Fort Sanders Regional is Karen’s Health Partner

Karen Smith, a longtime Knoxville resident, lives with a chronic liver condition that causes fluid to build up in her abdomen and chest. At Covenant Health’s Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, Interventional Radiology teams drain this fluid regularly so she can breathe easier, avoid infection and stay active.  

Facing a Health Challenge that Changed Her Daily Life 

Karen has lived in Knoxville for years, and she has been coming to Fort Sanders Regional her whole life. Now in her 50s, she faces a health challenge with advanced liver disease, which causes fluid to build.  

“It felt like pneumonia at first,” Karen says. “But then they told me I had fluid that needed to be drained. I was scared. I didn’t know what to expect.” 

Finding Relief Through Skilled Support 

Karen’s condition causes her abdomen — and sometimes her chest — to fill with fluid. When that happens, she struggles to eat, sleep or take a full breath. To help her feel better, Fort Sanders Regional’s Interventional Radiology team performs a procedure called paracentesis, which removes extra fluid from her abdomen using a small needle and catheter. The Ultrasound team also plays an important role in her care by performing a thoracentesis, a similar procedure that removes excess fluid from around the lungs. In simple terms, it gives her lungs and organs room again. Together, these treatments help her breathe easier and feel more comfortable.

At first, the procedures were rare. “Once a year, maybe,” Karen says. “Then it became every few months, then every couple of months, and now about every 10 days.” 

The first few times were overwhelming. “I was so nervous they gave me medicine just to calm me down,” she says. “I remember thinking, ‘Can you just knock me out?’ because I didn’t know what to expect.” 

Over time, the team helped her feel at ease. “They talk to me; they laugh with me. They treat me like a person, not just an illness,” she says. 

Finding Comfort Close to Home 

Karen has experienced several setbacks, including a frightening hospitalization to treat an infection. But every time she returned to Fort Sanders Regional, she found comfort in familiar faces. 

“They know me by name in the hallways,” she says. “You don’t get that everywhere.” 

Being in and out of the hospital isn’t easy, but Karen says the experience is made better by the warm smiles and familiar faces she sees at every visit. From the dietary staff who remember her food preferences to the scheduling team who keep her appointments timely, she finds comfort in the people who care for her. Their consistency and kindness, she says, make all the difference. 

Reliable Care That Keeps Her Moving Forward 

Today, Karen has a routine with Fort Sanders Regional that keeps her stable while Vanderbilt evaluates her for a possible liver transplant. She visits Fort Sanders Regional every 10 days to prevent breathing problems and reduce the chance of serious infections. 

“I wouldn’t go anywhere else,” Karen says. “Ambulances have tried to take me to other places, and I tell them no. I’ll get myself to Fort Sanders Regional. The people here are my people.” 

Karen says Covenant Health’s commitment to strong, compassionate care makes all the difference. “They make me feel safe,” she says. “And they make me feel like family. I’m grateful to have this kind of care right here in my community.” 
 

Covenant Health is Here 

Karen isn’t on this journey alone. At Covenant Health, we’re committed to caring for our patients with excellence and compassion, today and for the years ahead. Talk with your physician about Covenant Health services available to support your health needs or call Customer Care for more information at 865-374-0411.