For years, John lived with a stubborn cough, worsening chest pains, restless nights and constant fatigue. A longtime Plainfield resident, U.S. Army Veteran and retired Department of the Army Civilian, John knew the importance of paying attention to his health. Still, despite many doctor visits over the years, test results always came back normal.
John previously had been diagnosed with sleep apnea and used a CPAP machine faithfully. The nighttime symptoms gradually became more alarming. John often woke up gasping for air and feeling completely exhausted. His cough persisted year after year.
Over time, the chest pain became constant. Eventually, John told his wife, Jackie, that he needed to go to the Waverly Health Center (WHC) emergency department.
From the moment he arrived, the WHC team moved quickly. Kate Froehner, ARNP, listened carefully as John explained the years of symptoms and recent decline. When she confirmed it wasn’t a cardiac event, she dug deeper. Something in his story didn’t fit. 
Kate made sure John’s pain was controlled and took time to answer his questions. She ordered imaging and specifically requested views higher than normal, suspecting the problem might be in the airway.
Her insight uncovered what no one else had found, a mass inside of John’s trachea. A lipoma was positioned in a way that could easily explain his years of cough and chest pain. Within hours, Kate had arranged an ENT referral for that same night.
The ENT and pulmonology team at Mayo Clinic reviewed WHC’s images and notes. Within the hour, pulmonologist Dr. Schwartz called John to schedule a surgery for the next day.
John underwent a rare, delicate procedure using a rigid bronchoscope to remove the lipoma, which was blocking 90% of his airway. An ECMO team stood ready as a precaution, and multiple pulmonologists assisted due to the complexity of the case. The mass was safely removed using laser techniques to prevent fragments from entering the lungs. The result was life-changing. That very night, John slept soundly for the first time in years. He woke up refreshed, something he hadn’t experienced in a long time.
John will continue to follow up with his primary team at WHC’s Christophel Clinic, including continued coordination with Amy Bodensteiner, PA-C. Today, the overwhelming emotions of John and Jackie are relief and gratitude. Relief in finally knowing the cause of his symptoms, and deep gratitude for the WHC team who set everything in motion.
“We are incredibly grateful for the expertise and exceptional care from everyone at Waverly Health Center. From the check-in with Leanne to the nurses, radiology and especially Kate. She took the time to truly listen and go the extra mile.”
John and Jackie shared the level of care, coordination and compassion experienced at WHC matched what they later experienced at Mayo. John’s long, uncertain journey finally has answers because of a WHC provider who looked deeper, trusted her instincts and put the patient first.
