Healing Beyond the Wounds
When it came to his health, David Verespie was literally at the end of his rope. He didn’t know where to turn. He was at a loss and had little to no hope. That was five years ago. These days, David has a whole new lease on life, which he credits to the team at Forrest Health’s Wound Care Center (WCC) in Hattiesburg.
His is a story of encouragement, perseverance, and fight.
David suffered from lymphedema in the lower extremities of his legs, which had open sores and weeped constantly. Luckily, he was able to get an appointment with Forrest Health’s WCC in Hattiesburg. It may have saved his life and his sanity.
David had been suffering for a year or two and was at the lowest point of his life. “With my legs hindering my weight, every aspect of my life was just in shambles,” he said. At the time, David tipped the scales at about 500 pounds.
He started working with Jana Hudson, a nurse practitioner, at the Wound Care Center where new dressings were applied to his wounds. The nurses encouraged him to move around as much as he could. He assured them he would, but with intense back pain from his weight, it was difficult. He was also urged to keep his legs elevated and watch his diet, especially foods high in sodium.
The problems challenging David affected all aspects of his life. Not able to work due to the back problems, issues with his legs, and being in constant pain, he went on disability. “But the Wound Care team made me feel like a human all the time, even when I didn’t feel human,” he said. “I didn’t feel worthy. I felt so invaluable. But they felt like family to me. They were always helpful, giving me advice, and I listened. They didn’t just help me with the physical problems with my legs; they listened to me talk. When I felt like I was not a good enough husband or father, they were there to hear me. That was just as important as the care they were giving me medically.”
David’s treatment lasted for more than two years. During this time, Jana encouraged him to seek out bariatric surgery to help with his weight. He had gastric sleeve surgery in 2023 which helped him go from his highest weight of 515 pounds to where he is today at 225 pounds.
“I can confidently say Jana and that team saved my life, because I would wake up thinking I was going to die,” he said. “I felt my children weren’t going to have a father, that my wife was not going to have a husband. I had little to no hope, but I always listened to what Jana told me. I think that’s one of the reasons why her treatment and the help of the whole team worked for me.”
Today, at the age of 44, David has an entirely new life. He’s been back on the job for two years. Where he used to drive his wife and kids to the store and let them out, he now joins them to do fun things. “I don’t have anything that is holding me back from living life now,” he said. “It’s surreal…to think about the person I was before, and the things I couldn’t do, the physical limitations, and the problems with the lymphedema. Now, I feel like I can do anything. And I can.”
David credits the Wound Care team for not making his problems seem like a big deal. “They were so professional. They never made me feel less than a human, when I often felt less than one.” Upon his completion with Wound Care, Jana showed David photos from his first visit. “The way things looked then and the way they look now, it looked like a totally different person. I’m happy now,” he said, which is very evident in the joy you hear in his voice.
David wants to be an example to others – to show them what is possible. “I want them to know there is an end to this. There is a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “At the time you are going through it, you feel like all hope is lost. It doesn’t happen right away but can literally take years. I know that my bariatric physician was instrumental in the surgery that helped me lose the weight, that helped my legs get smaller, but it was everything and everyone working together. It was all Forrest Health. I owe my life to you guys.”
Term Dictionary - Lymphedema
Lymphedema is a swelling of the tissue caused by an accumulation of protein-rich fluid that's usually drained through the body's lymphatic system. It most commonly affects the arms or legs but can also affect other areas of the body. Severe cases of lymphedema can affect the ability to move the affected limb, increase the risks of skin infections and sepsis, and can lead to skin changes and breakdown.
