In an emergency situation, time is of the essence.
So, when Jeana Baucant Koon found herself in the middle of a medical emergency, she was grateful for the swift actions of our team in the Mercy Health – Springfield Regional Medical Center emergency department.
“They were so quick and professional,” Jeana recalls. “I was about 24 to 48 hours away from pushing daisies. They said had we not caught this as soon as we did, my prognosis would have been grim. So, they caught that, fixed me and saved my life.”
It started around midnight on Sept. 25, 2022, when Jeana woke up to severe pain.
“It wasn’t like anything I’ve never experienced in my life,” she explains. “I thought I was dying.”
After a call to 911, Jeana was quickly rushed to the emergency room, where staff immediately began running diagnostic tests and labs.
“They did a CT scan with contrast across my abdomen and found I had air bubbles in my abdomen. The radiologist said there was definitely a perforation – a perforated ulcer.”
Just three hours after waking up in distress, the care team had diagnosed the problem. Then, by 7 a.m., they were already repairing the problem via an emergency operation. Despite how fast it all happened, Jeana says she felt informed and comforted every step of the way.
“Jeremy Washington, the physician’s assistant, and Robbie Owens, my night nurse, were just the absolute best. Every time a test came back, they would immediately come into the room and explain what was going on and what was going to happen. It was a complete education the whole entire time. So, I wasn’t nervous or scared because I knew I was in great hands.”
In the end, Jeana had to stay in the hospital for 12 days before being allowed to go home, where it would be another 63 days of recuperating before she could return to work.
“After being discharged, the hospital arranged home health care nurses to visit me bi-weekly, then weekly for about eight weeks,” Jeana recalls. “They educated me about my diet, pain management, exercise and wound management. I was glad to have such support after this serious event.”
Jeana’s personal support systems have also played a crucial role in her recovery.
“I had wonderful support from my husband, sister and daughter,” Jeana says. “My work friends and church family also brought us food and visited often.”
Jeana loves that she still sees her care team members while on the job.
“I actually work at Springfield Regional Medical Center as the Project SEARCH coordinator and have seen all three of my care team members several times since,” she shares. “Being on the patient side of our ministry showed me the care and compassion that our medical staff share daily. I will always have a special place in my heart for the team that came to my rescue.”
Today, Jeana is fully recovered and is able to get back to what matters most: living her life.
“My husband and I flew to the UK for three weeks this past spring to visit my son and his wife,” Jeana recalls. “We realized that it’s time to travel and see the world as much as we can while we are healthy. Because of my expert care, I was able to visit with my family, tour London and other cities and sites in England and enjoy our time together.”
She adds, “The encouraging words, compassion and swift thinking made a horrible situation somewhat bearable. I can’t tell you how deeply appreciative I am of the whole team and their exceptional care. It truly saved my life.”
This holiday season, we are celebrating by spreading the good news! Read more grateful stories, like this one, that feature our team members, patients and the wonderful communities we are blessed to serve.
Also, learn more about our emergency and urgent care services at Mercy Health.
