Somera, Mark Ezra G BSN III-2

Braves Heyward on DL after appendectomy in Denver

By: Paul Runyan

DENVER Jason Heyward figured he had something worse than a Stomach Virus when he couldnt lay on his side late Monday afternoon. A few hours later, the Braves right fielder had an emergency appendectomy at a Denver Hospital. The laprascopic procedure was successful and manager Fredi Gonzalez said Heyward should be recovered in two weeks, after a stint on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday. I went (to the hospital) this morning and saw him, spent about 20 minutes with him, Gonzalez said Tuesday morning, before the brave doubleheader against the Rockies at Coors Field. He was in good spirits. Beat up a little bit, as you would expect, from the surgery. But give him a couple of weeks and he should be ready to go. Utility man Tyler Pastornicky was recalled from Triple-A Gwinnett to fill Heywards roster spot and arrived at Coors Field before the doubleheader opener Tuesday. He hit .351 with six doubles and a homer in 18 games for Gwinnett. Gonzalez said Jordan Schafer and Reed Johnson would get most playing time in right while Heywards on the DL. Recovery for appendix surgery is typically 2-3 weeks for baseball players, although Matt Holliday of the Cardinals and Adam Dunn of the White Sox returned from laparascopic appendectomies in about one week in 2011. Neither went on the DL, but its more common for a player to be DLd and not rush the recovery. Gonzalez and assistant hitting coach Scott Fletcher said Heyward began feeling ill during the weekend series at Pittsburgh, but thought it might just be a virus. His condition worsened Monday in Denver, where the Braves spent several hours at Coors Field during the afternoon before the series opener was postponed due to snow. He didnt sound good, said first baseman Freddie Freeman, who talked with Heyward after he got back to the team hotel and tried to rest. He said he could only lay on his back, he couldnt lay on his side. He said he was feeling terrible.

Heyward was checked out by Braves doctor Joe Chandler and by a Rockies consultant at the team hotel, and told he needed to go to the hospital for tests. Soon after he arrived at Rose Medical Center, he was told he needed surgery. Me and Uggs (Dan Uggla) were at dinner, Freeman said, and I got a text (from Heyward) that said he had to go to the hospital to run tests on him. And about an hour later he told me he had to get his appendix taken out. It was quick. All of a sudden he was like, Ive got to get my appendix out. And I said, whens that happening? And he said, 10 minutes. The rest period following appendix removal was reduced with the advent of the laparascopic procedure, which is less invasive than the traditional open appendectomy. Gonzalez said that Heyward would return to Atlanta in a day or two after doctors tell him its safe to fly. The Braves finish their series in Colorado on Wednesday and conclude a three-city trip with a three-game series at Detroit starting Friday. Its been a rough April for Heyward, who has a league-worst .121 average (7-for-58) with two homers, five RBIs and a .261 on-base percentage and .259 slugging percentage. The 2012 Gold Glove winner has continued to draw praise from coaches and Gonzalez for his work habits, hustle and defense. While Heyward is out, Gonzalez said the Braves prefer to keep Justin Upton in left field rather than move the major league home-run leader back to right field, his former position with the Arizona Diamondbacks. We talked it over with the coaches, Gonzalez said. Both of those guys, Reed and Schafer, are above-average defenders. Justins doing a great job in left field. We didnt want to move him back for 10 or 12 days when hes getting used to that left -field position. So well just leave him there. Gonzalez also said the Braves had not discussed the possibility of playing catcher Evan Gattis some games in left field, a position he played some at Double-A last season and during spring training.

Former Lady Raider, WT A&M coach has emergency appendectomy

Posted: March 8, 2013 - 6:58pm Courtesy of West Texas A&M Gerlich By Terrence Hunley Amarillo Globe-News

West Texas A&M Lady Buff basketball coach Krista Gerlich led her team to a 76-87 win over Texas A&M-Commerce in the Lone Star Conference Tournament semifinals Friday less that 24 hours after she had surgery. Gerlich had a laparoscopic appendectomy at Allen Health Presbyterian Hospital on Thursday night after experiencing pain in her abdomen for a few days. Tuesday night at the (LSC) banquet I just kind of started having stomach cramps, Gerlich said. I didnt know what was going on. I thought it was nerves maybe or something I ate. Gerlich said she hadnt gotten any better by Thursday and her parents had come to town so they decided to get it checked out. A CAT scan determined Gerlich would need an appendectomy. (My appendix) had not ruptured but it was about to, Gerlich said. It was one of those things where if we hadnt gone in, it probably was going to. Dr. Chance Irwin of the Amarillo Surgical Group said a laparoscopic appendectomy on a non-ruptured appendix takes about 20 minutes. The surgeon makes three incisions, one for the camera and two for the equipment. The appendix is then placed in a bag and brought out through one of the incisions. Irwin said the procedure is usually done in the evening or late at night and the patient can be sent home in the morning. Even when told she needed surgery, Gerlich had her teams interest at the front of her mind, asking if the surgery could be delayed until after the tournament. They thought it had ruptured at first, Gerlich said. They told me we needed to go into surgery immediately. I asked them if it could wait until Monday. They looked at me like I was crazy. I explained what was happening and they were like, no, it cant wait.

Once the surgery was over, Gerlich said she was determined to be back on the bench for Fridays game. I had instant relief after the surgery, Gerlich said. I was pretty much just sore. My kids have been fighting all year long and this is all about them. I wanted to make sure they knew I was there fighting for them. West Texas A&M Athletic Director Michael McBroom said he wasnt surprised to see Gerlich back on the bench Friday. Shes one tough lady, McBroom said. I think her team knew that already and I think she knows her team will do anything for her. They are playing pretty inspired ball right now. Its another piece of the story they are putting together here. Theyve turned around their season pretty remarkably and they are on a pretty good run. Surgical procedures are classified as optional, required, elective, urgent, and emergent based on the patients medical condition. Optional surgery consists of operations that are not required but which the patient chooses to undergo as with some types of cosmetic surgery. Required surgery is performed when only surgery will correct a problemsuch as cataractsbut the surgery can be delayed for a period of weeks or months. Elective surgical procedures usually involve conditions that may not require surgery but in which surgery will have a favorable effectsuch as the removal of a small cyst. Urgent surgical procedures are performed when a patients condition is not immediately lifethreatening, but failure to treat it may result in death. Patients with some form of cancer are often considered urgent surgical cases. Emergency procedures must be performed within a few hours of a patients arrival at a hospital to prevent death. These surgeries correct serious life-threatening conditions such as major wounds, blockages of the intestines, or appendicitisinflammation of the appendix.