Damian Baltes, of New Hampton, was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia in late 2023. Damian visited the general surgery clinic at Waverly Health Center (WHC) for a consultation where it was determined he would need surgery.
Damian’s outpatient surgery was scheduled with Dr. Melissa Garrett, general surgeon with Cedar Valley Medical Specialists at WHC, for early January.
Damian has a history of issues after anesthesia. When he shared this with the nurse anesthetist, Natasha, she listened with compassion. “Natasha took every step to try to eliminate the nausea I usually feel after anesthesia,†said Damian. “Everything worked. Kudos to her!â€
On their way home from the successful operation, Damian and his wife, Sara, were involved in a car accident. The next morning, Damian found a tender, bruised lump near his groin. He consulted with Dr. Garrett and had a CT scan. It was determined to be a new hernia.
Two weeks later, Damian had surgery to repair the second hernia. “I was pretty nervous for the first surgery,†said Damian. “I wasn’t worried at all about the second surgery. I knew how competent the staff was and how well I’d be taken care of.â€
Now, several weeks after his operations, Damian feels great. “I’m back to normal and it’s all due to the fantastic service I received from Waverly Health Center.â€
