Trista Hulsey was just 17 years old when she started experiencing a strange and unexplainable headache that, in time, led to an alarming mass on her forehead.
Hulsey, who was originally from Visalia, was taken to Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno for a higher level of care. It was there that neurosurgeon Nathan Deis diagnosed her with a rare infection called Pott’s Puffy Tumor.
“I could see when we examined her that she had some unusual swelling,” Dr. Deis said. “And on her CT scan we could see that there was clearly a bad sinus infection going on and what looked to be pus both on the outside of the skull, and also inside as well.”
A life-threatening infection that required immediate care
Hulsey’s sinuses were not draining properly. “[Dr. Deis] told me that I had developed a very rare infection called Pott's Puffy Tumor that was eating at my brain and deteriorating it,” she explained. “There was air in my brain, and it [the infection] was growing on my frontal cranial bone."
Pott’s Puffy Tumor isn’t a tumor, but a life-threatening infection. While anyone of any age can get the infection, it primarily affects adolescents, like Hulsey. Timing is crucial when treating the infection: if not treated right away, it can lead to serious complications.
Dr. Deis said that, despite it being late into the night, a big team gathered to assist on Hulsey’s case: “We were all concerned.”
Advanced care that’s close to home
Hulsey had a better chance of recovering from Pott’s Puffy Tumor thanks to the advanced level of neuro care she was able to receive here in Fresno.Community Regional is the first and only hospital in Central California to receive a “Center of Excellence” designation in neuroscience. Earlier this year, the hospital was one of just seven neuroscience intensive care units in the United States — and the only one in California — to earn a Beacon Gold Award of Excellence by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.
“My surgeon, Dr. Deis, was amazing. He gave me comfort because I knew what he was doing was the right thing,” said Hulsey.
A changed life, and a changed career path
Following her surgery, Hulsey spent two months recovering at Community Regional. While there, she took a special interest in what was happening around her, asking her care team probing questions about her treatment.One nurse in particular – Laurena Gascon – became an inspiration to Hulsey, even motivating her to change her career goals. The teen had planned to become an attorney but changed her mind after the care she received from Gascon and others at Community Regional.
She’s now a pre-nursing student at Fresno State.
"I just want to say thank you to everybody who stepped in whether they were my nurse or not,” said Hulsey. “They would talk to me and really build a bond with me and ask me about my life and not just about the case. They were very personable, and I thank them for everything they did for me and for saving my life."
“I want to be that for another person,” she went on. “They made me feel so special in such a hard time of my life when I didn't know what was going to happen."
Inspiring future nurses and healthcare heroes
Community recognizes the importance of providing nurses with learning opportunities to create a healthier Valley for us all.- In fiscal year 2023, we invested $5.7 million in training student nurses from local nursing programs and have since partnered with Unitek Learning to continue to strengthen the California workforce and offer students greater access to a nursing career.
- Clovis Community Medical Center is one of just five hospitals in the state to work with the Emergency Nurses Association to train new registered nurses through the Emergency Registered Nurse Program.
- Community has also partnered with the Central Valley Black Nurses Association to help inspire the next generation of nurses – encouraging kids in underserved communities to dream about a career in healthcare.
