Texas County Memorial Hospital employee Lynn Stringer credits the quick action of surgeon John Harrington, MD, and TCMH staff with saving her life when her appendix ruptured in May.
Stringer, a 23-year employee and currently a speech therapist at TCMH, knew her stomach didn’t feel right a few days after Mother’s Day, but she was experiencing no real pain. She thought maybe it was food poisoning from a celebration dinner.
“I went to work and then was sick all night, the next day I started experiencing excruciating pain,” Stringer said. “My son brought me to the ER at 2 p.m.” According to Stringer, there is a family history of appendicitis on her paternal side; her father and his 11 siblings experienced appendicitis at different ages.
“A CT scan was done, and my appendix had ruptured,” she continued. “All the staff performed like a well-oiled machine. Dr. Harrington performed an emergency appendectomy and discovered that there was severe sepsis, which he also removed. It required a 12-inch, 35-staple incision to remove the appendix and infection.
“Afterward, my blood pressure was low, and they began to look for a hospital room in Springfield. Dr. Harrington stayed with me until a room was located and checked on me frequently until I left in the ambulance.
“Dr. Harrington’s response was, ‘I did my job.’
“The decision to transfer me to Springfield was a precaution. I realized that Dr. Harrington and the staff were being overly cautious, but I believe that nothing was done in Springfield that could not have been done here at TCMH. The staff knows what may be beyond their capabilities and may choose to transfer to a larger facility. They choose on the side of caution.”
“From beginning to end, I had gone through every department at TCMH except obstetrics; ER, radiology, surgery, ICU, EMS and physical therapy.
“They saved my life, and I’m very appreciative. Everybody did their job, and they did it well.
“I had five follow-up visits after the event and eased back into work in three weeks. I am now back to normal.”
For additional information, contact our TCMH outpatient surgery department at 417-967-1270.