2007 - Memorial Hospital of South Bend

“Then, when the ambulance came, the mankept saying ‘talk to me, talk to me, talk to me.’I remember he told me we were going to thetrauma center and to hold on because it was goingto be a bumpy ride,” says Betty. “Then I don’tremember much of anything else. I was kind of inand out of it, as you can imagine.”When Betty arrived, the Memorial LeightonTrauma Center Team identified a laundry list oftraumatic injuries. She had suffered: a compoundfracture of the wrist, a knee cap that was brokenin four places, a crushed heel, a broken sternum,seven fractured ribs, an open book pelvic fracturein three places, a collapsed lung and more than20 broken bones. Her injuries also included aperforated small intestine, which required theremoval of an 8-foot section.“I didn’t even realize how bad of a condition I wasin,” adds Betty. “What I do know now, is what awonderful job the trauma team did on me. I can’tsay enough about the doctors and nurses in thetrauma unit. They really did save my life.”Betty required a total of nine surgeries over a numberof weeks to address her injuries. In fact, OrthopedicTrauma Surgeon Bryan Boyer, M.D. postponed hisvacation to make sure he would bethere to repair the open book pelvicfracture she had suffered. A gestureBetty has never forgotten.“I had very good experiences atMemorial. The nurses were verygood to me on the floor and thedoctors were always friendly,” saysBetty. “They were also very nice to myhusband and sons as far as talking tothem and letting them know whatwas going on. I was blessed to havesuch a great care team.”Even though her condition was serious,the doctors told her they were confident she wouldwalk again, but they couldn’t tell her just how well, or ifher gait would ever be back to ‘normal.’ With extensivetherapy, she’s now back to walking around her homewith no problem, only using a cane when braving thewinter weather of Michiana.“Drs. Boyer, Balint, Kim, Noveroske, Fromm, Clark,Guentert, Koscielski, they all helped save my life,” saysBetty. “I remember them all coming into the room to seeme. They kept telling me that it was a miracle that I wasstill alive. I guess I was stronger than I thought I was.”Betty and her husband William“Ever since I was a child I have always had this altruistic passion for wanting to help people. Becoming an orthopedictrauma surgeon has provided me with the opportunity and privilege to aid injured people in need and possibly make adifference in their lives.” — Bryan Boyer, M.D.