Patient Stories
Northwest Health - Porter's Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center focuses on helping you get your wound healed and your quality of life back as easily and quickly as possible.
Hear what a few patients have to say about the positive impact that the Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center has made on their life.
The Journey to Healing
At age 25, Jack Crump's life forever changed after he fell off scaffolding, paralyzing him from the chest down.
As a scaffold builder, he was also tasked with tearing the structures down. On that day, he was working at a power plant when the unthinkable happened. "We got it down to about 50 feet when I fell," he said. "The scaffolding was inside a boiler, so when I fell, I hit steel at the bottom."
As a paraplegic, Crump is more susceptible to ulcers that are caused when the skin on his legs and tailbone rub against his wheelchair. Read more.
"They closed my wound and saved my leg. I feel so blessed and am so thankful to everyone at the center."
"My health issues began a few years ago when I was diagnosed with 100% blockage in my leg. It eliminated the blood flow to my foot for months and I eventually had to have two toes amputated," shared Lyn.
Yet unfortunately complications ensued and led to a non-healing chronic ulcer in her foot and a bone infection. After trying months to heal her foot with no success, her doctor finally told her that hyperbaric oxygen therapy was needed to save her leg and he referred her to the Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center at Northwest Health.
"And I'm so thankful he did. I really don't know if I could've undergone the intense treatment without the center's caring staff," said Lyn. "You see, I'm claustrophobic and the thought of being inside the hyperbaric oxygen chamber was overwhelming. Their patience, compassion and knowledge made all of the difference."
Lyn recalled her first day of therapy in the chamber and quickly learned that watching and listening to DVDs really helped. "My first visit I brought my favorite southern gospel DVD and when it started I opened my eyes and immediately felt so comforted. My claustrophobia was gone," said Lyn.
It took months – 60 treatments, 5 days a week from 8 – 10:30 a.m. each day. "I watched so many DVDs during treatment, including the entire Harry Potter series," laughs Lyn. "And it was worth it. I am so grateful the treatment worked. They closed my wound and saved my leg. "
Lyn L.
"Dr. Woods and his team at Northwest Health Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center gave me hope when I didn't have any."
Michael was diagnosed with peripheral artery disease. The artery in his leg was blocked causing him a lot of pain and trouble walking. To improve the blood flow to his leg and foot he underwent bypass surgery in May of 2021.
Then approximately six months later, he had a complication. The veins in the artery collapsed – cutting off the blood flow to his foot.
After a trip to the ER, he was diagnosed with compartment syndrome which is a painful and dangerous condition caused by pressure buildup from internal bleeding and swelling.
Michael underwent an emergency fasciotomy to relieve the mounting pressure and save his leg.
After surgery, he was referred to the wound care center at Northwest Health - Porter to help optimize the wound closure.
"I'll never forget my first visit. They had to clean my open wounds to remove embedded dressings," he said. "Dr. Woods and the nurses were wonderful and so compassionate. Three nurses held my hands as Dr. Woods worked. They answered all of my questions and let me know that I was not alone."
Michael went to the center two times a week for four months. He was released at the end of April when his wounds were officially healed.
"I wouldn't be where I am today without the people at the wound care center. "
Michael O.
Dr. Michael Woods is an independent member of the medical staff at Northwest Health.