Piedmont Columbus Regional has named Mason Bernard and Elizabeth Stowe with East Alabama EMS the organization’s First Friday Heroes for the month of April.

EMS responded to a call where an elderly man was having a seizure. Upon arrival, the patient reported having a severe headache and was unable to walk to the ambulance due to left side weakness. The patient was transported to Piedmont Columbus Regional Midtown’s Emergency Trauma Center. On the way to the hospital, the patient’s left side weakness resolved. Once at the hospital, a CT scan revealed an extensive brain hemorrhage. More diagnostic testing further revealed brain aneurysms.

The patient was transported to Piedmont Atlanta where he was one of the first patients in the United States to receive a new FDA-approved treatment called the Stryker Neurovascular Tetra Coil, which is designed to treat small, difficult-to-treat aneurysms.

“Piedmont continues to lead the way in providing the most advanced stroke and cerebrovascular care by using the latest technology,” said Piedmont Atlanta Stroke Center Medical Director Michael Stiefel, M.D., PhD. “Piedmont is the first health system in the U.S. to use this new coil to treat small ruptured aneurysms.”

After the successful procedure, the patient was released from the hospital a few weeks later with all his symptoms resolved. 

A ceremony with Bernard, Stowe, and hospital leadership will be held at a later date to commend them for their response. Their story is also featured throughout the hospital on commemorative posters and Piedmont Columbus Regional’s social media pages.

Piedmont Columbus Regional created the First Friday Hero program in mid-2016 to recognize first responders each month who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. 

“Their line of work is often a thankless job and we want to make the community aware of our local heroes and all they do to make the Chattahoochee Valley a better and safer place,” said Piedmont Columbus Regional CEO Scott Hill.