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 swift 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 and fixed me and saved my life.”
Around midnight on Sept. 25, 2022, Jeana woke up to a 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. 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 in 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. Despite the long recovery, she’s feeling pretty good these days and says it’s all thanks to Mercy Health.
“The encouraging words, compassion and swift thinking made a horrible situation somewhat bearable. I can’t tell you how deeply appreciative I am for the whole team and their exceptional care. It truly saved my life.”
Learn more about our emergency and urgent care services at Mercy Health.
