Dr. Mark Ilko saved my life
Michele Jennings, a registered nurse, knows all too well the importance of having good healthcare close to home. After taking a fall at her home, Michele called for an ambulance and was taken to Geneva General Hospital’s Emergency Department. That is where she met Dr. Mark Ilko, a general surgeon at Geneva General Surgical Associates.
A CT scan revealed that Michele had ruptured her spleen. She was in severe pain and her vitals started to plummet. “I knew I was losing my life. When Dr. Ilko came into my room our eyes connected,” said Michele. “I looked at him and said please help me.” Dr. Ilko knew immediately what to do. He called the operating room and took Michele in for emergency surgery to remove her ruptured spleen.
After surgery, Michele spent almost three weeks in the Intensive Care Unit at Geneva General Hospital. “I received excellent care from the staff at Geneva General Hospital. The staff and nurses were absolutely wonderful,” said Michele. “Dr. Ilko is a very compassionate and caring doctor. He came in to see me two – three times a day. He literally saved my life,” said Michele.
Michele is very grateful that Geneva General was only 13 minutes from her home. If she had to make the hour plus trip to Rochester or Syracuse, her story might have ended differently.