Kat's story: At your highest moment of need, they care for you

You can often spot Kat King and her husband, Ken, intentionally donning “his and hers” Lone Peak Hospital t-shirts. Hers proudly declares, “Team Lone Peak,” and his reads, “We’re stronger together” — and with what Kat has experienced at Lone Peak Hospital during recent years, both statements reflect truths they want to share.

“When you need help and you walk into Lone Peak Hospital, you don’t know what’s going to happen next or how things are going to turn out. It’s scary. But the people at Lone Peak love you like family, they take care of you, and you feel like you’re going to be safe,” Kat said. “So, while some people tell you to go to some store or to try a restaurant they recommend, I’m always telling people about Lone Peak Hospital.”

Kat’s journey at Lone Peak began after two surgeries on her cervical spine and after being diagnosed with degenerative disc disease, early onset osteoporosis and multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that attacks the central nervous system.

Every body deserves “Peak” care

“I have a lot going on, and I’m just trying to keep my bones together,” Kat said. “Thankfully, I have Dr. Justin Hohl, a surgeon on staff at Lone Peak Hospital. He’s a genius at what he does, and he’s a calming influence in unnerving situations.”

Kat has experienced many painful, unnerving situations. For example, not long ago, while heading to church, an excruciating sensation wrapped around her chest and took her breath away. The pain then climbed up her neck until Kat felt a click. Immediately, her body stiffened and she knew something was terribly wrong.

Kat went to Lone Peak Hospital’s Emergency Room for initial imaging, and they helped calm her body’s reaction to the trauma by stabilizing her extremely high blood pressure and heart rate. The next morning, she connected with her spine surgeon, who ordered further imaging.

The imaging revealed that several of Kat’s cervical discs had dramatically shifted, and their new placement compressed her spinal cord, pinching nerves. She needed another spinal surgery.

“Lone Peak took care of me so quickly, it’s just amazing — they’re so good at that,” Kat said. 

During the procedure, the specially trained team discovered an infection on two of Kat’s discs. They carefully stabilized the spine, fused together two vertebrae and vigorously cleaned out the infection. Next, a specially trained team placed a long thin catheter from a vein in the upper arm to a large vein near the heart, commonly called a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) line. With that, Kat received an extended hospital stay at Lone Peak so she could receive round-the-clock care and intravenous antibiotics.

“At this point, everyone from the chaplain to the nutritionist to the pre-op nurse came to see me and see if I was ok. I felt like they were all my best friends,” Kat said. “I don’t have extended family here, and my husband was back and forth for work, so it was nice to know I had so many people there for me. I never felt alone. I felt safe and cared for. It felt more like a personal hotel than a hospital; and since I needed the medical care, I can say I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

No one at Lone Peak faces their hardest climb alone

Recently, Kat experienced another painful, and all too similar episode.

“It was a lot like the time before. I felt immediate pain shoot down my right arm, and then my pinkie and right finger went numb. It was like a reoccurring nightmare, but I knew what happens and I knew what I needed to do,” Kat said.

Kat called Dr. Hohl, who immediately ordered an MRI. The imaging revealed more discs needed fusing and two discs from past surgeries required innovative and extreme stabilization.

Kat knew without hesitation that she wanted the surgery performed at Lone Peak.

“There are so many reasons I say, ‘Take me to Lone Peak,’” Kat said. “At your highest moment of need, they’re there for you. It’s a community, and it’s my hospital. Lone Peak feels like home.”

Kat continues recovering from her most recent spine surgery, which took place one month ago. She’s hopeful that this can be the final spine surgery her body needs, but she also finds comfort knowing that if she needs further care, Lone Peak and their compassionate, trustworthy teams will be there.

She also says that going through these experiences is teaching her about the fragility of life, about what really matters, and about the desire to cherish her physical abilities.

“I cherish my arms, I cherish my legs, I cherish my family. And I’m learning I need to be a little stronger in  my faith and in my health than I have been,” Kat said. “I’m very thankful for all the people at Lone Peak — it’s truly the most patient-friendly hospital. When I go there, I feel like everything’s going to be fine.”