PATIENT PORTAL

Virginia's Story

Virginia

Although there are many reasons I work with Dr. Tadje, one of the main factors in my decision to work at his practice is his dedication to his patients. When I was getting my master’s degree, I was working at St. Alphonsus as a charge nurse in the Operating Room. Any time there was a level-1 trauma case admitted, they were sent directly to the emergency room. One night, a patient with a level-1 trauma injury to his foot was admitted, and I was paged down to the ER. The patient was in his early 20’s, and his foot had been run over by a commercial lawnmower. This was a very significant injury, and his foot was in really bad condition. On top of that, I found out from some of the other nurses that the patient was going to be getting married within the next couple of days. The orthopedic surgeon who was working in the ER looked at the patient’s x-rays, and determined that the foot wasn’t salvageable, so it, as well as part of his leg, would need to be amputated. When they informed me of this decision, I was so upset because this poor young man was going to lose his foot the day before his wedding. We all felt badly for him, but there didn’t seem to be anything we could do.

Within 15-20 minutes of hearing that he would be losing his leg, I got a call from Dr. Tadje telling us that he was going to come to the ER to try to save the patient’s foot. It turns out that the patient’s family were close friends of Dr. Tadje's, so they had called and asked if there was anything he could do. Dr. Tadje and his family were on their way out of town for a vacation when he received the call. They were on the highway heading out of town, but Dr. Tadje decided to postpone the vacation and head to the ER to help his friend. He showed up at the ER and promptly took the patient to the operating room for surgery. Although it was difficult, he ended up saving the patient’s foot. It’s not a pretty foot, but at least he didn’t have to undergo an amputation. To this day, he is still walking around with a fully functional foot. I felt inspired that Dr. Tadje would put his vacation on hold to help a friend and patient. Seeing his dedication showed that he truly cares about his patients and his practice. I knew I wanted to work with someone who is so committed to putting patients first, which is something I value as well.

Written by: Virginia Jeppesen, NP-C

You Might Also Enjoy...

How To Avoid Re-Injuring Your ACL

How To Avoid Re-Injuring Your ACL

An ACL injury can end a season, but it doesn’t have to keep you out of the game permanently. It’s crucial to take the right steps during your recovery to avoid future problems. Read on to learn how.
  3 Shoulder Injuries We Can Treat with Orthobiologics

3 Shoulder Injuries We Can Treat with Orthobiologics

In the past, the best treatment options usually came in the form of medications or surgery, but times have changed. Now orthobiologics can offer life-changing results, especially with several common shoulder injuries. Read on to learn more.

What Issues Can PRP Treat?

Treating pain conditions with targeted injections isn’t new. But PRP doesn’t use medication. Instead, it harnesses powerful elements in your own blood to activate the healing process, and it helps with numerous issues. Read on to learn more.
What Type of Surgeries Can Treat a Fracture?

What Type of Surgeries Can Treat a Fracture?

Broken bones may be a common problem, but that doesn’t mean they always need the same treatment. Instead, medical advancements provide numerous methods for treating fractures, depending on location and severity. Read on to learn more.