Back to Playing Golf: Oklahoma Man Receives New Life-Saving Aortic Reconstruction at OU Health

Gary Mead thought he was living a quiet, healthy life in Bowlegs, Oklahoma, a small town five miles south of Seminole. The 73-year-old had stable blood pressure, no concerning symptoms, and spent his days playing golf and living the good life with his wife, Rita.

But sometimes life’s most serious challenges come without warning, discovered only by chance when doctors are looking for something else entirely.

“I never had any real indication of any problem,” Gary said about his cardiovascular health. “My blood pressure was perfect. Everything that we did made my blood pressure better and better and better.”

Dangerous Conditions Exposed

In late 2023, however, that all changed. Gary was dealing with recurring urinary infections and prostatitis that his family doctor couldn’t resolve. To get to the bottom of the problem, his physician ordered a CAT scan, which revealed two shocking discoveries: bladder cancer and a potentially life-threatening aortic aneurysm.

An aortic aneurysm occurs when the main artery that carries blood from the heart begins to balloon outward, creating a weak spot that could rupture. When an aortic aneurysm ruptures, it’s often fatal.

“I’m not glad I had bladder cancer, but at least the discovery of that led to finding the aortic aneurysm,” Gary said. “That was very troubling to find out.”

Gary first addressed his bladder cancer, which involved noninvasive tumors that were successfully treated. But the aneurysm remained a ticking time bomb that required constant monitoring.

A Growing Threat

Initially, Gary’s aneurysm measured 5.2 centimeters, which his vascular surgeon considered manageable with regular surveillance. But eight months later, another scan showed the aneurysm had grown to 5.9 centimeters, crossing into dangerous territory.

“At 5.9, my doctor said, ‘Gary, something’s got to be done,’” Gary said. When asked about his options, the physician gave him limited choices that included open aortic surgery.

The thought of being “cracked open” for major surgery terrified Gary. At 73, with the aneurysm positioned near other vessels that feed his kidneys and lower extremities, his surgeon had concerns about Gary surviving such an extensive operation.

That’s when Gary’s surgeon referred him to OU Health vascular surgeon Dr. Benjamin Chou, D.O., assistant professor in the Department of Surgery at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, who specializes in advanced endovascular techniques that had never before been available in Oklahoma.

Meeting Dr. Chou Changes Everything

When Gary met Dr. Chou, he immediately felt comfortable with the surgeon’s willingness to explain complex procedures in understandable terms and answer all his questions.

“Most surgeons are really hard to talk to. They just want to tell you what they want to tell you and be done with it,” Gary said. “But I like a doctor that I can actually talk to, and Dr. Chou was just willing to talk as long as I wanted to talk and explain as much as he thought that I could understand.”

Dr. Chou told Gary about a new procedure called TAMBE (thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm endovascular repair) that could repair his aneurysm without opening his chest. The minimally invasive procedure had only been performed once before at OU Health University of Oklahoma Medical Center by Dr. Chou, making Gary the second patient to receive this groundbreaking treatment.

“I didn’t feel too good hearing that,” Gary laughed about being only the second patient. “But we continued talking about the procedure, and I just started feeling better and better about him. He said, ‘You’re going to be back playing golf in a couple of weeks.’ That was music to my ears, because golf and my wife are what I live for.”

Dr. Chou explained that the procedure would involve a team of specialists working together to access Gary’s aorta through small incisions in both legs and his right shoulder. They would then insert custom-made stents and grafts to reinforce the weakened artery.

A Revolutionary Procedure

The TAMBE procedure is a major advancement in treating complex aortic aneurysms. The device was FDA approved in July 2024, and OU Health is one of only two hospitals in Oklahoma City that performs this complex surgery. OU Health is also the only hospital in Oklahoma using advanced fusion imaging while performing the procedure.

For Gary, having this option available locally was crucial. The alternative would have meant traveling out of state for treatment, adding enormous stress and logistical challenges to an already frightening situation.

“Who would want to go to Dallas, endure what I did, and put their family through that just to be with you in a place you don’t even live?” Gary said. “It’s a nightmare I wouldn’t wish on anyone.”

On May 21, 2025, Gary underwent the seven-hour TAMBE procedure. Despite his pre-surgery anxiety about the risks, the operation was successful.

“I went into the procedure with a lot of negative thoughts, and after seven hours of being on the operating table, when I woke up, I couldn’t even feel my right leg," Gary said. He experienced some temporary nerve issues in his right foot, which Dr. Chou had warned was a possible side effect, but the symptoms gradually improved.

True to Dr. Chou’s promise, Gary was back to playing golf within weeks of surgery.

“I was too weak at two weeks’ recovery, but at three weeks, I said, ‘The heck with it, I’m going to go play,’” said Gary.

Another Scare, a Steady Presence

Two weeks after his successful aneurysm repair, Gary faced another health crisis when he suffered a mild heart attack requiring open heart surgery. During this frightening time, Dr. Chou was a steadfast, reassuring presence at Gary’s bedside.

“Somebody would come and wake me up, and I’d open my eyes, and it’d be Dr. Chou,” Gary said. “He found out because his office is right there with my surgeons, and he came and he sat there and he talked to me. He was the first person that during that time gave me some assurance that it would be OK again.”

Transforming Care in Oklahoma

OU Health stands at the forefront of advanced medicine in Oklahoma, offering a range of procedures that spare patients the burden of seeking treatment beyond state lines. Gary, like many patients, was able to access the most advanced care close to home, eliminating the need for stressful and costly travel. For many Oklahomans, OU Health’s comprehensive services mean life-changing treatments are available right where they live, with families’ support nearby.

“If you have a complex aortic problem, we have a big aortic problem. Now, there is a solution here in Oklahoma for you,” Dr. Chou said. “You don’t have to go untreated. You don’t have to go to a different state.”

Dr. Chou’s goal goes beyond performing these advanced procedures. He’s working to build awareness about aortic disease throughout Oklahoma, a state with high rates of tobacco use and diabetes that contribute to vascular problems. He is also working to develop an aortic center at OU Health, with an emphasis on education and research.

“Aneurysms can rupture. It would be much better for patients to have them treated before it becomes a big problem. And that involves widespread education of the disease and ongoing research.” says Dr. Chou.

For Gary, however, he simply sees a physician with a rare combination of technical expertise and genuine compassion.

“I think he’s a wonderful doctor and a very personable doctor,” Gary said. “Dr. Chou has a gift. He loves what he does. I don’t know how you could have anyone any better in any state. Having this procedure available here was extremely comforting to me and to my wife. Many people don’t understand how hard it is to go for care in another state. My main concern is making sure my family is OK.”

Today, Gary is back doing the activity he loves most — he’s on the golf course. He also continues his maintenance treatment for bladder cancer close to home.

“I put my trust in OU Health, and I did it because of Dr. Chou,” Gary said. “OU is by far the most advanced. I had the best and kindest nurses that I’ve ever experienced, and they answered questions and did anything and everything that I asked.”

Gary’s experience, beginning with an unexpected finding during a standard scan and leading to groundbreaking surgery, demonstrates the transformative impact of advanced medical care when accessible within local communities. His successful treatment opens doors for other Oklahomans facing similar diagnoses, offering hope where once there were limited options.

“I would tell anybody that OU Health is a fantastic hospital,” Gary said.

For patients facing complex aortic conditions, Gary’s story proves that world-class care is now available in Oklahoma, eliminating the burden of traveling to distant medical centers while providing the same life-saving outcomes.

Learn more about specialized vascular and cardiac care at OU Health or call (405) 271-1400 for more information about complex aortic procedures.