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Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital patient participates in Bears game Sunday

DOWNERS GROVE - John Cooling of Joliet participated in the Chicago Bears Bear Down flag ceremony Sunday, Sept. 10. This once-in-a-lifetime experience was sponsored by Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove and Advocate Health Care that provides these kinds of opportunities as a way to give back to patients, families and the community.

Cooling, 62, was treated for severe back and leg pain at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital earlier this year. After suffering from pain for quite some time, he woke up one morning and couldn't get out of bed.

"I woke up that morning and was in an incredible amount of pain, like nothing I had ever experienced before. My right leg was useless, I couldn't walk," said Cooling. "I was very worried that this could be my new normal."

After a visit to his primary care physician, he was referred to Dr. Egon Doppenberg, a neurosurgeon at Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital's Spine Care Center.

"Dr. Doppenberg reviewed my MRI and other tests. He told me I had two options: injections to dull the pain or back surgery. He explained that I had suffered a significant injury that simply wouldn't fix itself," said Cooling.

The very next day, Cooling was in surgery.

"Mr. Cooling had a rather straightforward, minimally invasive microdiscectomy, which usually takes less than an hour," said Doppenberg. "This proves that sometimes small surgeries can make a tremendous impact on a patient's quality of life."

Hours following the surgery, Cooling was up and walking the hospital unit hallways "virtually without any pain."

Within weeks, Cooling was back to his normal routine.

"I'm amazed at how easy the process was and how quickly I recovered," said Cooling. "The results are just phenomenal. I feel great."

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