caregivers got to know Deis as she
talked about her husband’s death,
and other things going on in her
life, during her treatment sessions.
“With all she was going through,
Ruth Ann was, and is, a source
of great encouragement to all of
us,” said Craig Frisina, RN, center
director. “She has a strong faith,
and showed it every time she was
here. It sustained her through
many difficult decisions.”
A difficult decision
Although physicians did what they
could to eliminate the infection, it
continued to spread. To improve
her health, she would have to
sacrifice her toe.
“I never doubted that we would
do what was necessary,” Deis
said. “I had faith in God, that He
would heal me, and faith in my
doctors too. Looking back now, it
was the best thing that could have
happened.”
She had to learn how to walk
and move again after her toe was
amputated, and Deis noticed
immediately that more than just
her physical health improved.
“It is always hard to say
something we think is bad is
really a good thing, but the
timing of this—right after my
husband died—kept me focused
on something other than losing
him,” Deis said. “I still grieved, but
the focus on my health provided
motivation for me to keep going day
after day.”
Deis continued to recover and
today is resuming her normal life,
which includes gardening. She
occasionally brings fresh flowers
to the caregivers at the Wound
Healing Center.
“I love working in the yard,”
she said. “That is something that
took a back seat when my husband
became ill. The work is fun, and I
don’t have many problems getting
around.”
Deis is also looking forward
to the start of the new baseball
season, so she can root on the
Pittsburgh Pirates.
Since she first came to ACMC’s
Wound Healing Center, Deis has
had more than 45 treatments in the
hyperbaric oxygen chamber (both
before and after the surgery). Today
there is no sign of the infection. She
has routine visits with Dr. Dunbar
and is confident that the infection
is in her past.
Deis has also changed her eating
habits and takes medication to
control her blood sugar.
“I’m just amazed at how I feel,”
she said. “My health is so much
better now that the poison is out.
I was just living with the pain and
sickness. Now I feel wonderful.”
Deis has been an encouragement
to ACMC’s caregivers and to other
patients as well.
She struck up a friendship with
another woman who was faced
with a similar risk of losing a toe.
“It’s not an easy decision to
make, but I’m happy to talk about
it with others,” Deis said. “I have
had no second thoughts. I can
now spend more time with my
grandchildren. I’m busy at church
and in my garden. I’m grateful to
my friends at the Wound Healing
Center for helping me get my life
back.”
Ruth Ann Deis experienced the caring treatment of the Wound Healing Center staff and
brings them encouragement too.
For more on the ACMC
Wound Healing Center, go
to
or call 440-994-7540.
ACMC Pulse •
15
