“I had complete confidence in my surgeon …”  — Ann Nelson

Ann Nelson, from Arena, has a busy life with two jobs and a dairy farm. She rarely checked the tiny facial lump she had since 2000. But eight years later it got her attention.

“It never bothered me; it was barely noticeable near my jaw,” said Ann. “In college they thought it was a lymph node. Lab tests were negative so I didn’t worry.”

A few years later Ann moved to Arena. Her family doctor recommended John DeGiovanni, MD, FACS, general surgeon from Surgical Associates in Prairie du Sac. Ann said, “I felt comfortable with Dr. DeGiovanni—he was thorough and addressed all my concerns. Plus, he didn’t immediately choose surgery, which I appreciated.”

A member of SPMHC’s general surgery team, DeGiovanni offers specialized skills and knowledge to diagnose, treat, and manage a broad range of surgical conditions.

“I recommend surgery when it’s best for the patient,” said DeGiovanni. “But it isn’t always the immediate answer. I tell patients the pros and cons so they can make the best decisions.

“Ann had a pleomorphic adenoma, a benign tumor of the salivary glands that stayed the same size for eight years. A number of people have one, but a parotid lobectomy, to remove the tumor, is a delicate operation. It takes place around a facial nerve with many branches. Paralysis can occur. We remove it only when necessary.”

When the lump started to grow, Ann met with DeGiovanni again; he decided it was time. Although not all general surgeons perform this surgery, DeGiovanni, an award-winning surgeon of more than 30 years, has successfully performed it many times.

Ann said, “I had complete confidence in my surgeon, and I knew about Sauk Prairie Hospital’s reputation. Besides, I was there before—the nurses treated me like family.”

Ann had an easy recovery. “I had the lobectomy in the morning, and I arrived home before dark. It’s reassuring to know that we have quality healthcare this close to home,” said Ann.