Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital Team Restores Blood Flow, Helps Prevent Limb Loss for Local Man
MELBOURNE, Fl – (September 16, 2026) - What started as leg pain after a day on the water nearly cost 69-year-old Bobby Hager his left leg.
A few days prior, he started losing his balance while walking, but didn’t think much about it.
"It started with little things that didn't seem like a big deal," Hager said. "I'd walk stand up fast and suddenly feel off balance, almost like I was going to tip over. Then a few days later, while out boating with my family, as the day progressed, the pain in my leg became severe. The pain was like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I knew something wasn't right."
“I could see the symptoms quickly worsen,” said Dr. Robert Ford, medical director of the emergency department at Orlando Health Sebastian River Hospital who is also Hager’s son-in-law. “His leg became pale and cool to the touch, which are warning signs that his blood flow had been compromised.”
Recognizing the symptoms and urgency of the situation, Dr. Ford brought him to Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital Emergency Department, where they found a blood clot blocking a main artery that had been bypassed one year earlier to restore blood flow to the same leg."
The Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital Emergency Department, led by emergency physician, Dr. William Bumgarner, quickly coordinated treatment with interventional radiologist Dr. Robert Kennedy. A catheter was placed directly into the blocked artery to deliver clot-dissolving medication to the obstruction.
A follow-up procedure the next day confirmed blood flow had been restored.
"Mr. Hager's outcome is a great reminder that when something doesn't feel right, it's important to seek medical attention right away," said Tim Bennett, director of emergency services at Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital. "The longer blood flow is reduced, the greater the risk of limb loss. Fortunately, he came in when he did, which allowed the emergency department to collaborate quickly with our vascular team to restore circulation and save his leg."
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), symptoms that are typically associated with vascular problems that reduce blood flow to the legs, can include:
Pain while walking
Pain at rest
Numbness, weakness or heavy feeling in the legs
Temperature changes, specifically cool to the touch
Discoloration of the skin
Wounds that heal slowly on feet and legs
Hair loss on the lower legs
Weak pulse in the feet
"People sometimes assume these symptoms are related to aging, arthritis or a pinched nerve," said Dr. Ford. "But if blood flow is blocked, delaying treatment can become a limb-threatening emergency or worse. Recognizing the signs and seeking care immediately made all the difference with my father-in-law."
To reduce your risk of vascular disease, there are key lifestyle changes you can make, including:
Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
Eat healthier by choosing more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins while cutting back on salt, sugar, and bad fats
Exercise for at least 30 minutes each day (walking, swimming, or cycling)
Keep a healthy body weight
Manage stress through deep breathing, meditation, or yoga
"Looking back, I wish I had paid closer attention to the warning signs," said Hager. "I never imagined that balance issues and leg pain could turn into something that might cost me my leg or my life. I'm grateful for the care I received and thankful my family recognized that something was seriously wrong."
"This story had a happy ending because treatment happened quickly," said Dr. Ford. "If sharing my father-in-law’s experience helps even one person seek care sooner and avoid losing a limb, it's worth telling."
After that two-day stay in the intensive care unit over Memorial Day weekend, Hager is now fully recovered. Today, Hager is back on his feet and enjoying time with his family, grateful that recognizing the warning signs and seeking care quickly helped save his leg.
About Orlando Health
Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $15 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States – including Florida and Alabama – and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health’s mission is to improve the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $1.7 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 23, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X.
