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Last
fall, the Rev. Jerry Hull spent
21 days with his wife, Kathy, on a rigorous
mission trip in Papua New Guinea.
“Our days were filled with teaching,
meeting with missionaries, and studying,”
Rev. Hull says. “I thought I was in pretty
good shape, but while walking uphill I
felt winded. I just figured I wasn’t as fit
as I thought.”
After the couple returned home,
however, Rev. Hull experienced chest pains
and shortness of breath one day while
working in his yard.
“That’s when I contacted my primary
care provider,” he says.
He was referred to Joseph Bellomo, MD,
and Randall Wilson, MD, independently
practicing cardiologists on the medical
staff at Methodist Charlton Medical Center.
Abnormal stress test results led to a cardiac catheterization
procedure to widen obstructed blood vessels. However, the
procedure revealed several more serious blockages that required
quadruple bypass surgery. The timing of the medical need
caused Rev. Hull to become the hospital’s first patient in its
new open heart surgery program.
The power of prayer
Throughout his hospital stay, the Hulls had a sense of peace.
Prayers came from nearby Faith Bible Church in DeSoto, where
Rev. Hull has served as the children’s pastor for the past 30 years,
and from as far away as the missions in Papua New Guinea.
Rev. Hull expressed thanks and appreciation to the Lord for
protecting and caring for him and his
family during this time.
“We felt very uplifted,” Mrs. Hull says.
“The nursing staff at Methodist Charlton
even prayed for us.”
Rev. Hull says he sensed the Lord’s
presence, peace, and care from everyone
they met on the Methodist Charlton
staff, including his cardiovascular and
thoracic surgeon, Thomas Hoang, MD, an
independently practicing physician on the
medical staff.
“He took time and was very thorough
in answering our questions,” Rev. Hull says.
“It was a joy to have him as my physician.”
An unexpected first
Rev. Hull says he felt comfortable being
the hospital’s first open heart surgery patient. Dr. Hoang had
explained that although the program at Methodist Charlton was
new, the surgery team was very experienced.
“I really sensed the team spirit, and I knew they were well-
prepared,” Rev. Hull says.
He and his wife also appreciated how much the team wanted
him to do well after leaving.
“I’m sure all hospitals feel that way, but the staff at Methodist
Charlton was able to communicate it,” Mrs. Hull says. “We are
so thankful to them for taking care of Jerry so he could come
home to us.”
To find a provider to help detect heart problems you may have,
call
214-947-0000
or visit
www.MethodistHealthSystem.org/Heart
.
Local pastor becomes Methodist Charlton’s first open heart surgery patient
SAVED BY A SOLID TEAM:
Physicians
on the medical staff at Methodist
Charlton — including cardiovascular
and thoracic surgeon Thomas Hoang,
MD (left) —worked quickly to treat the
Rev. Jerry Hull’s heart condition.
and be glad!
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10
Methodist Health System
•
❁
Spring 2012