What could have been a devastating diagnosis became a positive outcome for Wild Rose resident Scott Pudil. That’s thanks to early detection, advanced technology and coordinated, close-to-home care.
For Scott, a logger and assistant chief of the Wild Rose Fire Department, the signs of something amiss began to accumulate. In August 2024, he passed out on his kitchen floor one morning. Tests showed several blood clots in both of his lungs, but doctors weren’t sure what led to them.
Scott, 53, received treatment for the blood clots, and the team recommended continued monitoring. Soon, he resumed his busy schedule that includes working full time for an Oshkosh logging company and serving on the fire department. A typical day often started at 6:30 a.m. and ended at midnight.
As the months passed, Scott began to feel worse. He developed acid reflux that he initially chalked up as a side effect of the blood thinner he took. His discomfort eventually progressed to the point where he often needed to miss one to two workdays each week.
“It felt almost like somebody had a golf ball and was pushing it up underneath my ribcage,” Scott recalls.
Help Close to Home
Finally, in fall 2025, Scott decided to seek care with Molly Szymanski, a nurse practitioner with ThedaCare in Wild Rose and Waupaca.
“Molly really listened and delved into it and started asking questions,” Scott says. “She took the time to go through my chart and figure out what was going on, and then she recommended I see Dr. [David] Schultz.”
Dr. Schultz, a general surgeon who performs procedures at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah and ThedaCare Medical Center-Waupaca, ordered an endoscopy. The test revealed an abnormal lesion in Scott’s distal esophagus. Scott was able to have the procedure in Waupaca, close to his home in Wild Rose.
Specialized Care
Tim Edison, MD, a gastroenterologist with ThedaCare Gastroenterology, treated Scott with an esophageal endoscopic mucosal resection. The minimally invasive, outpatient procedure is used to remove precancerous growths and early-stage cancers.
Teams initially thought the margins of the mass on Scott’s esophagus were free of cancer. However, follow-up surveillance showed some cancer remained. Dr. Schultz recommended Scott have a robotic-assisted esophagectomy at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah. Surgeons perform the procedure through small incisions in the abdomen and chest.
“We were able to bring him to the Neenah hospital and he was able to undergo the latest in minimally invasive robotic surgery,” says General Surgeon Raymond Georgen, MD, who assisted Dr. Schultz in the procedure. “We successfully removed the tumor and found no lymph node involvement, which was fantastic.”
Minimally Invasive, Faster Recovery
Following his surgery, Scott recovered at the hospital and received respiratory, speech and physical therapy.
“They were all phenomenal. Everyone was in step. I couldn’t have asked for better,” Scott says of the teams who cared for him.
Though the first days had their challenging moments, Scott began to improve quickly. Once home, his recovery continued to progress well.
“[Dr. Schultz] figured 10 to 12 weeks before I went back to work, and I was back at work in eight,” Scott says. “I attribute that to the fact that it was done with the expertise of Dr. Schultz, with the help of the robot.”
Back to Living Life
Today, fewer than six months following his surgery, Scott is doing well. He continues follow-up with both Dr. Schultz and his oncologist, Thomas Klinkhammer, MD, of ThedaCare Cancer Care.
“It’s probably the best I’ve felt in 10 years,” Scott says of his health now.
Reflecting on his experience, Scott says he feels tremendously grateful. Esophageal cancer has a five-year survival rate of just 22.2%, often because it’s diagnosed late.
“I was extremely lucky. There a lot of people who aren’t as lucky as I was,” he says.
The robotic surgery Scott experienced was made possible in part through the ThedaCare Family of Foundations, generous donors and the innovation they support.
Today, Scott is back to work, serving his community and spending time with his wife, Tonya, and family.
He’s also on a mission to educate others about the importance of caring for their health, especially his fellow firefighters. Those in the profession are more prone than the general population to esophageal and lung cancer. He often reminds others that caring for yourself starts with your primary care team.
“They are there for a reason, and they are there to help you,” he says. “If nothing else, make sure you do your annual wellness checkup.”
Learn more about robotic surgery through ThedaCare. To support innovation, consider making a gift to the ThedaCare Family of Foundations.
