Local dentist returns to work after successful neck surgery

After neck surgery and over two months of recovery local dentist Mark Francis has finally returned to work.

The surgery was very unexpected and was a life-changing experience for the Francis family. Francis remembers the turn of events vividly.

“I awoke one morning (March 18, 2005) with a severe pain my neck and shoulder,” Francis recalled. “It was the kind of pain that leaves you gasping for breath. I thought I would just shake it off and go to work but realized after just a few minutes that wouldn’t be possible.”

Mark’s wife Laurie said her husband cancelled his patients for the day, which was only the second time in 12 years she could remember him ever doing that.

“He (Mark) didn’t even cancel when he had appendicitis,” said Laurie. “He saw his patients first and then went to the hospital.”

Francis called his friend and chiropractor, Rod Cross of Redmond and was told to come in immediately.

“Rod took one look at me and said, ‘This isn’t chiropractic. You have to go to the hospital,’ said Mark.

Cross contacted neurosurgeon Dr. Yundt, who was able to see Francis that same day. Yundt told Mark he needed an MRI and arranged for Central Oregon Radiology to stay open late and see Francis..

Mark received a call from Yundt the next morning and was informed he was scheduled for surgery that afternoon.

Francis was told he had a disc in his neck that was ruptured so badly that he risked permanent damage to his left arm if he didn’t receive immediate attention. Surgery was performed and the Francis family was told that everything had gone well and that a titanium plate had been placed in Mark’s neck.

“However,” said Francis, “right after that I went into recovery. When I woke up I realized I couldn’t breathe. I had so much phlegm in my mouth I thought I was going to choke to death. I couldn’t visibly see anyone in the room and knew I was faced with a decision to either fight for my life or die. My heart lost it’s synchronization but at the time the doctors thought I’d suffered a heart attack. After they calmed me down my heart went into a normal sinus rhythm but I was placed in cardiac ICU for three days.”

Francis was told he’d be in a rigid neck brace for six weeks. The following six weeks Mark was to go without a brace which would allow the titanium plate in his neck to fuse to his spinal vertebra. At that point Francis was told he could begin physical therapy.

Mark did just as the doctor ordered and not long ago started physical therapy on his left arm.

“It was as if I’d had a stroke on that side of my body,” said Francis.

He returned to his practice on a part-time basis in mid-May and saw just one patient per day. As of June 1 Francis is back to almost full time and has regained 80 percent strength in his left arm.

The support of the Sisters community has been overwhelming to the Francis family.

“We live in an amazing place,” said Laurie. We were blown away by how people took care of us. Every dentist in town said they would be on call for us. Our office staff put in hours and hours making sure that everything and everyone (patients) was taken care of. People came to our home, restained our deck, did yard work and meals were brought to us for over two weeks. We were so taken aback with all the expressions of love and caring.”

“It was so overwhelming to be on the receiving end and to feel so loved and cared for with no strings attached. When you’re in a position you can’t turn it down it’s also very humbling. It’s been a life-changing experience for us. We’ve grown closer as a couple through this time and have really had a chance to connect with our kids,” said Francis.