Florida Hospital Waterman | Waterman Wellness | Winter 2018

FHWaterman . com 3 CALENDAR “All I remember is a very sweet lady asking me to sit down with her in a parking lot,” explains Rick Glass, of Leesburg. “So I sat down and she called the ambulance. When I woke up, I was at Florida Hospital Waterman and a doctor was telling me that I had a tumor on my brain.” Glass had been experiencing head- aches and insomnia off and on for a few years prior to that September day when he became disoriented in a park- ing lot and was helped by a concerned bystander. He had attributed these symptoms to stress and attempted to alleviate them with over-the-counter medicines without much success. A fast diagnosis “As soon as I came to the emergency department that day, they did an MRI and found the brain tumor,” says Glass. “The following morning I was scheduled for surgery. Just that quick.” “The way the emergency department connects to the rest of the hospital is quite important,” says emergency medicine doctor Floriano Putigna, DO. “Because of the advanced technology that Florida Hospital Waterman has and the 24/7 availability of CT scans, MRIs, x-rays, etc., we can diag- nose many things fairly quickly. This seamless flow and communication with various departments within the hospital is what really allows patients to have not just a good experience, but a safe experi- ence through their entire care.” For Rick Glass, this seamless flow meant immediate surgery where the surgeon was able to remove the entire tumor. Three weeks later, Glass began eight weeks of radiation combined with chemotherapy. “The resources I have found at the Florida Hospital Waterman Cancer Institute have been incredible,” says Glass. “They explained my treatment plan in detail and exactly what I could expect. I feel like they really care about me and have the biggest hearts.” Love, gratitude and support Today, Glass is thankful for the con- cerned lady who helped him get to the emergency department, and for the quick and accurate diagnosis he received upon his arrival. “It’s a devastating diagnosis but it was also a relief to finally know what was causing my headaches and sleep- lessness,” says Glass. “I’m so apprecia- tive to everyone who has helped me along this journey. I live every day with a purpose now and part of that purpose is to share the joy I have in my heart. If I can bring a smile to some- one’s face then that’s wonderful. We are all here to help one another, and the love and support I have received have meant the world to me.” We are all here to help one another, and the love and support I have received have meant the world to me.” –Rick Glass Floriano Putigna, DO changed In a day’s time, his life Visit FHWatermanER.com to receive a free first-aid kit.