Atlanta-based Georgia Pain and Wellness Center's Amit Patel, MD, implanted a pain management device with a special backstory, KARE 11 reports.
Here are four highlights:
1. In May, Dr. Amit Patel surgically implanted a neurostimulator in patient Sonia Colon's lower back to intercept pain signals between her ankle and brain. Ms. Colon was experiencing debilitating pain from an ankle injury she sustained while serving in the U.S. Army.
2. The Medtronic device was manufactured at a plant in Puerto Rico, where Ms. Colon's mother works.
3. Ms. Colon tracked the device's serial number after surgery and discovered her mother had assembled the device.
4. The patient and her mother spoke at Medtronic's annual employee holiday program in Twin Cities, Minn., Dec. 14. Dr. Patel attended the event.