by SullivanRose

Created on: November 06, 2009

Imagine a hospital in the high drama style of medical TV: lights race down a long, sterile hallway making the surgery ride agonizingly fast. Gurney wheels squeak as fear drips into your IV. Echoes of pain bounce off the walls and expand just as you begin to choke. You want to change your mind, but you are struggling not to slip into a bloody nightmare. You startle awake to find a big nurse poking you with yet another instrument. This is the average persons fear and therefore, their experience is pre-affected as they head for a hospital and surgery.

Now envision this: Your surgeon strolls into your pre-op room, sits at your bedside and prays with you and your family. Two angels in scrubs introduce themselves to you as a well oiled gurney rolls down a comfortable hallway where you're told you have the right-a-way. You find yourself laughing at their friendly antics as they explain they will be with you the whole time you're in surgery. You find them absolutely strong and likeable and your fear drains away. The prayers of your doctor have soothed your concerns and the last thing you remember is drifting into the anesthesia chuckling with your personal nurses. Surgery has not began and yet, you are already healing.

This is my story and this is the medicinal care I received under Dr. Michael Haglund at the Duke-Raleigh Hospital in Raleigh, NC. Dr. Haglund and his amazing staff reversed the negative affects of fear and created an environment of laughter, confidence and security as I entered the operating room.

Dr. Michael Haglund is a neurosurgeon who performs cervical spine surgery. The atmosphere in which he operates reduces stress and generates a soft pulse of therapeutic care for the soul as well as the cervical spine.

In September, 2009, I checked into the Duke-Raleigh Hospital to undergo cervical spine surgery for the second time. My first surgery was also performed by Dr. Haglund. I returned to Dr. Haglund for the second surgery because of the confirmed success of the first surgery.

One year after my first cervical spine surgery was performed, I was T-boned by a young girl who was distracted. My first concern was for my neck. The following morning I was in the offices of my family doctor. An X-Ray showed that my spinal fusion was still intact. My doctor said, "Whoever did your surgery, did a great job. It is pristine." I was relieved. The girl who hit me was a teenager and I wasn't looking forward to being hurt both for her and for myself. It is my opinion

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