From Tornado Trauma to Surgical Triumph: Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center Restores Patient’s Ear and Hope
5/6/2025
POPLAR BLUFF, MO – “They put me back together – literally,” said Lana Feldmeier. After surviving a direct hit to her home by a tornado on March 14, Lana was rushed to the emergency room at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. A massive tree had crashed through her bedroom, landing directly on top of her and severing her right ear. With broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, and nerve damage in her arm, Lana’s condition was critical.
Despite the chaos of that day, Lana vividly remembers what happened next: compassion, professionalism, and exceptional care. “I was stuck between my bed and a tree. When nearby neighbors finally got me out, an ambulance couldn’t get through, so they drove me to the ER in the back of a pickup truck. I was scared, in pain—and then I got to Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center.”
At the hospital, Richard Wirz, D.O., performed the surgery to reconstruct Lana’s ear. “He may be a general surgeon, but he’s a miracle worker to me,” Lana declared. “He literally put my ear back on, and it looks even better than before. I’ll never forget that.”
Throughout her stay – from the ER to surgery and recovery – Lana says the care she received was nothing short of extraordinary. “Everyone made me feel so safe. The nurses were kind, attentive and just wonderful. I’ve been in hospitals in St. Louis and Memphis, and the care here is just as good—if not better.”
A retired registered nurse and wheelchair user since 2011 due to an autoimmune condition, Lana comments that she knows what quality care looks like. “This was my first time in this hospital, and I was blown away. If you have an emergency, this is the place to come. The nursing staff is excellent—and I would know, I used to be a nurse.”
She also gave special thanks to the occupational therapy and physical therapy teams. “OT is the best I’ve ever had—so kind and funny. And PT is phenomenal–right up there with the best therapists I’ve worked with in big cities.”
Lana’s journey to healing isn’t over, but thanks to the team at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, she’s on the path to recovery—with her husband by her side and her ear intact. “I’m so thankful they kept my husband with me, too. He had nowhere else to go, and they made sure we were together.”
Through it all, Lana holds on to her lifelong motto: “Treat people the way you want to be treated.” At Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center, she felt that philosophy reflected in every member of her care team.
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