Raven's Bloodless Robotic Hysterectomy Patient Story

As a busy mother to five children, Raven Macias didn't have time for the constant, debilitating pain her fibroids were causing her last year. Right away she made an appointment with a physician at a San Diego County hospital. The physician recommended a hysterectomy and a blood transfusion, which she refused due to her beliefs as a Jehovah's Witness.  

"It was frustrating," Raven said. "I had done the research and knew that bloodless surgery was possible, but the doctor insisted on a transfusion before surgery."  

Raven remembered meeting Jorge Martinez, manager of the Bloodless Medicine and Surgery Center at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, and called him to discuss her options. She was relieved when he told her that Dr. Pourang Kamali, a Sharp Chula Vista-affiliated obstetrician/gynecologist, could perform the surgery she needed without a blood transfusion, but felt nervous when robotic surgery was suggested.  

"I've had traditional surgery before, but I didn't know much about robotic surgery," Raven said. "After Dr. Kamali explained it to me, I felt a lot better about it."  

Among robotic surgery's many benefits, which include shorter recovery times and smaller incisions, the one that appealed the most to Raven was the faster return to normal activities. A little more than a week after her surgery, she was back at church and even went to the San Diego County Fair.  

"I felt really good after my surgery," Raven said. "The most important thing to me in choosing robotic surgery was that I would be able to help my mom while she recovered from surgery she had recently. I'm really grateful that robotic surgery allowed me to do that."  

How to Choose a Robotic Surgery Specialist at Sharp
Sharp accepts almost all health insurance. For help finding a surgeon who specializes in robotic surgery or to schedule a consultation, call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. 

To learn more about Sharp's robotic surgery services or to find a Sharp-affiliated doctor, search for a San Diego OBGYN or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. For general information about gynecological cancer, please read Gynecological Cancers in Adult Health.