“They saved my brother”: How East Jefferson General Hospital helped Kenneth’s wounds heal when nothing else worked

When Gloria Farrell,76, promised her mother she would care for her younger brother, Kenneth David Taylor, she meant it with all her heart. Her mom had reasons to be concerned; Kenneth has suffered with diabetes since his late 20s.

"On my mom’s deathbed, she was so worried about who was going to take care of Kenny," said Gloria, who lives in Kenner, La., just 10 minutes from her younger brother. "I made a promise to my mom to take care of him. I visit him almost every day. I make his food and we watch television together."

Over the course of his life, Kenneth’s diabetes has taken a toll on his circulation and mobility. In the past year, his health challenges—including atrial fibrillation and other complications—have worsened. One of the most difficult stretches began when he developed a sore on his leg that wouldn’t heal, prompting the siblings to seek hospital care.

Specialized wound care at East Jefferson

For far too long, Kenneth kept a gaping wound on his leg hidden from his sister. When he finally showed it to Gloria, he insisted it would heal on its own. But the moment she saw it, she knew he needed medical attention. One look was all it took for the doctor to determine that Kenneth required specialized wound care at a hospital.

Talk to Gloria, and she’ll tell you one thing without hesitation: LCMC Health’s East Jefferson General Hospital in nearby Metairie, La., is the only hospital she trusts for her family. They went straight to the emergency department, where the team quickly assessed Kenneth, took X-rays, and ran blood tests. The next stop was the East Jefferson Wound & Hyperbaric Care Center.

"He was seen within a week," Gloria said. "Everybody at the wound care center was so good at what they were doing. They listened to us. Every single one of the nurses was always there for him. I just wish he told me about the sore sooner. They saved my brother!”

Exceptional care from a wound care physician

Kenneth’s wound care was led by Melissa Donovan, MD, a vascular surgeon and wound care management specialist at East Jefferson.

“She was absolutely wonderful,” Gloria said. “She was very caring. She didn’t push us out the door quickly. She listened to our questions and was very thorough in discussing everything that needed to be done to help Kenny heal.”

At first, Kenneth visited the Wound Care Center once a week while home health nurses changed his bandages twice a week. Progress was slow, but steady—until early 2025, when a second sore appeared behind his knee on his other leg. Despite antibiotics and treatment, again, the wound wasn’t healing. Given that Kenneth had undergone a knee replacement on that leg, Dr. Donovan was deeply concerned.

“She made it very clear—there was no time to wait,” Gloria said. “She was worried the infection could reach the joint replacement. If that happened, he would have needed major surgery to remove the knee and undergo another replacement.”

Intensive, coordinated wound care treatment

Dr. Donovan quickly escalated Kenneth’s care, referring him to both an infectious disease specialist and an orthopedist. He was hospitalized for nine days and placed on a strong course of antibiotics. Even after discharge, he continued receiving IV antibiotics and outpatient wound care, all under Dr. Donovan’s supervision.

Thanks to the coordination between the wound care team and hospital staff, both wounds began to heal. After three additional weeks of antibiotics, Kenneth was cleared by the infectious disease specialist and completed wound care by the end of April 2025.

“Everything is healed and he is back to being at home being his usual quiet mellow self,” Gloria said. “And it’s all because of Dr. Donovan and the care we received at East Jefferson.”

A lasting impact

The experience left such a positive impression that Gloria and Kenneth now receive all of their medical care through East Jefferson. Gloria noted: “We changed all our doctors. If a doctor isn’t associated with East Jefferson, we don’t go to them.”

Dr. Donovan is now Kenny’s vascular physician as well. “The care she gave him—I knew I wanted her to be his vascular surgeon,” Gloria said. “Her demeanor with us was just amazing. She’s incredible. If every doctor treated their patients the way she did, the world would be a wonderful place.”

Today, Kenneth is back home, healthy and healing, surrounded by the care and devotion of his sister. Gloria’s love and advocacy, combined with the skill and compassion of the East Jefferson Wound and Hyperbaric Care team, made the difference.

To learn more about Wound and Hyperbaric Care at LCMC Health’s East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, La., please visit: https://www.lcmchealth.org/east-jefferson-general-hospital/our-services/wound-and-hyperbaric-care/