Patient reunites with doctors who saved his life

It’s not often people who go into multiple organ failure have the chance to thank the doctor for saving their life, but Steve Weisz is one of the lucky ones who had the opportunity to show his gratitude.

The administration at Orlando Health Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, where Weisz was treated in October, arranged a special meeting to reunite him with Dr. Inga Khachaturova and the care team that gave him another chance at life. 

It was an emotional reunion — and a surprise for Khachaturova — who was thrilled to see Weisz after treating the seriously ill man in the critical care unit for 17 days.The reunion took place April 3 and highlighted the importance of teamwork and recognized National Critical Care Awareness Month.

“The hospital did a great job of not letting on what was going on,” Weisz said. “The whole critical care team was down there, and I think she was taken aback by it.”

He said it was interesting to meet his doctor and critical care team in a social setting — a far cry from his initial meeting seven months prior.

Weisz was admitted to the hospital in October after experiencing chills, night sweats and a 104-degree temperature. A battery of tests determined he was in acute renal failure, and soon after, the function of his heart, liver and lungs declined.

He was placed on a ventilator and in a medically induced coma to help his body recover. He endured dialysis and pheresis.

“My kidneys shut down, and everything followed,” Weisz said. “(The care team) advised my family to come by to see me, because they didn’t know if that would be the last time they would see me. It was more so for them, because I was pretty much out of it.”

Doctors still aren’t sure exactly what caused his episode — but Weisz said he knows he was in good hands during his remarkable recovery.

“I was very fortunate that Dr. K was the person that coordinated all the care in the CCU,” he said. “She took a keen interest in my case and kept pushing to try to find out. I’m not sure to this day anyone knows what exactly caused it. I know it’s frustrating to the hospital staff and doctors.”

Following nearly three weeks in CCU, Weisz was released to Orlando Health Advanced Rehabilitation Institute, where he worked for almost two weeks to gain his strength and increase the number of steps he could take before needing to rest.

Courtesy photo

“When I went from the hospital to the rehab, I could only walk a few steps … because of my weakness,” he said. “When I left I could walk around the building.”

Following his ordeal, Weisz wrote a note to Philip Koovakada, the president of the hospital, to recognize Khachaturova and the team for their extraordinary care. The hospital followed up with the opportunity for the Weiszes and hospital staff to meet.

“I wanted to express my sincere appreciation for them getting me through a rather serious illness and getting me to the point … where I am good as new,” Weisz said. “I’ve said without hesitation they saved my life.

“The staff, Dr. K, etc., showed so much interest and compassion to me and my family,” he said. “To this day, about once a week, Dr. K still calls to check on me.”

“One of the most special things about critical care is time is of the essence,” Khachaturova said. “Everything is time sensitive. You need to get results back in real time, because if you don’t, or if there’s a delay, then that patient may have lost a major opportunity of resolution or significant improvement.

“The critical care physician kind of dictates the care from head to toe, and then the specialists will help with each organ, and when you sit together and try to put together this puzzle piece, it’s really something overwhelming, and to see whatever we did, all that hard work, investigation, put our minds together, helped resolve Steve and bring him back to his family and his life is really overwhelming. It’s incredible,” Khachaturova said.

Weisz, 74, has recovered nearly 100% from his medical ordeal. The retired Marriott Vacations Worldwide CEO and his wife, Linda, a former pediatric nurse, have been married for 52 years, and they were eager to resume their day-to-day-life in southwest Orlando. Weisz has returned to playing golf, working out with his trainer several times each week and a regular walking routine.

“I think there may have been some divine intervention along the way, but the care and the attitude of the people who were in charge of treating me, they deserve the credit,” Weisz said.

“The entire experience … the whole Orlando Health system, kind of embraced me and did what I think is something that truly saved my life,” Weisz said. “Dr. K, she’s a person who won’t take no for an answer. She’s very persistent in terms of trying to get the right people in to take care of me, and that’s something I greatly appreciate.”