Footsteps to Recovery: Dr. Besing's Compassionate Care

In the quiet town of Lawrenceville, Illinois, Jessica Wells, a dedicated paraprofessional at Parkside Elementary School, woke up one Friday morning with the usual routine of getting ready for school. However, this particular day took an unexpected turn when her son noticed something unusual on her foot. "Mom, what's on your foot?" her son asked, drawing Jessica's attention to a red discoloration she hadn't noticed before. As a diabetic, Jessica was accustomed to being vigilant about her health, but this time, the lack of pain in her foot had masked any warning signs.

Concerned, she immediately called Podiatrist Dr. Derek Besing's office, only to find out that he was in surgery all day. Undeterred, Jessica contacted her regular provider, who promptly prescribed a high-dose antibiotic. Unfortunately, by Monday, there was no improvement, prompting another call to Dr. Besing's office. He advised Jessica to come in for an examination, and after assessing her condition, he made a critical decision. Dr. Besing recommended that Jessica be admitted to Good Samaritan for immediate treatment. Intravenous antibiotics were administered to combat the infection, but on Tuesday, Dr. Besing delivered surprising news—it was a brown recluse spider bite. Realizing the urgency of the situation, Dr. Besing decided to perform the necessary procedure to clean out the venom. Initially scheduled for Wednesday morning, he reconsidered and returned to Jessica's room that very evening. Jessica recalled Dr. Besing empathetically saying, "I know you have a two-year-old at home. I remember him from the office visit when he was crying, saying 'don't put mommy in the hospital.' I know you need to get home to him." He performed the procedure to remove the venom that evening to expedite Jessica's recovery. Despite the challenges, Jessica found herself discharged one day earlier than initially planned, thanks to Dr. Besing's compassionate and prompt intervention.

Reflecting on her experience, Jessica praised Dr. Besing for his exceptional bedside manner, meticulous examinations and detailed explanations of the procedure. Grateful for his expertise, she continued follow-up visits at the Wound Care Center at Good Samaritan.

"Dr. Besing is just an amazing doctor. He has saved my foot more than once," Jessica remarked. "I would highly recommend Good Samaritan." “Many of my patients have become like friends to me over the years and Jessica is no different,” stated Dr. Besing. “I always remind myself that I’m treating someone’s wife or mother, husband or father, child or sibling. It’s a humbling thing to have people place their well-being in your care and I have always tried to take it very seriously. I strive to treat people like I would want my loved ones to be treated, with dignity and respect.” During her health scare, Jessica found comfort in the compassionate nursing staff at Good Samaritan. Their care, combined with Dr. Besing's expertise, transformed a potentially dire situation into a testament to the power of timely and compassionate health care. Jessica's journey through the hospital became a story of resilience, empathy and the profound impact of a caring health care professional.