Markeith L Sellers, RN

I was admitted to Eden Hospital as I was losing all of the feeling in my right leg. An emergency laminectomy was performed on both my thoracic and lumbar vertebrae two days later. Unfortunately, just weeks after the surgery, I began to have severe complications, and in early December, I had to return for more corrective surgery on my lumbar vertebrae. Since my second surgery, things had gotten worse to the point I had now lost feeling in my left leg, along with losing bowel and bladder control, and I was in severe pain and could barely walk.

I was then driven by a friend back to the emergency room at Eden Hospital. After several frustrating interactions where I felt the doctors weren't listening to me, I asked for Markeith to come into my room and talk with me. I told him I was extremely concerned that not only did I have all the red flag markers for a syndrome that is considered incredibly urgent and can lead to permanent paralysis and permanent loss of bladder and bowel control, but Markeith also said, "Oh, you are talking about Cauda Equina Syndrome." I couldn't believe that not only did he know about this syndrome, but he knew the name of it.

He went and spoke to a different physician and updated him on both my concerns and his own concerns. That conversation led to a very capable and compassionate doctor coming into my room and telling me that he too was very concerned about the possibility of me having CES and that, no, I would not be going home, but just the opposite. He was admitting me into the hospital for urgent diagnosis and treatment.

Markeith was the only medical staff member who took the time to listen to me, and by doing so demonstrated he was highly skilled and knew exactly what my fears were, then quickly yet effectively convinced a wonderful ER physician to come and address this situation.

Because of Markeith’s quick actions, he most likely is the person responsible for my being treated before things got past the point of no return for my nerves to regenerate. I cannot thank him enough for his amazing contribution to not only my urgent medical needs, but also to all of the patients he encounters daily at Eden Hospital.