Surprises, Setbacks, and Success

Sometimes, a small bump in the road can have an immense impact on a person’s life. For 23-year-old Austin native Cole Perry, that bump appeared, quite literally, in June 2023.

While riding an electric scooter home from his friend’s house late one night, Cole noticed a small divot in the pavement at the bottom of the hilly street. “I tried swerving out of the way, but tumbled on the ground,” recalls Cole. He immediately dusted himself off and headed home.

“The adrenaline must have been flowing,” continues Cole. “I initially thought I just had road rash and didn’t think anything else was wrong.”

Cole’s perspective changed over the next few hours as the adrenaline wore off and the pain set in. He visited a local hospital the next morning. When doctors discovered that he was bleeding internally, he was quickly transferred to the emergency room at Dell Seton Medical Center at The University of Texas.

Facing the Unknown

Further imaging revealed multiple growths on Cole’s right kidney, including one large mass that had ruptured from the impact of the scooter accident. He was introduced to Harras Zaid, MD, a UT Health Austin board-certified urologist and fellowship-trained urologic oncologist in Urology, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin.

“Tumors that size are uncommon for someone in their early twenties,” notes Dr. Zaid. “Addressing Cole’s condition required thoughtful consideration of all factors contributing to these findings as we developed his personalized treatment plan.”

These findings could not have come at a more inconvenient time for Cole, who was looking forward to exploring new beginnings after graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder that spring.

Shortly after his accident, Cole was able to return to Colorado to spend the rest of summer with his friends in Boulder before moving back to Austin in the fall to look for work. “Between the move, the job search, and trying to figure out what was wrong with my health, it was a pretty stressful time,” shares Cole.

Fortunately, Cole had a world-class multidisciplinary care team on his side during this period of uncertainty. After weeks of waiting for the bruising and internal bleeding from the rupture subsided, Dr. Zaid and his colleagues began investigating the origins of Cole’s tumors.

Genetic testing and comprehensive imaging did not offer meaningful insight into the cause of Cole’s condition. However, the team concluded that the growths on his kidney were noncancerous tumors known as angiomyolipomas and did not detect similar tissue elsewhere in his body.

The Urology care team determined that the best course of action would be to remove the largest of these tumors through a procedure known as a partial nephrectomy, in which a portion of his right kidney would be removed. The surgery was scheduled for December 2023, allowing Cole time to heal from the scooter accident and settle back in Austin to begin his new job.

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<br>A Comprehensive Approach to Care

On the day of his surgery, Cole returned to Dell Seton Medical Center, where he was greeted by Dr. Zaid and fellow Urology care team member J. Stuart Wolf, Jr., MD, FACS, a UT Health Austin board-certified urologist and fellowship-trained endourologist, who also serves as the Medical Director of UT Health Austin’s Ambulatory Surgery Center. Dr. Wolf assisted Dr. Zaid with Cole’s partial nephrectomy.

“This procedure was rather complex. Not only was the tumor large, but it was pressing up against vital structures such as the small intestine,” explains Dr. Zaid. “The combined decades of expertise between myself and Dr. Wolf allowed us to remove the angiomyolipoma while preserving as much of Cole’s right kidney as possible.”

“Our team is dedicated to providing the highest level of care for complex surgical issues,” adds Dr. Zaid. “Our collaborative approach means patients benefit from the specialized insight of multiple expert physicians.”

Cole recovered quickly from his surgery and was able to spend New Years’ Eve in New Orleans attending a Texas Longhorn football game. Within a month, he returned to work.

The Urology care team continues to monitor Cole’s condition through biannual computerized tomography (CT) imaging appointments. In the meantime, Dr. Zaid remains in regular contact with Cole and his family.

“An open line of dialogue between physicians and patients is critical, especially in complex cases such as these,” says Dr. Zaid. “An understanding of how Cole’s condition may change between visits can help inform the care our team offers in the future.”

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<br>Looking Forward to a Bright Future

Although an accident followed by a major surgery is hardly how Cole envisioned his first few months out of college, he is grateful that his tumors were discovered in a time and place where they could be treated properly.

“It turned out to be a bad accident, but I’m glad it happened while I was in Austin,” reflects Cole. “I had access to a great team through Dr. Zaid and the Urology practice.”

The experience also offered Cole a fresh perspective on this new chapter of his life. “As I recovered, I had a lot of time to think about my future,” shares Cole. “I realized that rather than chasing validation from others, I want to pursue work I enjoy.”

For more information about Urology or to request an appointment, call 1-512-324-7871 or visit here.