Connie Montegrano had never experienced such agonizing pain. It turned out to be pancreatitis, which means that her pancreas was inflamed.

Over the next six years, her abdominal pain got worse and became more frequent. She knew she had to do something.

Her doctor referred her to a specialist: Dr. Willis Parsons, a renowned gastroenterologist at NCH's Gastroenterology Center. Dr. Parsons used an endoscope—a long, flexible tube with a tiny video camera and light on the end—to examine Connie's gastrointestinal (GI) system. He discovered that her pancreas had basically broken into two parts. He quickly reconnected it and then inserted a pancreatic stent to keep her pancreas working properly.

These days, Connie lives without pain and is free from pancreatitis. "Dr. Parsons has given me my life back," she says.

Connie travels from Burbank, about an hour away, to have her stent replaced once a year. Like many other patients who travel to NCH from as far as neighboring states, she doesn't mind at all.

"I'd travel to the ends of the earth to be treated by Dr. Parsons," says Connie.

NCH has an experienced team of gastrointestinal physicians who offer a full range of advanced treatments, therapies and procedures usually found only at university medical centers.

For a GI referral, please call NCH HealthConnection at 847.618.4YOU (4968) today.

To read other patient success stories, click here.