Jaretha Jordan – da Vinci Single-Site Gallbladder Surgery Success Story

A safe, swift solution to gallstones

The minimally invasive da Vinci Single-Site robotic procedure restored busy mom Jaretha Jordan to her career and family

As a wife, mother of three boys, and elementary school principal, Jaretha Jordan is always on the go.

“My boys keep me fairly active, and we’re sports fanatics,” the Mansfield resident says. “We’re a big football family, and most of my spare time outside of school is devoted to my kids and their extracurricular activities.”

However, a few years ago, a mystery ailment began to interfere with her time with her children and prevented her from enjoying family meals.

“Every time I ate, I felt bad,” Jordan says. She visited her primary care physician, who found gallstones after a routine scan. “I was told I needed to have my gallbladder removed fairly soon, but I tried to buy time as I had just become the principal at a new school.”

Eventually, however, Jordan could ignore the issue no longer. On her Christmas break in 2012, the symptoms worsened. It was time to go to the emergency department.

Surgery without a setback

“When I visited the emergency department at Methodist Mansfield, I was told I needed surgery almost immediately,” Jordan says.

Despite her serious condition, the staff at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center made her feel calm in an already stressful — and painful — situation.

“There was such a warm spirit,” she says. “No one fussed at me for waiting too long, and they helped ease a little of the stress I felt.”

Once she told the emergency department staff of her concerns about scarring and her reluctance to miss work for an extended period of time, she was referred to general surgeon Gary Alexander, MD, on the hospital’s medical staff.

“Before the surgery, I was really, really nervous, but Dr. Alexander put me completely at ease,” Jordan says. “When he recommended the Single-Site™ procedure with the da Vinci® Surgical System, I knew that was the best option for me.”

With this robotic technology, a surgeon makes only one incision through the belly button, instead of the four incisions required in traditional laparoscopic gallbladder removal. This approach results in minimal scarring, less pain, and a
faster recovery.

On the go again after da Vinci Single-Site surgery

Jordan says her da Vinci Single-Site procedure went well, thanks to Dr. Alexander.

“He’s a relationship builder, and even though you know he has a million patients coming in and out of his office, he and his staff make you feel like the only one,” Jordan says.

Less than two weeks after surgery, Jordan was back to her daily routine. “I’m back with my family, I’m back to working out, and I’m back to cooking and eating with my family,” she says. “I’m back to normal.”

From the winter 2013 edition of Shine magazine.

Gallstones giving you trouble?

Single-Site™ with the robotic da Vinci® Surgical System might be right for you. For a physician referral, call 877-637-4297.