Meet Jane, Freed from 8 Years of Nephrostomy Urine Bag Dependence
When a routine but urgent surgery at a major hospital turned into a trauma case, Jane was left with damaged ureters, and her life was transformed into a struggle, dependent on nephrostomy urine bags and frequent hospital visits. “We were told [the ureter] was never irreparable,” recalled her daughter, Jill, who is Jane’s primary caregiver and coordinates her care. That all changed when she met Dr. Froylan Gonzalez, one of the few surgeons in Georgia trained and highly skilled in the da Vinci single-port robotic surgical platform.
Single-Port Robotic Surgery
With the assistance of this new technology, Dr. Gonzalez was able to avoid the abdominal cavity and access the ureter from the side—a decision that enabled him to successfully repair what others had deemed impossible. In traditional robotic-assisted surgery, the abdomen is entered through an incision in the skin. In Jane’s case, significant scarring from previous surgical procedures would have made access to the ureter in this manner impossible.
The Outcome
The impact of the surgery was immediate and life-changing. For eight years, Jane lived tethered to a nephrostomy urine bag, facing frequent ER visits due to dislodged tubing and the emotional and physical toll of a circumstance that seemed to be hopeless.
“It was like being set free,” Jane said. “It was an amazing thing not to think about the bag on my side. Her daughter shared, “This was life-changing for me as well because all those worries…I don’t have them anymore. Having that gone is the biggest blessing.”
Dr. Gonzalez’s willingness to take on her case came after she had been repeatedly turned away by other physicians. “I kind of spilled my guts – I said I’m in real trouble.” Jill had already been told ‘no’ by so many other doctors, but Dr. Gonzalez said, “Let me run some tests and do some research.”
The emotional and psychological transformation was just as powerful. In this video, you’ll see Jane describe the freedom she hadn’t felt in years. She could now wear what she wanted without embarrassment, travel without fear of an emergency room visit, and enjoy time with loved ones without the burden of medical devices dictating her every move.
Dr. Gonzalez’s pioneering use of single-port robotic surgery didn’t just heal a body—it restored quality of life. His compassion, innovation, and technical mastery gave a patient her independence and gave her family peace of mind. This case stands as a powerful testament to what’s possible when the latest medical therapies meet a physician who truly listens and seeks solutions.
