Our Patients Say it Best

Living Life on Her Own Terms
Trista Watts

Mar, 2016

Physicians: Benjamin Stockton, MD

Kidney issues had bothered Trista Watts, a 41-year-old St. Joseph resident, for several years. The problems would come and go; from kidney stones to swelling with fluid, the issues had a big impact on Trista’s everyday life.

Then in December of 2014, her issues returned stronger than ever. She talked with Benjamin Stockton, MD at Lakeside Urology and Continence Center about her surgical options – one of which was “the da Vinci.” The da Vinci Xi is a robotic surgery system available to a select group of highly trained medical professionals at Lakeland Health. It is minimally invasive and incredibly safe.

As a medical professional, Trista had witnessed patients undergo a da Vinci procedure with very successful results. So, trusting Dr. Stockton’s advice, she decided on robotic surgery to remove part of her right kidney.

“The surgery went incredibly well,” said Trista, amazed that she was up and walking the same evening of her procedure. Within two days, she was back home.

“I was scared, because it was a big surgery,” she said. “But I had the best recovery.”

With small incisions and minimal pain, Trista admitted she was impressed. She was able to return to work, less than two weeks later. “For me, that was the most amazing thing,” said Trista.

“Before the surgery, I lived in the shadow of when my symptoms would return again,” she said. “Since the procedure, the fear is no longer in my mind.”

It has been about a year since her surgery and Trista is happy to say she has had no return problems. She regularly follows up with Dr. Stockton and was able to return to her spin classes at the gym. Now Trista no longer needs to worry, and can get back to living her life on her own terms.