Life of Kenosha.com Owner Saved by Dr. Laga

Jim Gourley, owner of Kenosha.com and other local businesses, is “lucky to be alive,” said Dr. Stephen Laga, cardiothoracic surgeon, following an endovascular aortic aneurysm repair procedure he performed on Jim. “If Jim’s aneurysm would have burst, he would have died before getting to the hospital. Without his annual physical and preventative maintenance, Jim never would have known this life-ending aneurysm was lurking inside him.”

ANEURYSM HELD TOGETHER BY BLOOD CLOT FOUND WITH SERENDIPITY AND ROUTINE CARE

“At seventy-one years old, I am an advocate for routine medical care,” said Jim. “I regularly schedule check-ups with Dr. Michael Zeihen, my primary care physician. At my last check-up, Dr. Zeihen scheduled a CT scan to look further at something with my kidneys. The CT scan revealed a renal aneurysm, and, by complete happenstance, it also revealed a saccular aneurysm in the lower portion of my aorta. Dr. Zeihen referred me to Dr. Laga who immediately met with me.”

Dr. Laga said, “Jim’s aneurysm was one hundred percent life-threatening. With a saccular aneurysm, the walls of the blood vessel are weaker, and the potential to burst is greater. While performing the repair procedure, to my astonishment, I identified that a blood clot was the only thing preventing Jim’s aneurysm from bursting. It was basically a contained rupture. Twenty percent of cardiac output goes through the kidney artery that I was repairing. This aneurysm was twice the size of the artery. If it had burst or if that blood clot had moved, Jim could have lost forty percent of his blood supply in one minute. Thankfully, I was able to timely and strategically place the stent and spare him from the event that would have killed him.”

“I am flabbergasted at the serendipitous situation that saved my life!” said Jim. “I am so grateful for Dr. Ziehen’s commitment to my routine medical care, and I am eternally grateful to Dr. Laga whose skill and expertise saved my life.”

“JIM IS REALLY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE!” -DR. LAGA

“I cannot stress enough that Jim is really lucky to be alive!” said Dr. Laga. “Not only was his aneurysm identified by chance, but, thanks to our collaborative system of care, he also rapidly received the highly specialized procedure he needed to live. I performed this minimally invasive procedure with the latest technological advancements in cardiothoracic surgery. The collaboration and the technology right here are all possible because the leadership of Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital is committed to excellence. I am so proud to be part of this team. We are applying highly specialized knowledge and leading-edge technology to save people like Jim, right here, in this incredible community hospital.”

“NO ONE ELSE IN THIS AREA IS CAPABLE OF SAVING LIVES THE WAY DR. LAGA CAN.” -JIM GOURLEY

“No one else in this area is capable of saving lives the way Dr. Laga can,” said Jim Gourley. “I had my procedure with Dr. Laga at 8:00am on a Thursday, and I went home at 1:00 the next afternoon. It was remarkable! I went from ‘could’ve been instantly dead’ to ‘new lease on life’ in a day, and I did not even have to leave town! Dr. Laga’s bedside manner and good sense of humor were very comforting. Three different shifts of nurses took great care of me, and I would like to thank Heidi, Emily, and Amber for their attentive care. Dr. Laga’s Physician Assistant, Andrew Sirois, was also an integral part of my treatment and recovery, and I greatly appreciate his time and talents.”

Dr. Laga treats life-threatening cardiothoracic problems. He was mentored and trained by the father of modern cardiovascular surgery himself, Dr. DeBakey. Dr. Laga has been practicing medicine for over thirty years, and he recently chose to bring his practice to Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital all the way from Baylor, a premier hospital in Houston, Texas.

Dr. Laga said, “My work has a profound impact on the lives of my patients and the people that know and love them. I do not take that lightly at all. I have a firm commitment to excellence, and it is the solid culture of excellence that attracted me to practice here at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital. It is an honor to bring specialized cardiothoracic surgical care to Southeastern Wisconsin and to work with the world-class team here to save lives.”

TEAMWORK PLUS EXCELLENCE EQUALS LEADING-EDGE COMMUNITY CARE

“My call to action for my friends, family, and community is to get your routine medical care,” said Jim. “I am alive today because I was honest with my doctor about my health and how I was feeling. My primary care physician collaborated with the surgeon. All my appointments have been conveniently located close to home. Utilizing this system of care took a lot of stress off my wife and me. Outstanding resources are right here at Froedtert Pleasant Prairie Hospital for you to access. Get your check-ups, my friends, and take care of yourself.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Cardiology, contact 262-653-5483.