valuable and very important person,”
she notes.
“Breastfeeding was important to me. I feel strongly that it is the
foundation for the baby’s good long-term health. Dr. Lee and the nurses
shared this belief,” she said. “I was still on the operating table and the
baby began nursing. I could have not asked for a better team of medical
professionals taking care of us – my husband, my baby and me. They
exceeded our expectations in every way,” Muñoz said. ✿
www.southtexashealthsystem.com
7
Genesis Flores poses for a photo at a follow-up visit with her son, Jose Maria Flores
(center). Jose Maria is being held by Thiendella Diagne, MD, Genesis’ OB/GYN.
Dr. Diagne practices at the Valley Care Clinics in Edinburg.
Mother and baby survive devasTating accident
Genesis Flores
clutched the sonogram
picture of her unborn
child in her hand as
the truck in which she
was riding spun out
of control and hit a
concrete barrier.
“I was showing the
Thiendella Diagne, MD
image to my mom
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
telling her it was a
boy,” Genesis said, recalling the moments before
the accident, which happened after she and her
family had left a cookout in Reynosa, Mexico,
celebrating Semana Santa, the time in the Christian
calendar from Palm Sunday to Easter Saturday.
The one-vehicle accident killed the driver instantly.
Genesis’ mother, Martha Flores, was badly injured.
Ambulances transported her along with another
passenger to a Reynosa hospital. Genesis’ injuries
were so severe – head trauma, broken ribs, a
punctured lung and a ruptured spinal cord – that
an ambulance took her across the Hidalgo-Reynosa
International Bridge to McAllen Medical Center, the
area’s advanced Level III trauma center.
8
South Texas Health System Health News
There, emergency doctors discovered that
the 18-year-old Mission resident was 18 weeks
pregnant, her mother recalls. But Genesis was also
in a coma and experiencing respiratory failure.
It was a race against time just to save her life.
At McAllen Medical Center’s Emergency
Department and Intensive Care Unit, the teen’s
multidisciplinary care team weighed their options,
one of which included aborting the baby to
relieve some of the pressure on Genesis’ one
functioning lung.
Thiendella Diagne, MD, an OB/GYN doctor with
the Valley Care Clinics, was called in to evaluate
Genesis and her baby.
“The baby was OK,” Dr. Diagne said, remembering
one of the most memorable patients of his young
career. “Miraculously, the abdomen area was fine,
Genesis took the shock of the trauma and the baby
was spared.” This is why the American College
of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends
mandatory seat belt usage for pregnant women
and is part of routine counseling, he said.
Continuous monitoring
Dr. Diagne, other specialists and the nursing team
monitored Genesis and the baby, charting the
fetal heartbeats and the mother’s progress. There
were many challenges. At one point, the medical
team thought Genesis may miscarry. Genesis also
battled infection, respiratory failure and medication
allergies. The prognosis was bleak at times.
However, with the expertise of the team at
McAllen Medical Center, six weeks after the
accident, Genesis emerged from the coma.
A few weeks later, she became a mom.
At 31 weeks gestation, Genesis began having
pre-term labor that couldn’t be stopped with
medication. Dr. Diagne and Cristela Hernandez,
MD, of Maternal Fetal & Medicine, conferred and
decided it was time to act.
A vaginal delivery was attempted, hoping to avoid
additional surgery for Genesis. The uterus, which
is made of smooth muscle, undergoes involuntary
movements such as contractions once labor begins.
Even though Genesis couldn’t feel her uterus
contracting due to her spinal cord injury, her body
could have delivered the baby. However, when the
baby was distressing, Dr. Diagne opted to deliver
the baby via a Cesarean section.
On July 19, 2012, Jose Maria Flores was born.
“I was thinking to myself, I wanted this baby. So I
have to go through everything to get my baby,”
Genesis said. “I felt good when we were getting
out of the hospital together … They saved my life
and his life.”
Today, Genesis is a paraplegic, unable to move
from the waist down. However, Jose Maria, now 9
months old, doesn’t have a single developmental
issue. Through intense rehabilitation Genesis will
be able to pursue motherhood to its fullest.
Genesis, who lives with her family in Mission,
continues to keep Dr. Diagne updated on her
progress. Genesis is thankful to Dr. Diagne for
keeping watch over Jose Maria when she could not.
“He is my doctor,” she said. ✿
tumor the size of a baby
successfully removed
Joel RiveraJimenez, MD
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Lizbeth Peña, 30,
woke up one morning
with excruciating
abdominal pain. She
went to McAllen Medical
Center’s Emergency
Department, where Joel
Rivera-Jimenez, MD, was
the OB/GYN on call
that day.
After a pelvic and
abdominal exam and
hearing her history, Dr. Rivera-Jimenez immediately
admitted Peña to the hospital for surgery to remove
a benign tumor almost the size of a full-term baby.
The growth was so large – 20 centimeters in
diameter – it was causing her ovaries to twist.
Such masses, although benign, if left alone, can
become cancerous in 5 to 10 percent of cases, Dr.
Rivera-Jimenez said. Large tumors can cause pelvic
pain, abdominal distention, urinary discomfort and
can lead to trouble breathing, constipation and a
general feeling of fullness.
Laparoscopic surgery
Dr. Rivera-Jimenez, the only North American
Menopause Society (NAMS) Certified Menopause
Practitioner in the Rio Grande Valley, was able to
remove the entire mass using laparoscopic surgery.
Minimally invasive gynecological surgery is one of
Dr. Rivera-Jimenez’s specialties. The doctor drained
the fluid around the tumor, thus reducing its size,
and removed it through three small incisions in the
patient’s abdomen.
The surgery took approximately two hours to
complete, and Peña spent one night in the hospital.
A week later, she was healed and taking care of
her three sons. “Dr. Rivera-Jimenez explained
everything to me,” she said, noting his calm
demeanor and professional bedside manner.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Rivera-Jimenez
came to the United States to open an OB/GYN
practice. Obstetrics and gynecology are two
subjects he is passionate about, so passionate that
he left a prestigious internal medicine residency
in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he was pursuing a
cardiology specialty.
Based on her positive experience, Peña continues
to see Dr. Rivera-Jimenez. ✿
Stage 1 ovarian cancer
detected in time
Silvia
Takanashi, 58,
began losing a lot of
weight. Eleven months
earlier, she had been
treated for anemia, a
condition that develops
when blood doesn’t have
enough red blood cells
Jimmi Rios Perez, MD
to supply the organs in
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
the body with oxygen.
It wasn’t a stretch to think that perhaps the fatigue
she was feeling was the anemia coming back.
But then, an accompanying pain in her lower
abdomen forced her to undergo an ultrasound
exam. The test indicated she had Stage 1
ovarian cancer.
“My father had lymphoma, but survived it,” she
said. “(I) later found out that the anemia may have
been caused by the cancer itself.”
A gifted doctor
Through a referral, Takanashi came to see
Dr. Jimmi Rios Perez, an OB/GYN physician
with the Valley Care Clinics.
Takanashi underwent a hysterectomy to remove the
ovarian cancer. As a precaution, she was prescribed
six treatments of chemotherapy at three-week
intervals. “He is a caring doctor, one of those
doctors that we do not see very frequently these
days,” she said. “(He is) very respectful and has a
kind bedside manner.”
“Dr. Rios Perez is one of those gifted doctors that
care about his patients. He called me every day
for two weeks to follow up on my progress and
healing,” Takanashi said. “As for his surgical skills,
they are excellent.” ✿
How do you go about making the personal and important decision about
which OB/GYN is best for you? See page 10 for tips.
OB/GYN
www.valleycareclinics.com
www.southtexashealthsystem.com
9
How to Choose
an OB/GYN
A woman places great emphasis on trust when choosing an obstetrician and
gynecologist, perhaps more than any other type of doctor. An OB/GYN is a
medical partner through most of her life, from the teen years to menopause.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology recommends that teens should
see an OB/GYN for the first time when they are between the ages of 13 and 15,
before becoming sexually active, and all women 21 and over should see their OB/
GYN annually. OB/GYNs share in the miracle of childbirth and help guide a woman’s
medical care as she ages and her body changes. Some OB/GYNs also serve as
primary care providers.
Choosing an OB/GYN you feel comfortable with is a must. If you do have the
opportunity to shop for an OB/GYN, here are some important points:
1
Consider the type of doctor you need. Are you looking for an obstetrician,
who specializes in women and children during pregnancy, labor and delivery
and the first six weeks postpartum? Or do you need a gynecologist, a doctor
who specializes in all women’s health issues, but care of the uterus, vagina,
ovaries and breasts in particular.
2
Check with your health insurer, and make certain the practice you choose
accepts Medicaid, Medicare and your health plan.
3
Do you like the doctor’s “bedside manner,” or personality? This often
makes or breaks the patient-doctor relationship. Don’t shy away from
scheduling an interview with a doctor you may be considering, or ask to visit
the office. Ask around the community, surf the Internet or use social media to
get patient reviews of physicians, or attend an event where one of the doctors
is speaking. Take the time to learn if the doctor is right for you.
4
Consider things such as office hours, locations and waiting times to get
an appointment. Choose a practice that is conveniently located for you.
To schedule an appointment, call 855-VCC-APPT (855-822-2778).
Joel Rivera-Jimenez, MD
4302 S. Sugar Rd. Suite 206, Edinburg
Thiendella Diagne, MD
508 S. Closner Blvd., Edinburg
Dr. Riveria-Jimenez is board-certified in Obstetrics
and Gynecology and is a Fellow of the American
Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Diagne is board certified in Obstetrics and
Gynecology and specializes in minimally invasive
gynecological surgery.
Daniel C. Lee, DO
Jimmi Rios Perez, MD
1309 East Nolana, Ste. C, McAllen
Dr. Lee specializes in minimally invasive
gynecological surgery and bioidentical hormone
replacement.
10
South Texas Health System Health News
1801 South 5th Street, Suite 209, McAllen
Dr. Rios Perez received his medical degree from
Universidad de Ciencias Medicas de Camaguey
in Cuba. He specializes in minimally invasive
gynecology.
Deep Brain
Stimulation Therapy
at Edinburg Regional Medical Center
Eases Parkinson’s
Disease Symptoms
F
or nearly 10 years, Juan Alberto Loera Jasso, 66, suffered the
debilitating effects of Parkinson’s disease. His hands shook, his
legs trembled, his body became rigid and some days he couldn’t
even move.
Juan Alberto Loera Jasso proudly displays
artwork depicting his neurosurgeon Jose
Dones, MD. Jasso drew this picture after
receiving Deep Brain Stimulation Therapy
treatment from Dr. Dones.
“I felt like a sack of potatoes,” said Jasso, who lives in Pharr, Texas, with
his wife of 38 years. Once a professional driver and an avid artist, Jasso
couldn’t hold the steering wheel steady to drive, and holding a pencil
or paintbrush firmly was becoming harder each day. He felt he was
burdening his wife and four sons. The disease’s symptoms forced him to
quit work and left him in constant fear of losing his balance and falling.
After consulting with his neurologist and doing considerable research, Jasso
discovered it’s not necessary to leave the Valley for Deep Brain Stimulation
(DBS) Therapy. At Edinburg Regional Medical Center (ERMC), Jasso’s family
learned that the hospital was looking for its first DBS patient.
Jasso underwent health screenings and got clearance from his
neurosurgeon, Jose Dones, MD. He was the right person for the surgery,
which manages the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and other movement
disorders through a device that’s implanted in the brain. The device delivers
surgeon-controlled electro-stimulation to the nerves and is fully adjustable.
Despite his anxiety and a self-proclaimed phobia of hospitals, Jasso felt
perfectly confident as he entered Edinburg Regional Medical Center for the
procedure. “I put it in God’s hands to watch over the doctor,” Jasso said.
After two surgeries to implant the device in Jasso’s brain, the device was
turned on and Jasso said he felt “an internal tickle, a surge of energy” and
immediately stood up without assistance.
His first stimulator adjustment was on October 23, 2012, and four days later
he posed for family photos and danced with his new daughter-in-law at his
son’s wedding.
Today, Jasso beams when he talks about passing his driving test. With his
driver’s license renewed, he can’t wait to drive around the neighborhood.
He practices drawing to gain back the skills he lost. Jasso claims his artwork
has improved since the surgery, too. In appreciation for the doctor who
gave him “a second chance at life,” Jasso drew a picture of Dr. Dones. The
portrait resides in his notebook along with drawings of his wife, his doctor
in Mexico and a few others – clearly an elite group of people near and dear
to Jasso’s heart. ■
Talk to your doctor about DBS.
It’s important to seek medical
advice promptly. To find out more,
visit www.edinburgregional.com
www.southtexashealthsystem.com
11
This is MY story.
Mary Lou Huerta
Mary Lou Huerta poses with her
Bariatric Center of Excellence Surgeon,
Luis Reyes, MD, FASMBS.
Last year, Mary Lou Huerta, an
administrative assistant with the
Brownsville School District, decided
that she was done with diabetes,
and had bariatric surgery at
McAllen Heart Hospital.
A diabetic
People ask me why I had the gastric
sleeve surgery. I did it because I was
diabetic, and I had hypertension and
glaucoma. My doctor told me I could
have a stroke, I could be an amputee or
I could go blind.
Glaucoma is one of the conditions
that can be brought on by diabetes. I
knew if had I the surgery, I'd improve
my chances of not developing others.
Before the surgery, my blood sugar was
433 on the glucometer, even though I
was taking medications four times a day.
Healthy blood sugar is between 70 and
100.
Two days after the surgery performed by
Dr. Luis Reyes my blood sugar was down
to 80 on the glucometer. The surgery
lowered my blood sugar by 80 percent;
it’s absolutely amazing. And now I am
off all of the medications.
Before the surgery, my first question
was: “Will I ever eat again?” I can tell
you I’m definitely eating several small
meals during the day, instead of one big
plate of food at dinner. The only thing
I miss is not being able to eat popcorn
yet. But that’s it.
Now, I’m eating the right way, and I feel
light. I’m so aware of everything I put
in my mouth. In the morning, people at
work bring in donuts, but that no longer
interests me. I have lost 36 pounds in
two months.
Why Choose Surgery
for Weight Loss?
Weight-loss surgery, or bariatric surgery,
covers a number of different procedures, the
most common of which is the gastric bypass.
All of the procedures involve changes to
the digestive system which helps you lose
weight by limiting the amount of food you
can eat, reducing the amount of nutrients
your body can absorb, or both.
People who have developed health
problems related to their weight, such as
diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea, may
also be candidates for bariatric surgery.
This has been a phenomenal experience
for me. McAllen Heart Hospital is
second to none. It is a remarkable
institution, they made me feel like I
was their only patient; I’ve never had
treatment like that before.
Bariatric surgery is usually done only when
you’ve tried to lose weight through a healthy
diet and exercise, but can’t. The surgery
is typically reserved for people who are
100 pounds overweight or approximately
60 pounds overweight with other medical
problems, according to the National
Institutes of Health; however, there are
exceptions to this general guideline. You
should always consult with your doctor.
On the day of my surgery I was
beginning to wonder if I should actually
go through with it, as I was getting a
little scared, then I thought to myself, I
can’t be scared, because when I come
out I’m going to be the “new me.”
For more information
on bariatric surgery and the
Valley Care Clinics Weight Loss
Surgery Center, or to schedule
an appointment, call
855-VCC-APPT or visit
www.vccweightloss.com.
A positive experience
I do have one regret:
I wish I had done this
procedure sooner. This
is the most positive thing
I’ve ever done in my life.
-Mary Lou Huerta
Individual results may vary. There are risks associated with any surgical procedure. Talk with your doctor about these risks to find out if bariatric surgery is right for you.
12
South Texas Health System Health News
®
Ask the doctor
Keeping Children
Safe in Cars
Maria Teresa Camacho
MD, FAAP, FCCM, ACCP
Pediatric Intensivist
Medical Director
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Q
What can people do to make sure
their child is safe in and around cars?
A: One of the most important jobs you have as a parent
is keeping your child safe when riding in a motor vehicle.
Each year thousands of children die or are injured in
vehicles. Be sure you are a good role model. Always wear
your seat belt, because this will help your child develop
a lifelong habit of buckling up. Make sure everyone who
transports your child uses the correct car seat or seat
belt every time. And never leave a child unattended in
or around a vehicle. A child can die of heat stroke if left
inside a vehicle as temperatures rise or can be strangled
by power windows, retractable seat belts, sunroofs or
accessories. A child playing around in the front seat
can knock a vehicle into gear, setting it in motion. Or, a
child can be run over when a vehicle backs up or can be
trapped if playing inside a vehicle’s trunk.
Q
Q
Where can I get help installing
a child car seat properly?
A: Edinburg Children’s Hospital offers free
inspections for both car and booster seats every
first Wednesday of the month from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
at the hospital’s north parking lot. Our certified
car seat technicians will check the seat for proper
fit on the child, installation in the vehicle and
defective parts and/or recalls. Parents must bring
both the seat and the child to the inspection. To
find out more about the program or to schedule an
appointment, please call 956-632-4484.
Which car seat is best for my child?
A: The American Academy of Pediatrics advises parents
to keep their toddlers in rear-facing car seats until age 2,
or until they reach the maximum height and weight for
their seat. Children should not transition from a rearfacing seat to a forward-facing seat with a harness, until
they reach the maximum weight or height for that seat.
Then a booster will make sure the vehicle’s lap-andshoulder belt fits properly. The shoulder belt should lie
across the middle of the chest and shoulder, not near the
neck or face. The lap belt should fit low and snug on the
hips and upper thighs, not across the belly. Most children
will need a booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9
inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years old.
Children should ride in the rear of a vehicle until they
are 13 years old.
www.southtexashealthsystem.com
13
Warning Signs
of a Behavioral
Health Issue
Behavioral health professionals and
psychiatrists say that lives can be saved
when behavioral health issues are
identified early.
Gaylyn Holstein, MD
Psychiatrist
Valley Care Clinics
“Early detection is key to improved
treatment,” said Gaylyn Holstein, MD,
a psychiatrist with the South Texas
Behavioral Health Center, the Rio
Grande Valley’s first inpatient treatment
center, and Valley Care Clinics.
“Delaying treatment can result in
worsening symptoms, and may increase
the possibility of poor response or
treatment failure.”
Seeking assistance at the first signs
of emotional or behavioral instability
can prevent a crisis from occurring. Without early intervention, an
unidentified or untreated symptom may lead to endangerment of self
and others.
A person who is not able to successfully function fully in society due
to psychological instability is in need of assistance, Linda Cantu,
director of the Assessment and Referral Department at South Texas
Behavioral Health Center said. She adds that adult symptoms may
be more evident whereas a child’s symptoms may manifest in their
behavior rather than their mood, showing up as increased aggression
or defiance.
Detecting a
Behavioral Health Issue
According to Linda Cantu, Director of the
Assessment and Referral Department at South Texas
Behavioral Health Center, some common early
warning signs exhibited by patients indicating the
need for an intervention include:
14
South Texas Health System Health News
Some other signs may be when someone “experiences a decline in
work performance or the disruption of social or family interactions,”
Holstein said. “A decline in participation or enjoyment is another
thing to pay attention to. If someone is suicidal or homicidal, has selfharming behavior or any psychotic symptoms seek professional help
immediately.”
Professionals who can help provide diagnostic evaluations and
treatment for behavioral health issues are psychiatrists, psychologists
and other licensed mental health professionals. A diagnostic
evaluation consists of meeting with the individual to review his or her
symptoms and provide appropriate treatment options, some of which
can be done from an inpatient or outpatient standpoint.
When seeking help for mental health issues, it’s important to be able
to find services in your area so you can call upon them for immediate
and confidential help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you’re in doubt, please reach out.
Call South Texas Behavioral Health Center
at 1-888-977-1400, 24 hours a day / 7 days a week.
• Persistent sadness
• Insomnia
• Lack of or increased appetite
• Anxiety
• Dependence on alcohol or drugs
• Confusion
• Aggressive behavior
Caring for the community
Miss Texas USA and beauty queens from across South Texas visited Edinburg
Children’s Hospital in February. They visited Daniela Gonzalez, 13, on her discharge
day. It was a special day for Daniela because she had been in the hospital for nearly
two months after experiencing cardiac arrest and being on life support.
“We are truly blessed to have been brought to this hospital. I can’t praise these folks
enough,” Daniella’s dad, Ricardo said. “My daughter is making great strides in her
recovery and it is nothing short of a miracle. A miracle that happened through the
hands and personal attention from all the medical and support staff here.”
Queen for the Day
Fernando Cruz, 5, is battling leukemia. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® came
to his family’s aid and wanted to grant him a special wish.
Because of Fernando’s love of cars, he fondly listens to Disney’s “Cars” and
remembers how Lightning McQueen and Mater would save the day. Ava
Sandlin, Executive Director of the Rio Grande Valley Make-A-Wish Foundation,
asked Edinburg Children’s Hospital to give Fernando his own personal
car show.
In February about 15 members of the Corvette Club, Mustang Club and
Mopar Club gathered at the hospital to assist in turning Fernando’s wish into
a reality. Fernando had been begging to go outside because he hadn’t been
outside in more than 70 days. On this special day doctors allowed him to go.
nited Way
U
r
o
f
0
1
p
STHS in To
®
Wishes Come T
rue
South Texas Health System ranked sixth among the Top 10 companies in South Texas
for annual giving to the United Way®. The 10 companies raised nearly $1.1 million, or 37
percent of the United Way’s total campaign. The United Way coordinates fundraising
efforts for nonprofit organizations including the American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs
of America, Boy Scouts of America®, Girl Scouts of the USA, 2-1-1™, Palmer Drug Abuse
Program and others. South Texas Health System has been a top contributer to the
United Way for 15 years, giving $59,295 in 2012.
The McAllen Heart Hospital and The Heart Clinic participated in the 10th anniversary
of National Wear Red Day® – an American Heart Association® initiative that
encourages heart disease risk awareness in women. Partnering with a restaurant
popular with young professionals, the hospital’s cardiac team created the local event
to focus on early detection and prevention of women’s heart disease.
Painting the Town Red
www.southtexashealthsystem.com
15
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Health News from south texas health system
Jose E. “Eddie” Saenz
Chairman, South Texas Health
System Board of Governors
Doug A. Matney
Group Vice President,
South Texas Health System
Elmo Lopez, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer,
McAllen Medical Center
Jennifer C. Garza
Chief Executive Officer,
Edinburg Regional Medical Center
Edinburg Children’s Hospital
Mike Adams
Chief Executive Officer,
McAllen Heart Hosptial
Health News Physician Advisory Board
Joe Rodriguez
Chief Executive Officer,
South Texas Behavioral Health Center
Roxanna Godinez
Chief Executive Officer,
Cornerstone Regional Hospital
Yuri Bermudez, MD
Family Practice
Luis Padula, MD
Cardiologist
Maria Camacho, MD
Pediatric Intensivist
Rolando Yarritu, MD
Family Practice
Cesar Matos, MD
Psychiatrist
Raul Marquez, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon
Rick McLean, MD
Transplant/General Surgeon
STHS Chief of Staff
Information in Health News comes from a wide range of
medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions about
specific content that may affect your health, please contact
your healthcare provider. Models may be used in photos or
illustrations. Any opinions expressed by an author whose article
appears in this publication are solely the opinions of the author
and do not necessarily reflect the views of South Texas Health
System or Universal Health Services, Inc. Physicians mentioned
in this publication are independent practitioners who are
not employees or agents of South Texas Health System. The
hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by
physicians. ©2013. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.
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