Carolyn Keene was facing dire circumstances when she arrived at Baylor University Medical Center . Then she met her experienced surgical team ...
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Grateful Patient Donates to Advance Research
Danny and Carolyn Keene arolyn Keene arrived at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas with holes in her stomach and a grave fear that her situation could not be fixed . What was supposed to have been a routine surgical procedure at a hospital not in the Baylor Scott & White Health system turned into a nightmare fraught with complications . Carolyn couldn ’ t eat , she experienced severe nausea , was intubated , and was in heart and kidney failure . As her situation seemed to worsen , there was even talk of removing her stomach entirely .
“ We felt like she needed to be moved . We were scared ,” remembered Kelli Keene Smith , Carolyn ’ s daughter . “ We told them to take her to Baylor downtown .”
In the ICU at Baylor University Medical Center , the family met with a surgical team known for taking on cases where patients have had surgical complications . The team was led by an internationally known surgical expert , Steven G . Leeds , M . D ., an esophageal and general surgeon on the medical staff of Baylor Dallas in the Division of Minimally Invasive Surgery , who has published research on how to help patients like these heal using minimally invasive surgical techniques .
Carolyn and her husband , Danny Keene , remember the relief they felt in working with a medical team who not only knew what was ailing Carolyn , but also how to treat it .
Through a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure , Carolyn ’ s surgeon placed stents in her stomach to drain the ongoing infection and allow it to heal . The surgeon would remove the stents later , and stressed patience to the family — and hope .
“ Patients often arrive in distress : They have been operated on , had a leak , are not getting the nutrition they need , their family has been living in hospitals , and the patients don ’ t feel like they can go on ,” Dr . Leeds explained . “ We give them hope . When you give them a little hope , they want to fight . They want to heal and get out of the hospital .”
With a prescription for patience , a healthy dose of hope , and support from their caregivers at Baylor Scott & White , Carolyn ’ s stomach healed and she was able to go home . “ Not only did they save her stomach , but her life , too ,” Kelli said .
It was then that the Keene family decided to do something to show the extraordinary gratitude they had for Carolyn ’ s care .
“ I owed Baylor Scott & White my life ,” Carolyn said . “ I said thank you , but I felt like we needed to do something more .”
The Keene family donated $ 50,000 to support research in the area of minimally invasive techniques to heal leaks . “ Given the extensive knowledge learned from previous research on this subject , the next step is to learn more about the bacteria that live at the leak site ,” Dr . Leeds explained . “ This would help us understand the microbiome living at the complication site and will assist in better treatment .”
“ I owed Baylor Scott & White my life . I said thank you , but I felt like we needed to do something more .”
— Carolyn Keene
Through their gift , the Keene family hopes to advance research so other patients have positive outcomes — and return to their normal lives — like Carolyn .
“ When we first entered Baylor , we were overwhelmed with fear about what Carolyn ’ s life — if she even survived — would look like going forward ,” said Danny . “ Today , we are overwhelmed with gratitude , and hope this support will make advances in research possible to help more families like ours in the future .”
These days , you can find Carolyn and Danny traveling to their ranch in Hot Springs , watching horse races and enjoying life , together . “ We were able to get her home and feeling great and she can continue living a regular life ,” Dr . Leeds said . “ That ’ s the best outcome we could have hoped for .”
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THE COMPASS / BAYLOR SCOTT & WHITE DALLAS FOUNDATION NEWS / SPRING 2021