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- calendar_today November 7, 2026
A Sudden Decline in Health
Richard Satin, a Long Island resident, experienced a dramatic health crisis starting in October 2025. Until then, he had enjoyed good health, celebrating the summer with his wife Farrah and their 8-year-old daughter, including a family trip to Disney. However, one night, Satin awoke in intense pain. At the hospital, doctors found his blood sugar levels were dangerously high and diagnosed him with diabetes. Additionally, a blood clot was discovered in his portal vein, which supplies the liver with blood from the gastrointestinal tract. After treatment for the clot and stabilization of his diabetes, Satin was discharged, seemingly on the road to recovery.
Loss of Appetite and Mysterious Symptoms
Instead of improving, Satin’s health spiraled. He suffered persistent pain and began a cycle of hospital visits, but medical professionals could not pinpoint the cause. Recommendations varied from a high-fiber diet to a liquid diet, but none provided relief. Satin soon lost his appetite entirely, finding it difficult even to eat Jell-O. Over just a few months, he lost 70 pounds, appearing gaunt and worrying his daughter. Activities he once enjoyed, such as golf, became impossible, and daily life grew bleak for the whole family.
A Turn to Specialists and Urgent Action
Farrah, desperate for answers, began seeking out specialists for her husband. Many were unavailable for months, but the couple managed to book an urgent appointment with Dr. William Klein, a concierge doctor, on Christmas Eve. Dr. Klein conducted a thorough examination and warned Satin that immediate surgery was necessary for his survival.
A Surgeon’s Discovery and Minimally Invasive Surgery
Dr. Klein referred Satin to Dr. Gary Gecelter, the chairman of the Department of Surgery at St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center. Repeating prior tests, Dr. Gecelter uncovered an unusual inflammatory condition in Satin’s digestive tract. This inflammation was causing problems with blood supply to the stomach, including a clot in the liver and a bowel blockage. Dr. Gecelter believed that removing the inflamed section of small bowel could resolve Satin’s symptoms.
In early January, Satin underwent a complex but minimally invasive small bowel surgery. He immediately felt better upon waking, and his symptoms improved rapidly, surprising even Dr. Gecelter. Within days, Satin was able to tolerate food again and was discharged from the hospital three days after the operation. He quickly regained some of his lost weight and resumed eating normally within a week.
Gratitude and Recovery
As Satin recovered, his daughter Becky wrote a heartfelt letter of thanks to Dr. Gecelter, celebrating her father’s return to health. The letter, written in her own words, became a cherished memento in Dr. Gecelter’s office. Six months after surgery, the family hosted a celebration, inviting friends, relatives, and the doctors who had helped save Satin’s life.
Living with a New Perspective
Satin remains in good health, having regained much of the weight he lost, though he now lives with managed diabetes and a changed appetite. He has returned to enjoying golf, attending his daughter’s school events, and traveling with his family. Despite the uncertainty about what initially triggered his illness, Satin is grateful for his recovery and determined to make the most of the future: “I don’t take any of it for granted,” he said.
Source: cbsnews.com.
