Michelle’s Story

Walking Together

When complications plagued Michelle’s recovery, the staff at Evanston Regional Hospital had the knowledge to treat her and the flexibility to personalize her care.

Michelle was too busy chasing after her 18-month-old grandson to worry about her heel pain. Then a lump appeared and the pain at times made walking unbearable.

Concerned, Michelle scheduled an appointment with Evanston Regional Hospital’s Podiatrist Chad D. Brady, DPM, FACFAS. He diagnosed her with a bone spur.

“Initially, I was going to get a diagnosis and go out of town,” Michelle says. “But I decided to stay at Evanston Regional Hospital so Dr. Brady could be my surgeon. He knows so much and was helpful explaining what was causing my pain and how he could correct it.”

After surgery, Michelle had a textbook recovery until four weeks in when her Achilles tendon ruptured. Dr. Brady repaired it, and at her follow-up appointment, he discovered she had a staph infection.

Because Michelle had not yet spiked a fever or a high white blood cell count, a larger facility might not have let Dr. Brady schedule her for an emergency surgery, but at Evanston, Dr. Brady had her in an operating theater within the hour.

“If I hadn’t been at Evanston Regional Hospital, I may have lost my leg or my life,” Michelle says.

Dr. Brady and his team have continued to walk with Michelle through her recovery process, consulting on her case, listening to her worries and reassuring her about her progress.

“I’m so glad I stayed here in Evanston,” Michelle says. “Somewhere else, I think you’re more of a number. I felt like a person at Evanston Regional Hospital, and Dr. Brady is such a skilled surgeon. We are lucky to have his big-city hospital care right here in Evanston.”

Have foot pain that won’t go away? Don’t suffer unnecessarily. Visit EvanstonAnytime.com or call (307) 789-9355 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Brady.

Dr. Brady is a member of the medical staff at Evanston Regional Hospital.