At Cooper, a worried Rosalie was able to have her catheterization performed through the arm instead of the groin, a less-invasive approach referred to as radial access. However, her doctors soon discovered that Rosalie would need to also have cardiac bypass surgery due to substantial blockages in her heart.

After a successful surgery and routine follow-up, Rosalie began noticing a pain in her chest. Following a CT scan, another situation arose with an unexpected diagnosis of lung cancer. Dr. Frank Bowen, the same cardiothoracic surgeon who performed her prior surgery, was called upon once again to remove the cancerous part of her lung.

This is the story of a remarkable recovery for woman whose spirit shines through and the routine doctor’s visit that led to the early diagnosis of health problems so she can continue to lead a long and joyous life.

Related Links

• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Heart Institute

Paramedics raced to the scene and saw his hand beneath the rubble. He was rushed to the local hospital for emergency surgery and was then flown to Cooper for additional life saving surgeries and recovery under the guidance of the Cooper Trauma team. His mother Janet said, “We didn’t even know if he would make the helicopter flight.”

This is the story of his journey from wreckage to flight.

Related Links

• Cooper Bone & Institute
• Cooper Neurological Institute
• Level 1 Trauma Center

“I had done it a thousand times,” said Dennis Hennis, a self-employed construction professional. “The nail gun got jammed and when I turned it to fix it, the gun went off and shot the nail directly into my chest.”

He turned to his son who was working beside him that day as they built a patio roof for a neighbor and said, “Call 911, I don’t think I am going to make it.”

Within minutes the ambulance arrived and transported Mr. Hennis, 52, of Vineland, New Jersey, to the nearest emergency department at South Jersey Regional Hospital where doctors inserted a catheter around the heart to drain the blood. The severity of the injury was apparent and he needed to be transferred to Cooper University Hospital, the only Level 1 Trauma Center serving all of South Jersey.

The fog was thick that afternoon and they would have to transport him by ambulance because the helicopter was unable to fly. While in the ambulance, Mr. Hennis went into cardiac arrest. Emergency personnel performed CPR on Mr. Hennis and turned the ambulance back to the hospital to stabilize him. By the time they got back, the fog had remarkably cleared and Mr. Hennis was then flown by helicopter to Cooper.

“We had the advantage of time in this case because of the transfer so we could assemble our trauma, anesthesia and cardiac surgery team in the specified cardiac operating room equipped with heart/lung bypass capabilities,” said Raymond H. Green, DO, trauma surgeon on service that afternoon. “When he arrived by chopper, we immediately took him into surgery. He had three episodes of cardiac arrests by the time he arrived and we knew this required immediate surgery.”

The life-saving CPR had damaged the hole in his heart further, exacerbating the trauma to the heart and making the small hole, much bigger.

Through the ordeal, Mr. Hennis had held onto the nail and emergency personnel then secured it in place with tape. “He knew to not remove the nail which could have caused him to bleed out. This was also life saving,” said Michael Rosenbloom, MD, Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

During the surgery, after repairing the hole in Mr. Hennis’ heart, he again went into cardiac arrest. At that point, Dr. Rosenbloom made the decision to place Mr. Hennis on the heart/lung bypass machine. After the two-hour surgery, Mr. Hennis’s heart was now beating strong, his chest was closed and he was heading to the Trauma ICU.

“The interplay of many different and complex factors had to occur exactly the way they did for him to have survived,” said Dr. Rosenbloom

A few days after surgery, Mr. Hennis met his surgeons. (see video below)

“I am so grateful,” said Mr. Hennis. “I don’t know why I survived, but someone has a plan for me.”

Six days after his accident, Mr. Hennis was released from the hospital and was resting at home.

“I had a grandson a few weeks ago, born on my birthday. I look forward to sharing our birthday’s together for years to come,” said Mr. Hennis.

“If one part of this situation were to have fallen a different way, this man would probably not be here. The stars aligned for him, and we are proud to have been a part of it.” remarked Dr. Green.

Angela, crushed at the thought of never living her dream of motherhood, met with David P.Warshall, MD, Head of Gynecological Oncology at Cooper, who shared with her the option of a surgical procedure which could remove the cancer, but preserve her ability to have a child. Angela soon underwent the procedure, known as a radical trachelectomy. Six years later, she is cancer free and enjoying the joy of motherhood thanks to her beautiful, two-year-old daughter.

Here is her story…

Related Links

• Cooper Cancer Institute
• Gynecologic Oncology
• David P. Warshal, MD, FACOG

The rest of their family decided to pursue genetic testing for cancer, which showed the women carry a gene mutation for breast cancer. The disease, which had been passed on through generations of women in their family, has devastated them, but has not broken them.

Today, they stand tall and proud – with knowledge and the power to help the next generation of women in their family beat breast cancer. This is their story.

Related Links

• Cooper Cancer Institute
• Cancer Genetics Program
• Robert A. Somer, MD

All the nurses at Cooper were really great, but there was one exceptionally good nurse – Brittani Goehringer. She was with my husband during the last two days of his life. I can’t explain exactly what it was she did, but found a way to make his passing easier for me. She was the kind of nurse everyone needs by their side when death is imminent.

I am sure the nurses in the ICU have special training to help them deal with grieving families and I would like to thank all the nurses who helped care for my husband. But Brittani went above and beyond her job description to comfort me. She was fantastic.

Antoinette Blais
Wenonah, New Jersey

Now, two years later, Jerri has fought her way back to a renewed life and shares her journey with us here.

Related Links

• Cooper Heart Institute
• Frank W. Bowen, III, MD
• Perry J. Weinstock, MD

View the full story at 6abc.com

Tori had no pulse when she was pulled from her burning car and was choppered to Cooper with five broken ribs, a broken leg, and a severe rupture in the main artery of her heart. She ended up spending five weeks in the trauma intensive care unit, including a week in which her chest remained open with her heart exposed to allow it to heal properly.

Two years later, she returned to Cooper to throw a banquet for the entire Trauma Unit staff, including the doctor who held her heart in her hands, physically pumping it as it stopped beating twice during surgery.

Click below to view the complete story from Action News.

Related Links

• Cooper Level I Trauma Center
• Cynthia R. Fusco, DO

Today, more than five years later, Lelah is a healthy first grader with tennis on her mind. This is her story.

Related Links

• Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper
• April M. Douglass-Bright, MD