At 71, Donna Ryczek thought her biggest health challenge in 2024 would be an upcoming back surgery. However, after a car accident in early March, Donna found herself on an unexpected medical journey that left her not only healed, but also grateful for the care she received.
It started when Donna was rear-ended in a car accident, leaving her with painful whiplash. Concerned, her husband drove her to the emergency room. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed something she hadn’t anticipated—a subdural hematoma, or bleeding between the skull and the brain.
From there, Donna was transported by ambulance to Mercy Health – St. Vincent Medical Center for further evaluation. After gathering her history, doctors determined the bleeding had likely started weeks earlier, after a fall she experienced.
Although the accident exacerbated the condition, Donna was discharged from the emergency room with instructions to follow up with her health care provider. Her next stop was a visit with a neurosurgeon, Brian Hoeflinger, MD, who had been planning to perform her back surgery. Upon reviewing her scans, he noticed the subdural hematoma had worsened. Acting quickly, Dr. Hoeflinger referred her to Osama O. Zaidat, MD, specialist in endovascular neurosurgery and stroke.
Donna recalls her first meeting with Dr. Zaidat saying, “He was so confident and reassuring, always smiling. That gave me so much peace.”
Dr. Zaidat recommended embolization, a minimally-invasive procedure to treat the bleeding. Everything moved swiftly and Donna was scheduled for the procedure the next day.
“I woke up and saw the scans from before and after—it was eye-opening to see the difference,” Donna says. Her recovery was smooth, with only mild headaches that resolved after a few weeks. Donna also stayed just one night in the neuroscience intensive care unit (ICU), where the care she received left a lasting impression.
“The staff were incredible,” Donna shares. “They checked on me constantly, answered every question and even brought me fresh coffee in the morning. Everyone was so efficient and kind.”
Now fully recovered, Donna reflects on her experience with gratitude.
“In a way, the car accident was a bit of a blessing. It caused them to find the brain bleed and treat it before it could cause serious issues. For that, I’m so thankful.”
Today, Donna is back to enjoying her retirement, volunteering at her church and local food pantry, and spending cherished time with her grandchildren.
To our care team members, Donna has one message: “Thank you for giving me more life. You made the whole process so smooth and gave me such confidence in your care. I am forever grateful.”
Learn more about the neurology services we provide at Mercy Health.
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