Post by UT Medical

For years, Aaron watched deep vein thrombosis (DVT) impact the people closest to him. First his grandfather. Then his father, who lost his leg after years of battling the disease. Not long after, Aaron – just 32 years old at the time – began experiencing serious symptoms of his own. He was eventually diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), a condition that can develop when vein valves are damaged by clots or inflammation caused by DVT. What followed were years of pain, uncertainty and frustration. A venous ulcer developed on Aaron’s leg and worsened quickly. The pain became severe, affecting nearly every part of his life – his ability to work, stay active and be present for his wife and two children. “The pain, the limitations – what it does to your physical and mental health – there just aren’t words for it,” he said. After more than a year without answers, Aaron was referred to the wound care team at UT Medical Center. By then, his confidence was fading. That changed during his first visit with Samantha Williams, MMS, PA-C, at University Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center. “She said, ‘We are going to get you through this. We are going to get you better,’” Aaron recalled. “That meant so much to me.” Over the next nine weeks, Aaron traveled weekly to UT Medical Center for treatment, wound care and support. Slowly, healing began. Around week five, the team showed Aaron side-by-side images documenting his progress. “That was when I finally felt like we had a real shot,” he said. By the end of nine weeks, the wound had healed. Today, Aaron says he feels like himself again for the first time in years. He’s back to work, active again and recently took his first real vacation in years with his family. “Getting those moments back means the world to me,” he said. At UT Medical, stories like Aaron’s reflect the expertise, compassion and commitment to whole-patient care that define the region’s academic health system. Proud to be named one of America’s Best Employers for Company Culture 2025 by Forbes – and proud to care for you.