Patient Care Testimonials

Guy and Kimberly Nickels • Friona, TX

"Dr. Jubay is our hero ... He saved our baby's life."

Guy and Kimberly Nickels consider themselves blessed. They have been married six years and are parents to a beautiful 15 month old girl, Jayci Joy.

Like most small children, Jayci had her share of ailments, especially in her respiratory system. One day last February Mrs. Nickels brought Jayci to see Dr. Felipe Jubay; she had a persistent fever. Upon examination he discovered she had abnormal breath sounds and ordered a chest x-ray as part of her treatment. The x-ray revealed a mass somewhere in or around her right lung. Dr. Jubay was concerned that it was a tumor, and a phone call to the radiologist reading the x-ray confirmed his suspicion. Mrs. Nickels chose to be referred to Lubbock, where Jayci’s pediatrician was located. That night, Jayci was admitted to the hospital (in Lubbock) and treated for RSV and pneumonia. According to Mrs. Nickels, the pediatrician in Lubbock looked at the x-ray and immediately ruled out cancer, saying the spot was pneumonia. Although Dr. Jubay recommended a CT scan, one was never performed.

Six weeks later another x-ray revealed the mass was significantly larger, and this time the Nickels’ were told by the same pediatrician it was Jayci’s thymus gland and it was swollen simply because she had been so sick. During the six weeks between the x-rays, Mr. and Mrs. Nickels visited the doctor many times, asking again and again if he was certain of her condition, asking many questions, including why her breathing seemed so labored and shallow. Mrs. Nickels was told by the pediatrician that Jayci is a smart girl and was playing with her breathing.

One fateful Sunday evening in June, Jayci and her mother made another visit to Dr. Jubay, this time to the ER at PCCH. Jayci was fussy and running a fever. “Priscilla Hicks, a long time family friend, was working that night. She took a look at Jayci and seemed alarmed,” said Mrs. Nickels. She recounts that Dr. Jubay showed up quickly. “The ER was busy that night, and I didn’t realize the reason Dr. Jubay showed up so quickly was because of Jayci. I never imagined she was that sick.”

According to Dr. Jubay, examination revealed the baby had diminished breath sounds in her right lung, and noted she was grunting when she breathed. He ordered another chest x-ray which revealed the tumor had grown very large.

“I remember Dr. Jubay asked me who was treating Jayci for her tumor,” said Mrs. Nickels. “I told him that it wasn’t cancer after all, and his face just dropped. He asked me if we could reach my husband, and I called him. He talked to us both, with Guy on speakerphone.”

Dr. Jubay recalls that night. “I urged them to get a second opinion.” He referred them to BSA in Amarillo. Dr. Jubay arranged for Jayci and her mom to be transported by ambulance, sending the x-ray with the paramedics. Her husband joined them in Amarillo.

“When they opened the doors to the ambulance and a team of five greeted us, I knew it was serious,” said Mrs. Nickels.

The first priority of the team was to get a CT scan of Jayci’s chest. Mrs. Nickels recalls how tired the baby was, but she was fighting going to sleep. Because a CT scan requires the patient to be very still during the procedure, she was given a sedative.

“As soon as she went to sleep, she stopped breathing,” said Mrs. Nickels. “I was holding her when it happened. Her little fingers curled in and she turned blue.” Jayci was quickly intubated, a respirator doing her breathing for her. That night Dr. Habersang (her new Pediatric Internist), stayed with Jayci and monitored her all night.

After she was stabilized and the CT scan performed, Dr. Habersang and Dr. Turner (Oncologist) gave them the news. Jayci’s tumor was found to be neuroblastoma; it was cancerous and was inoperable. The tumor was so large that it had displaced her heart, her esophagus and her left lung, moving everything to the left. The good news is that the cancer had not spread; according to Mrs. Nickels it was found to be Stage III and has a high cure rate.

Jayci began her first round of chemotherapy on June 29th. On more than one occasion, when Jayci suffered some significant set backs, Dr. Habersang and Dr. Turner would stay, monitor Jayci, and sometimes pray with them. In spite of these setbacks, Jayci’s prognosis is good. The x-ray taken after her first round of chemo revealed good news; the tumor is now significantly smaller in size and much less dense. Jayci was taken off her ventilator on July 4, Independence Day and been through a second round of chemo. Everyone is hoping and praying the next x-ray will show even more progress.

“She was an in vitro baby, and now this,” says Jayci’s mom. “She is a miracle baby twice.”

The team of doctors treating Jayci today; Dr. Turner, Dr. Reguira and Dr. Habersang are all people Dr. Jubay recommended.
 
“We know now Dr. Jubay caught it at Stage I back in February. If they had only listened to him, it would have been a walk in the park,”said Mrs. Nickels.

“Dr. Jubay is our hero,” she says … “He saved our baby’s life.”

Jim Swafford • Bovina, TX

"In my books, Dr. Jubay and the ER nurses are HEROES!"

Published May 2006 in the Friona Star:

Jim had a close call a couple of weeks ago.  We were both shocked because we had no idea he had clogged arteries.

We went to Friona Rural Health Emergency Room (PCCH) because Jim thought he was having an asthma attack since he was having trouble breathing.  Thankfully, Dr. Felipe Jubay (Jim’s primary physician) knew this was not an asthma attack.  He took charge, got the help Jim needed to stabilize him, and put Jim in an ambulance.  The emergency things that Dr. Jubay did may well have saved Jim’s life.  They reacted to the heart symptoms immediately.

The fact that we had a hospital close may have made a real difference in Jim’s having a full heart attack and having no heart damage after the bypass Surgery that was done in Lubbock.  In my books, Dr. Jubay, and the ER nurses are HEROES!!

Kay Swafford
Bovina

David Romero • Friona, TX

Published in April 2006 in the Friona Star:

I would like to take this opportunity to extend my appreciation for the wonderful service that was performed on my husband.

January 6, 2006 was just a day that began like any other.  It was off to school for my children and then to work for my husband and I.  That morning my husband began experiencing severe chest pain, enough that he phoned my place of work.

I immediately went to his place of employment where I sensed his distress and in turn drove straight to the emergency room at Parmer County Community Hospital.

When we entered the emergency room we were immediately attended to.  There was no hesitation on behalf of the staff.  They determined it was a matter of life and death.

The physician was notified, IV’s started and tests performed then medication administered.

My husband was suffering a massive heart attack.  No time was wasted.  He was airlifted to Lubbock and taken directly to the Operating Room.

The staff in Lubbock was impresses that all the IV’s and medications and tests were performed and administered in such an expedient manner.

The comments were made, that if it were not for the quick thinking and professional handling by the staff at Parmer County Community Hospital that my husband may not be with us any longer.

What a wonderful blessing it is to have such a facility that employs such an experienced and caring staff.  I am so very thankful that we live in Friona, Texas.

Parmer County Community Hospital had the initial hand in saving my husband’s life.  My prayer is that we all as a community realize how blessed we are to have such a hospital.

Yes, may be small, but we are mighty.  And we must stand tall in support of the care we desire to continue to receive.

Mrs. David Romero and Family

Friona Rural Health Clinic • Friona, TX

Patient Praise
The following are quotes from patient satisfaction surveys:

“I feel we are so fortunate to have this facility in our town.”

“The best clinic…very good!”

“We are so very blessed and happy to have FRHC and the wonderful staff here. Thank you.”
                                               
“We are so blessed in Friona to have FRHC! Thank you!”

“We are very fortunate to have the quality of health care including doctors in our community.”

“It is wonderful to be able to be treated locally for medical needs. I have been seeing Dr. A for more than 30 years. I am very satisfied with all the care I receive here!”

“I think we are very lucky to have such a good clinic.”

“I think we have a very good clinic and hospital here. I am thankful to have one so handy. The nurses, doctors and staff are wonderful.”

“They’re very friendly here, they make you feel welcome.”

“We really appreciate the nursing staff – they have always been so responsive to our calls and so efficient, especially Christina and Lisa.”