Patient & Resident Stories
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Jennifer Yankee
Mammography & Cancer Services
At 38 years old, Jennifer Yankee never expected to look in the mirror one day and discover something new about her body – a small area of dimpled skin on the side of her left breast. At first, she wondered about the cause, but soon...
James Tayler
Urology Services
When James Taylor went in for his annual physical and prostate screening back in 2016, little did he know that he was about to be diagnosed with cancer. “There was a microscopic trace of blood in my urine,” explained James. “They did some other tests...
Courtney Freeman
Colorectal Surgery
As a busy mother of three young children, Courtney Freeman’s days are nonstop from sunup to sundown, and she loves every moment being with her family and friends. Then at just 32 years old, her life took an unexpected turn when she noticed small amounts...
Caroline Williams & John Tabarlet
Emergency Medical Services
On 11/7/22, Caroline Williams, received a call from her husband, John Tabarlet’s, phone. To her surprise, it was not him on the other line but instead a woman informing her that her husband had been in a bad car accident and paramedics were on the...
Dr. Calvin Phelps
Pulmonology Care
During the summer, Dr. Calvin Phelps fell at his home and broke several ribs. He thought he was okay, but a few weeks later, he began to feel as if he might faint. He went to NRMC’s emergency room, and the ER physician listened to...
Carrie James
Pulmonology Care
Carrie James had a double lung transplant in 2008 in Florida. A resident of Natchitoches, she always wanted a local pulmonologist, so when Dr. Warren Botnick moved to Natchitoches in 2017, she called and made an appointment. “As the years passed following my transplant for...
Yvette Tullos
Achieving a Better Quality of Life
Being in close proximity to a bathroom became a daily necessity for Yvette Tullos. Bowel incontinence left her scrambling to get to the restroom in time. Her first bout with incontinence began after the birth of her child. At first, she just had an occasional...
Mason Yerby
When 10-year-old Mason Yerby woke up one Sunday morning, he had severe abdominal pain, and his parents knew something was wrong. They went straight to NRMC’s Emergency Department. After a CT Scan, they learned that Mason had appendicitis. General surgeon Dr. Steven Jackson met with...
Christopher
Christopher’s bout with COVID-19 began with the common symptoms: chills, shortness of breath and coughing. Yet when his condition began worsening rapidly, he decided to go to NRMC’s Emergency Department. Within an hour, the ER physician told Christopher he had tested positive for COVID-19. Given...
Petula Holden
Colon Cancer Surgery
I’ve always been a great supporter of cancer awareness, but I never thought I would be a cancer patient. Thanks to General Surgery Associates, Dr. Damian DeFrancesch and my faith, I’m alive today. Dr. DeFrancesch found the cancer during a routine colonoscopy when I turned 50....
Laurie Morrow
Breast Cancer Surgery
When I went for my annual mammogram, radiologist Dr. Ben Hogg saw something suspicious and did an ultrasound. Concerned, he recommended I see a surgeon and get a biopsy. The mammography technologist who did my mammogram knew I was planning on going to see my...
Gene Spillman
Gall Bladder Surgery
“When I needed gallbladder surgery, I put my trust in NRMC and my doctors — cardiologist Dr. Chris Ingram, general surgeons Dr. Bill Ball and Dr. Damian DeFrancesch. I knew my gallbladder had to come out, so I said “Let’s do it.” When I woke...