Larry Gouge

While working on his classic cars in his shop, 78-year old Larry Gouge began to feel week, losing some vision in his right eye and experiencing a strange "whooshing" sound in his right ear. When the symptoms returned that evening, he went to a local medical center near his home in Nacogdoches, which is 280 miles from Decatur. 

Larry was referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist and prescribed heart medication. Those recommendations did not seem comprehensive or urgent enough Larry’s granddaughter Ashley, an operating room scrub tech at Medical City Decatur. She urged him to travel to Decatur to see Daniel Morris, DO. 

Following an examination, Dr. Morris discovered that Larry had 80% blockage in his right artery, requiring a carotid endarterectomy (CEA). A CEA is a surgical procedure to remove plaque buildup from the arteries, which supply blood to the brain. It is potentially lifesaving and the procedure can help prevent a stroke. 

After surgery, Larry quickly began to feel better and his blood pressure improved to a normal range, the best it had been in years. He is grateful for the loving direction and attention from his granddaughter, along with his physician and the compassionate ICU nurses. 

Larry is particularly glad he traveled the 280 miles for expert care at Medical City Decatur, which he credits for saving his life. 

"You wake up in the morning and never know who you will meet,” says Larry. “The people I've met here at Medical City Decatur are some of the most genuine I've ever encountered and they saved my life."