Rita Corsi is back in action after emergency abdominal surgery.
In January of this year – in the midst of a snowstorm – Rita Corsi experienced an abdominal emergency. “One night, it was just such excruciating pain. It got to the point where I could hardly walk. I was so scared that my side was going to burst.”
Rita underwent bowel obstruction surgery at our hospital, performed by Dr. Mark Cowan.
Rita’s pain and discomfort initially began nearly a year before her surgery, with complications in her bowel activity. But non-surgical treatments were bringing relief, and all seemed to be in the clear. “I was doing just fine,” recalls Rita. “I’ve got dogs and cats and chickens. I was doing my crafts and going to Salt Lake with my husband. Things were great.”
In January, however, everything changed. Rita was transported via ambulance to our hospital, and after being assessed by our emergency team and Dr. Cowan, surgery was decided as the best route. A veteran and former healthcare worker herself – prior to retiring, Rita worked as a hospital corpsman in the Navy, a CNA, and an EMT – Rita credits the team’s diligence and transparency in bringing her peace of mind. “It just made me feel really safe. They’re all wonderful, from the EMS to the ER, Dr. Cowan, and all of the nurses who took care of me.”
Rita remained at our hospital for over a week after her surgery, and continued her recovery at home for several months. But now she’s back on her feet and back to making one of her most beloved dishes: tamales. “I make them every year for Christmas and New Year’s. But this year,” Rita says excitedly, “when I was able to get back to standing and feeling comfortable, I made 98 tamales.”
She’s also diving into creative projects and active living. “I’m able to go back out to my she-shed and do my crafting. My dogs are happy that I can pick them up and go outside with them. It’s been really good.”
