Beyond Your Six Words: “Mysterious spider bite healed by UTSW.”
In the spring of 1986, Bonnie Bratcher felt an intense pain in the back of her right thigh.
“But worse than the pain, the open sore in the back of my thigh was mushy, dark-colored necrotic tissue that continued to get larger by the day,” she said.
She went to two different doctors (not affiliated with UT Southwestern) who waded through piles of medical journals as she waited for a diagnosis. One doctor said he didn’t think it was a boil; he suggested she place warm compresses on it and call him in a few days if it continued to grow. Eager for an answer, she consulted friends for help; a co-worker seemed to think it was a brown recluse spider bite.
“When I brought this up to the doctors, they said it was a possibility but they weren’t sure,” Ms. Bratcher said.
The sore grew larger. Ms. Bratcher consulted a pharmacist and at his suggestion, took a strong over-the-counter sleep aid with antihistamines, and then slept for about 18 hours straight. Nevertheless, the sore did not diminish but continued to grow larger each day.
Desperately seeking a diagnosis, Ms. Bratcher’s husband called the American Medical Association, which recommended that she go to UT Southwestern. She called Internal Medicine and told her story; staff there arranged an appointment for the next day.
The UT Southwestern physicians quickly identified Ms. Bratcher’s brown recluse spider bite. It was haunting, because she could not recall being bitten.
Ms. Bratcher’s UTSW physicians instructed her to keep cold compresses on her leg, prescribed strong antihistamines and antibiotics and taught her how to clean the open wound. After a few months of follow-up appointments with a team of experts, her wound healed.
“I credit the UTSW team for saving my leg!” Ms. Bratcher said. “I still can see at least five doctors circled around me peering at the huge opening in the back of my thigh, which was about the size of my fist. They told me my leg was so necrotic that if it were 20 years prior, they would have had to amputate. I continue to reflect on their kindness, efficiency, understanding, and professionalism.
“Grateful to find experts who could help me, I was and continue to be amazed at the professionalism, knowledge, and patient care that I received in my hour of desperation,” Ms. Bratcher added. “Driving away from the Aston building in 1986, I remember thinking that UTSW would be a great place to work. I would feel so proud and fulfilled to work in an environment such as UT Southwestern Medical Center. Consequently, over the coming years, I sent my résumé to UTSW.”
In 1993, Ms. Bratcher joined UTSW in Medical Service Plan (now known as Medical Group) Revenue Accounting. In 1997, she transferred to the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery to work for Dr. Steves Ring, Professor and – at that time – Chairman of the Division. As Financial Affairs Manager, she helped Dr. Ring create the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery in 2000 and the Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery in 2002. Dr. Michael Jessen, Professor and current Chairman of the Department, has been her supervisor since 2010. They continue to grow the Department, adding a Thoracic Division in 2011 and a minimally invasive heart valve program in 2016.
“What I most enjoy about Dr. Jessen and the rest of our UTSW family is being a part of a nationally renowned health care organization recognized for innovation, education, and cutting-edge research and expertise,” Ms. Bratcher said. “Working at UTSW gives meaning to my life and a reason to get up in the morning!
“Additionally, because both of my parents died of complications from heart disease, working in the field of cardiac medicine is particularly important for me. I am honored and privileged to take care of the business and financial matters in our Department so our physicians can focus on what they do best: patient care, research, and physician education.”
Ms. Bratcher added: “God works in mysterious ways! Who knew a little spider would have such an impact on my life!”
And that annoying spider bite? It’s a thing of the past, and Ms. Bratcher has not had any issues since. She definitely knows what a brown recluse spider looks like now though (click the blurred image to see one) and to avoid them if possible.
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Dr. Jessen holds the Frank M. Ryburn, Jr., Distinguished Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplantation.