Thanks to Complex Vascular Care, ‘Santa Claus’ Is Back In Town
December 02, 2024
Ron Fierro likes to point out that he doesn’t play Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus.
The Brick, New Jersey, man considers his annual role at the Freehold Raceway Mall—where he’s been the resident “jolly old elf” for one year, after a decade of embodying Santa elsewhere—so central to his identity that he couldn’t allow a severe foot wound to derail his chances of showing up for the kids. A rare type of bypass surgery that restored proper blood flow in his leg—which Jersey Coast Vascular surgeons at Ocean University Medical Center are uniquely poised to perform—allowed Ron to get back on his feet and don his red suit once more.
The retired teacher, who has diabetes, heart disease and kidney issues, visited his primary care doctor in March 2024 after developing a large blister on top of his right foot that painfully burst. His doctor advised him to see a podiatrist if the wound didn’t start healing within a week, but the agony was too great to wait. “I’ve had broken bones that didn’t hurt that bad,” Ron recalls.
Saving His Leg
Ron went to The Hirar and Anna Hovnanian Emergency Care Center at Ocean, where he was diagnosed with cellulitis, a bacterial infection that affects the skin and underlying tissues. Even after treatment, Ron’s wound wasn’t healing, so Ocean podiatrist Frederick Rothberg, D.P.M., sent the grandfather of two to the Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris Heart and Vascular Center to be screened for peripheral artery disease (PAD).
PAD occurs when arteries in the legs become narrowed or blocked, limiting proper blood flow into the legs and feet. PAD affects up to 12 million Americans, especially those over 50, and raises the risks for heart attack and stroke, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Ocean vascular surgeon Nicholas J. Russo, M.D., of Jersey Coast Vascular, performed specialized testing to gauge blood flow in each part of Ron’s legs. “In his right foot, the pressure was flat, meaning he wasn’t getting much blood flow to that foot,” Dr. Russo explains. An angiogram, which uses X-rays and a special dye to see the insides of the arteries, confirmed Ron’s PAD diagnosis.
But his case was so severe that less-invasive treatment—inserting a cage-like stent to prop open blocked blood vessels in the leg—would not be effective. Instead, Dr. Russo opted to perform a rare procedure known as pedal bypass surgery, which would take a healthy vein from Ron’s thigh and use it to bypass damaged leg arteries to restore proper blood flow.
“The techniques required to do pedal bypass are not something that every medical center can do,” Dr. Russo says. “This sets Ocean apart.”
Doing nothing wasn’t an option: With no treatment, Ron stood a 30 percent chance of having to amputate his leg within a year.
“If he loses his leg, not only does he not get to be Santa, but he would potentially need help to live at home or not be able to live independently,” Dr. Russo says. “He would also have a higher chance of dying sooner. Saving limbs is a huge factor in keeping people alive and functional.”
‘Attitude of Gratitude’
Ron had the three-and-a-half-hour bypass procedure at Ocean in early June 2024, which involved a long incision spanning from his thigh to his foot. He left the hospital after just three days with no complications, thanks in part to Ocean cardiologist Joseph Guarino, M.D., who “optimized” Ron before surgery. Dr. Guarino did this by assessing Ron’s potential heart risks, adjusting heart medications and communicating with Ron’s surgical team to coordinate his care.
Even so, Ron faced a long, grueling recovery from the major surgery. He spent two months in an inpatient rehabilitation facility, where he did physical and occupational therapy and transitioned from using a walker to getting around on his own.
“I had to heal and stay active,” Ron says. “I needed to build up muscle. That’s why I still go to physical therapy, for stamina and balance, having been off my feet for so long.”
The results have been worth it. Testing soon after surgery showed Ron had normal blood flow to his foot, and his wound has since healed. Ron takes blood thinners and aspirin to avoid any clotting and has regular follow-up visits with Dr. Rothberg.
Now that he can walk farther distances, Ron approached the holiday season this year with eagerness and delight. “It’s a privilege to represent the spirit of Christmas,” he says. “I have an attitude of gratitude.”
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our sources: Frederick Rothberg, D.P.M, Nicholas J. Russo, M.D., Joseph Guarino, M.D.
- To make an appointment with a vascular surgeon near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
- Learn more about wound care at Hackensack Meridian Health.
The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.
