DR. ASHRAF HILMY PERFORMS CAMERON COUNTY S 1 ST SAME DAY BARIATRIC SURGERY AT VALLEY BAPTIST

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1 PRESS RELEASE Contact: Teri Retana, Asst. Vice President of Strategic Marketing & Communication Valley Baptist Health System, Phone: (956) or DR. ASHRAF HILMY PERFORMS CAMERON COUNTY S 1 ST SAME DAY BARIATRIC SURGERY AT VALLEY BAPTIST VALLEY WOMAN BECOMES 1 ST TO GO HOME SAME DAY AFTER WEIGHT-LOSS SURGERY HARLINGEN A Valley woman has become the first Cameron County resident to go home the same day as having weight-loss (bariatric) surgery. Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, General & Bariatric Surgeon, performed the first sameday Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen on Celeste Ramirez, age 59, of Brownsville. Dr. Hilmy has performed various types of weight-loss surgeries through the years but until now, none have resulted in such a quick turn-around time for the patient to leave the hospital. During the surgery, 85 percent of Ms. Ramirez stomach was removed, which is expected to facilitate a dramatic loss in weight for her as well as other health benefits that were already evident before she even left the hospital. Ms. Ramirez was admitted on blood pressure and diabetic medications, Dr. Hilmy said. After the surgery, she was discharged with better-than-normal blood pressure - and almost normal levels of blood sugar. And she left with a big smile on her face.

2 They have taken me away from my blood pressure and diabetes medication which makes me feel like a new woman, the patient, Ms. Ramirez said. I m not hungry; I m doing great. It s been a wonderful experience. I feel like I ve been blessed with water and given new life. Ms. Ramirez said she also feels like she s been cured of sleep apnea. Before the surgery I used to wake up four or five times a night. Now I feel rested when I get up in the morning. Every day I wake up with joy and a smile on my face, because I don t feel groggy and I don t feel pain. And now I feel like I have so much more energy. Ms. Ramirez said having that extra energy helps in caring for her 10-yearold granddaughter, who is also learning about healthy eating -- such as substituting yogurt and cucumbers and other vegetables in place of ice cream and popcorn. Ms. Ramirez also cares for her 27-year-old disabled son, which was very difficult for her before the weight loss surgery. She also has two other grown sons, a daughter who passed away, and five other granddaughters. Dr. Hilmy noted that being able to have bariatric surgery and then leave the same day, without having to spend the night at the hospital, saves both time and money for Valley patients. Just six years ago, it was common for patients to spend two days or more in the hospital after bariatric surgery, Dr. Hilmy added. This advancement will really benefit patients who need to get home sooner or get back to work sooner. Other patients who have undergone the sleeve gastrectomy surgeries with the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program at Valley Baptist have reported losing 100 pounds or more. So far, Ms. Ramirez has lost more than 28 pounds and expects to lose much more over the coming weeks and months. Several bariatric patients say the dramatic weight loss has been a lifechanging experience, which, like Ms. Ramirez, gave them more energy to devote to their work and family. With both obesity and diabetes at epidemic portions in the Valley, the weight-loss surgery has in many cases had the double effect of reversing or stopping diabetes. Valley Baptist s Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program promotes a healthy lifestyle of diet and physical activity which are key elements

3 in preventing diabetes, controlling it, and even returning blood sugar levels to normal in some cases. A part of the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program at Valley Baptist is medical weight management. Each patient is taught what a healthy lifestyle looks like, and how to integrate it into their life. Ms. Ramirez lost 18 pounds before she even had her surgery. She met with Dr. Julio Savinon, Internal Medicine and Certified Metabolic & Bariatric Medicine physician, who worked with the program s bariatric dietitian to educate Ms. Ramirez on healthy eating choices, portion control and physical activity. Implementing these lifestyle changes prior to surgery helped increase Ms. Ramirez s metabolism, which promoted quicker weight loss results after surgery. Dr. Savinon noted that helping a patient lose weight is a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary team effort at Valley Baptist, which also involves a dietitian, as well as a nurse, Dawn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, who serves as Program Director for Valley Baptist s Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program. Ms. Rodriguez herself went through a powerful transformation after undergoing gastric bypass surgery at Valley Baptist in and uses her own experiences to help personally guide patients through the whole process, from pre-surgery requirements, registration, surgery, lifestyle changes, and free support groups offered by Valley Baptist. Ms. Rodriguez said Valley Baptist s inter-disciplinary team has become very advanced and efficient with providing high quality patient care for bariatric surgery, from the time patients attend an information seminar to post-operative continuous care. Our multi-disciplinary team works closely together to provide exceptional care that is individualized to the patient s specific needs, Ms. Rodriguez said. Ms. Rodriguez expects that many more patients will be able to go home the same day as their surgery, as Ms. Ramirez did. Our goal is to have the patient feeling well enough that they can go home the same day, Ms. Rodriguez added. As the first patient to go home the same day as her surgery, Ms. Ramirez is doing just fantastic; in fact she s on Cloud 9.

4 A retired teacher, Ms. Ramirez taught for 35 years with the Brownsville Independent School District, in grades kindergarten through 6 th grade, including most recently as a 3 rd grade teacher at Yturria Elementary School. She advises other Valley residents to seek help early for weight problems. Take care of your health don t wait until your body is aching don t wait until your whole body is falling apart, Ms. Ramirez said. Before the surgery, I would go to bed with excruciating neck pain and every night I felt Iike I could have a heart attack. But from the moment I got out of the operating room, I feel like I ve been given a whole new life. I thank God for all the support, including from my best friend Cynthia Duran, who helped guide me every step of the way. Valley Baptist s Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program is located in a one-story building across the street from the hospital, at 2220 Haine Drive, Suite 38, in Harlingen. For more information on weight-loss medical and surgery options, contact your physician and Dawn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, at (956) or at dawn.rodriguez@valleybaptist.net.

5 PHOTO SAME-DAY WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY - Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, left, General & Bariatric Surgeon, checks on patient Celeste Ramirez, who recently became the first Cameron County resident to go home the same day as having weight-loss (bariatric) surgery. At right in April Gonzalez, medical assistant. Dr. Hilmy performed the first same-day Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.

6 PHOTO WEIGHT LOSS TEAM - The Valley Baptist s Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program assists patients through a multi-disciplinary team, including from the left, Dawn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, who serves as Program Director for the Valley Baptist Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program; Dr. Julio Savinon, Internal Medicine and Certified Metabolic & Bariatric Medicine physician; Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, General & Bariatric Surgeon and Medical Director of Valley Baptist s bariatric surgical program; Amanda Thornburg, Office Manager; and Amy Silva, RD, LD, Dietitian for the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program. Team members not pictured include dedicated anesthesia, surgery, and surgical floor teams at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.

7 PHOTO Dr. Ashraf Hilmy, General & Bariatric Surgeon and Medical Director of Valley Baptist s bariatric surgical program, recently performed the first same-day Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen. The surgery enabled a Brownsville woman to become the first Cameron County resident to go home the same day as having weight-loss (bariatric) surgery, without having to spend the night in the hospital.

8 PHOTO Dr. Julio Savinon serves as Internal Medicine and Certified Metabolic & Bariatric Medicine physician with the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.

9 PHOTO Dawn Rodriguez, RN, BSN, serves as Program Director for the Surgical & Medical Weight Loss Program at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.

10 About Valley Baptist Health System Valley Baptist Health System is an 866-bed faith-based regional health system located in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. It is focused on helping people achieve health for life through compassionate service inspired by faith. Valley Baptist extends many of its services beyond its facilities and into local communities, offering free screenings for the community, support groups and numerous educational opportunities. For more information, visit (and