Little Treasures: Jeff’s Way Forward

On days he’s feeling well enough, National Guard and active duty veteran Jeff Clark, 51, and his wife Lisa hunt for sea glass. They head to the beach and walk the shore, eyes peeled for those colorful glimmers in the sand.

Those small treasures remind Jeff of the good moments as he navigates life with hereditary pancreatitis.

A New Hampshire native, Jeff grew up playing hockey and skiing. Following in the footsteps of his father and brother, he joined the military, became a flight medic, and later served in the National Guard.

Helping people has always been in his nature. “He is so caring,” Lisa said. “He gives so much and always makes sure that everyone is okay.”

Jeff continued his career in the medical field, working as an echocardiologist for 25 years, including at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC).

In sharing his story, he hopes to show people that they are not alone, whether they have been diagnosed with pancreatitis or another condition. “Maybe it helps one person,” he said. “That would be good enough for me.”

Endless trips to the ED

Jeff remembers the Sunday in July 2017, when a migraine and severe abdominal pain led him to the emergency department at DHMC. “The nausea and pain were at a level 10, and nothing really relieved it,” he said. He was admitted to the ICU.

Doctors prescribed rest, IV hydration, and eating restrictions, but the relief was only temporary. Another flare-up shortly after forced Jeff to return to the ED, where he stayed for several days.

This scenario was not the last of its kind. Over the course of a year, Jeff went to the emergency department 25 times. He and Lisa sought help from every possible direction.

“For the longest time, they didn’t know what was going on with me,” he said. So, when he was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis, the ongoing inflammation of the pancreas, it came as a surprise.

Jeff does not consume alcohol, a common trigger for pancreatitis. This fact, along with the stigma that comes with it, added another layer of frustration for him, having been asked, time and again if he drinks.

“When you go to the emergency department with this diagnosis, it’s a stress I can’t describe,” he said.

Genetic testing conducted by Timothy Gardner, MD, at DHMC revealed that Jeff’s pancreatitis is hereditary. “My life has changed pretty dramatically,” Jeff said. Neither he nor Lisa was aware of this condition prior to the diagnosis, nor were they aware of any family members who suffered from it before.

A home away from home

Two to three times a week, Jeff makes a trip to the Infusion Suite at Dartmouth Health’s New London Hospital. When he walks in, his favorite channel is already on the television, and a ginger ale awaits him.

Intravenous infusions of fluids each week help Jeff stay out of the emergency department. Since getting infusion therapy, he’s only gone to the ED two or three times in about six months.

He knows the team there, Michelle Miller, RN, BSN, OCN, and Jen Carlin, RN, BSN—and they’ve gotten to know him well, too. “I actually enjoy going. It's an appointment, but I enjoy their company and their enthusiasm,” he said.

Some days are harder than others, especially when his nausea is severe in the morning. But he knows once he arrives, the care he receives, the humor shared, and the stories told make it all worthwhile.

“The nurses all help each other, which was kind of the environment that I was in when I worked in the echo-lab,” he said. “It’s amazing what they do for patients there,” he said.

Jeff also has support from his primary care provider, Alena Shoemaker, MD. When he first proposed the idea of IV hydration therapy, she immediately made the referral. “She’s always been there for whatever I needed,” he said.