Cleveland man 1st NGMC patient to undergo robotic kidney surgery

GAINESVILLE - A Cleveland man has become the first Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) patient to ever undergo a robotic surgical procedure to remove a kidney and the ureter, the tube that leads to the bladder.

74-year old Jerry Fordham wasn't truly alarmed when he started losing weight two years ago, but by December of last year he had lost 80 pounds. His Doctor John McHugh, a Urologist with Northeast Georgia Urological Associates, performed some tests and confirmed there was cancer.

According to the medical center, Fordham and Dr. McHugh began exploring options to remove the cancer. Because of weakness from the weight loss, other serious health issues and his age, Fordham worried his body wouldn't tolerate the surgery well.

Fordham's wife Dot also was also concerned.

"He has emphysema and breathing problems and that can complicate even a simple surgery. I just do not feel if they had done the surgery the old fashion way of cutting from the front to the back and taking it out he probably would have gotten pneumonia and not made it.

Fordham decided to go with a less invasive procedure called nephroureterectomy, which was performed by Dr. Brent Sharpe. The procedure involves making a series of small, keyhole incisions. Smaller incisions mean less post-operative pain and decreased blood loss for patients like Fordham. Other advantages of the new procedure include a shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery. Fordham was able to go home within 24-hours of surgery.

Dot Fordham said they're thankful for Dr. Sharpe and the team that performed the surgery, but she said did express a non-medical concern to him.

"We pray about everything and in our pre-surgery talking I just looked at him and said, 'I m not sure I m going to let you operate on my husband unless I know you are a Christian.'"

She said Dr. Sharpe responded, "'these hand will be guided by him, I m just an instrument of God, and he will be in charge in the operating room.'"

"This procedure has been a life-saver for me it has returned me to a better quality of life," Jerry Fordham said.