When Seconds Matter: A Life Saved at GBMC

On the early morning of November 25, 2023, Denise Lindey suddenly felt something inside her stomach “pop.”

Within moments, she knew something was terribly wrong. Her wife, Megan, called 911, and Denise was rushed to the Emergency Department at GBMC.

What doctors later diagnosed as a perforated ulcer and sepsis quickly became a life-threatening emergency.

In the ER, Denise’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Her blood pressure dropped, and the medical team worked urgently to stabilize her.

Dr. Baig, the emergency physician on duty, took immediate action. When Denise’s veins would not cooperate and medications could not be delivered quickly enough, he inserted a line through her shin bone to gain access. When she needed imaging but was too unstable to travel alone, he accompanied her personally.

“He didn’t hand me off,” Denise recalls. “He walked with me down the hall.”

As her condition worsened, doctors warned Megan that Denise might not survive long enough to reach the operating room. The situation was described using words like “catastrophic” and “life-threatening.”

Soon after, Denise met the surgeon who would lead the next phase of her care: Dr. Shauna Costinett.

The ulcer was severe, and the risks were enormous. Yet Denise remembers waking up after surgery—something that, given her condition, was far from guaranteed. “God was working in our favor that day,” she says, reflecting on the doctors who fought to save her life.

But surviving surgery was only the beginning.

In the days that followed, Denise faced a long and complicated recovery. She was transferred to rehabilitation but soon returned to GBMC with new complications. Sepsis continued to take a toll on her body. Her heart began to fail, her kidneys struggled, and fluid filled her lungs.

Dr. Costinett remained closely involved in Denise’s care, along with a growing team of specialists. Dr. Aversano ordered extensive testing, while Dr. Carr supported her during another stay in the intensive care unit.

When Denise became severely malnourished, Dr. Costinett placed a feeding tube to help restore her strength—a turning point in her recovery.

Throughout the ordeal, Denise says the entire care team refused to give up.

The nurses and certified nursing assistants also played a critical role. On that first day in the ER, nurse Katie and assistant Kenny helped support Megan emotionally as the seriousness of Denise’s condition became clear. One CNA, Crystal, even stayed in touch with Megan afterward.

After nearly three months in the hospital, Denise still could not walk and had limited use of her hands. She was transferred to a rehabilitation facility, where she spent another three months rebuilding her strength before finally returning home.

Eventually, Denise returned to GBMC to have her feeding tube removed. The visit was filled with hugs and tears.

Two years later, she and Megan came back again—this time with flowers for Dr. Costinett. They even hosted a “survival party” at Ocean Pride to thank the people who helped them through six months of uncertainty. Dr. Costinett attended. “When someone saves your life,” Denise says, “you don’t just send a thank-you card. You invite her to the party.”

Looking back, Denise says her survival was the result of an entire team that refused to give up. “At GBMC, I wasn’t just a patient,” she says. “They never gave up on me.”

If you've ever had a doctor at GBMC who felt like family, Doctors' Day (March 30) is a chance to say that out loud and if you can, make a gift in their name. It's how to make sure the next person who feels that pop has the same people waiting for them that Denise did.

Honor your doctor today!