Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/600024
Late in her fourth pregnancy, Maria Vargas was overcome by episodes of sharp, excruciating pain and didn't dare breathe for fear the agony would worsen. The pain sparked underneath her rib cage, shot out to her back and then traveled through her shoulder and arm. "I couldn't move at all when the pain was going on," Maria says. "It literally took my breath away." Maria knew the pain was related to her gallbladder because CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Mary doctors had diagnosed her years before when the issue was less severe. At that time, Maria had decided to just watch what she ate and hope the pains would not come back. Instead, they came back with a vengeance. "The closer it got to time for me to deliver, the worse the pains got," she says. After giving birth to her daughter, Maria decided to do something about the debilitating pain. She visited another local hospital but was sent home with pain medication. "It didn't work. A few days later, I was throwing up and I couldn't breathe or move," Maria says. "I decided to go to St. Mary." Following a series of tests to determine exactly what was going on with Maria, the Port Arthur mother was admitted to the hospital and prepared for surgery the next day. "I was in so much pain I was actually excited about the surgery," Maria says. "And after surgery, I was so happy. I had no more pain." What really impressed Maria was the experience she had at St. Mary. Everyone there gave her hope and made her feel like she was family. "As soon as they saw me, they took me back, they did testing and they were really sweet," she says. "They made me feel like I was really important. Even the custodians were praying for me and talking with me. They were lifting me up." Like others in the area, Maria says she had heard about changes taking place at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Mary but did not know exactly what they meant until she experienced them firsthand. Maria says her experience at St. Mary has given her the possibility to live life fully with her four children. "I thank God," Maria says, "and I thank everyone at St. Mary." Maria (known to her family and friends as Angel) is pictured with her four children, ages 3 months to 8 years old. "Whatever has been done — it's been fantastic," she says. "I can truly say CHRISTUS has done a great job of improving service at St. Mary." to the Pain LiveWell | Fall 2015 3