Angel, a 25-year-old construction worker, suffered severe injuries when a vault door fell on him at work. His leg had been completely crushed by the door, tearing 3 of the 4 major ligaments in his knee. It was also discovered that Angel’s intestine had “snapped in half.” After undergoing a procedure with Dr. Eric de la Cruz to repair his intestine, Dr. Paul Metzger, an orthopedic surgeon, was brought in to assess Angel’s challenging knee injury. Tearing multiple ligaments at one time is uncommon and typically requires separate surgeries. Instead, Dr. Metzger opted for one minimally invasive procedure using arthroscopic and fluoroscopic techniques. The use of a small camera and X-ray imaging during the procedure helped to minimize scars and overall disruption to the body. The surgery was successful and 5 months post-op, Angel began walking without any assistance. He is now working on climbing stairs with more ease and will continue attending physical therapy sessions 2 days a week. Angel, you inspire us! Learn more about our orthopedic services: https://bit.ly/4kxllh8 (fb)

Honored. Energized. Inspired. Last week, 45 direct care nurses from Advocate Health Care joined our Government Affairs team at the Illinois State Capitol for our annual Nurse Advocacy Day. These nurses met face-to-face with dozens of lawmakers—including Senate President Pro Tempore Bill Cunningham, Senate Minority Leader John Curran, House Majority Leader Robyn Gabel, and Assistant Majority Leader Marcus C. Evans, Jr. — to share how policy decisions impact care at the bedside. The day began with a program featuring State Representative Lindsey Lapointe, Chair of the House Mental Health and Addiction Committee, and our partners at the Illinois Hospital Association, who helped frame key issues facing nurses and patients alike. Advocacy Day is a reminder that our nurses are not just caregivers—they are advocates, leaders and essential voices in shaping health policy. (fb)