Surgery Patient Stories

Patient stories about Surgery

June 14, 2024

Breakthrough Device Implant at UAMS Restores Young Woman’s Pain-Free Life

David Robinson

Jolee Camp, here on her parents' farm, is grateful for having access to a cutting-edge device study at UAMS that has cured her disabling back condition.

Jolee Camp was a thriving 15-year-old who dreamed of becoming a professional dancer and enjoyed hunting, fishing and working on her family’s farm in Lonoke when she was suddenly disabled by unexplained low back pain. “She spent her senior year in a wheelchair,” said her mother, B.J. Camp, who took her daughter from doctor to…


November 3, 2021

Retired Educator Living Life to Fullest after Innovative Heart Surgery

Linda Satter

Rosie Coleman has a new lease on life thanks to UAMS cardiac surgeon Jay K. Bhama, M.D., whose quick thinking saved her when she experienced a rare complication during a high-risk quadruple-bypass surgery.

This has been a very busy year for Rosie Coleman of Sherwood.

But if it wasn’t for the foresight and quick-thinking actions of Jay K. Bhama, M.D., a cardiac surgeon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, she likely wouldn’t have lived to see 2021.


June 4, 2021

UAMS Aortic Center Uses Advanced Treatment to Save LR Artist

Katrina Dupins

Linda Yates

Linda Yates has long found comfort in her art, and one of her latest creations holds a particularly special meaning. Before she retired, the Little Rock woman spent years as a graphic artist and ran her own business for 17 years. “I thought I’d paint a lot more once I retired, but then things started happening,” Yates said.


December 23, 2019

Benton Woman Trusts UAMS Orthopaedics for Both Knee Replacements

Katrina Dupins

Jackie Dawson

Jackie Dawson is teaching her four grandchildren to enjoy the outdoors. So far, they have learned to hike and bike. The two oldest boys (9 and 11) have also learned to waterski. In spring 2018, Dawson found herself slowing down because the pain in her knees became unbearable. “I understand the benefits and risks of…


December 10, 2019

Orthopaedic Surgeon Mends Friend and Colleague

Katrina Dupins

Pearce

Orthopaedic surgeon Charles Pearce, M.D. joins a chorus of other happy patients when he says he would have had his knee replacement years ago if he knew how smooth the recovery would be. Pearce had been in pain for decades and learned to live with the discomfort until it became debilitating this year. “I injured…


October 7, 2019

UAMS Pain Study Device Gets Amputee off the Couch

David Robinson

Jared Jackson (left), at his final study visit at UAMS, with Davis Fleming, M.D.,a Translational Research Institute research coordinator.

A year ago, Jared Jackson, 40, was spending a lot of time sitting or lying around. But not because he was lazy; his right leg had been amputated below the knee in 2011, and the pain was almost too much to take. In fact, sometimes he passed out. “My pain started about a month after…


September 3, 2019

Cabot Man Back in the Garden after Carotid Repair

Katrina Dupins

Sam Anderson

As he waits for a follow-up appointment at UAMS, Samuel Anderson cannot help but smile when he talks about his love for gardening. “This year I planted tomatoes, beans, peas, okra and squash,” Anderson said. “It was a good garden this year.” Anderson, 77, and his wife Brenda grow enough vegetables to preserve and freeze…


February 15, 2019

Patient Uses FaceTime to Call Family During Brain Surgery

Katrina Dupins

Stephenson and his wife, Brittany, visit UAMS for a checkup.

Before his seizure on May 31, 2018, Chris Stephenson, of Horatio, Ark., had no idea he had a tumor the size of an orange in his brain. He was logging about 4,000 miles a week in his big rig and happened to be driving when the seizure happened. “It took four paramedics to get me…


December 19, 2018

Santa Gets Back to Work After Wrist Repair at UAMS

Katrina Dupins

James Pruss as Santa Claus listening to Christmas wishes.

For the first time in decades, James Pruss is spending this December making appearances as Santa Claus. Until the Spaghetti with Santa event in North Little Rock on Dec. 2, Pruss says he had forgotten how much he enjoys the gig. “It’s fun to see the looks on the kids’ faces when they see me…


December 3, 2018

Violinist Plays Again Thanks to Spinal Cord Stimulation

Katrina Dupins

Alventena Cobb

Alventena Cobb of Conway is a professional musician. She’s played the violin for more than 30 years and has instructed many students. Cobb uses her instrument as a method of expression. So when a shoulder injury prevented her from picking up her bow and strings, she felt incomplete.



Next page