"I’m not sure what inspires people to give back in a way that puts them in the middle of other people's pain, but it is very special."
Jim Kilgore, Grateful Patient
Jim Kilgore has always lived life like a marble rolling across a table — free, fast and full of momentum. It is an analogy he learned from his father, and the message was simple: Live fully, embrace each moment and when the marble falls, let it fall with no regret.
For Jim Kilgore, this philosophy guides him in all that he does, whether it’s in his career in engineering, raising a family or building the home he and his wife, Rachel Kilgore, have always envisioned.
While working on building their dream home, Jim Kilgore began to feel his marble slow. His walk became unsteady, his sleep patterns changed and he struggled with simple tasks. “In my decline, the view from inside was a jail. It looked like my marble (life) would be lingering near the edge, not making a sharp fall,” said Kilgore.
Noticing the difficulty her husband had stringing sentences together, Rachel Kilgore, a retired nurse, grew concerned.
Finding expert care
A cognitive function exam and MRI revealed the cause: a benign 3.5-centimeter tumor on the left side of his brain. Relief at having an answer quickly turned into fear of the future.
At the hospital, his medical team offered something Jim Kilgore didn't expect: hope. The news that the tumor could be removed was something he never imagined. Soon after, they met John Floyd, MD, a neurosurgeon and the holder of the Carl Raba Family Chair in Neuro-Oncology with UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Floyd guided Kilgore and his family through his plan to safely remove the tumor. Jim Kilgore felt a weight lift from his shoulders, confident in the expertise of his care team.
I have to say that I was well taken care of by my family and by the medical team.
Jim Kilgore, Grateful Patient
Regaining momentum
As a result of a successful operation, Jim Kilgore began regaining strength. Physical therapy, proper nutrition and daily victories at home helped his marble roll again.
“I have to say that I was well taken care of by my family and by the medical team,” he said.
Crediting his medical team for giving him his life back, the gratitude Jim and Rachel Kilgore have for UT Health San Antonio has only grown, as they understand the rigorous training, education and compassion needed to restore health. Looking for a way to express their appreciation, Kilgore made a gift to the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine, helping to provide advancement and educational support for the Neurosurgical Residency Program.
"I’m not sure what inspires people to give back in a way that puts them in the middle of other people's pain, but it is very special. Not many people have that tolerance," – Jim Kilgore, Grateful Patient
Kilgore is thankful for Floyd and the work he is doing to help patients and develop students. He admires the selflessness Floyd shows when guiding others through life’s most difficult moments. Two years of follow-ups have brought the Kilgores good news with no signs of decline, only strength and healing. For Jim Kilgore, freedom is life-changing.
Together, he and his wife have embraced this new beginning, joining the Green Wellness program, a UT San Antonio School of Nursing program that promotes healthy living. The expert guidance of his care team at UT Health San Antonio has helped him return to his philosophy of living life to the fullest, with purpose and connection.
