From Primary Care to Cancer Care: How Baptist Helped Wesley Find Answers
Wesley Clark visited Baptist Medical Group Primary Care – Perdido to establish care and address health concerns. Wesley, now in his 50s, has developmental delays, short-term memory loss and a complex medical history. His mother, Marilyn Burford, acts as health surrogate and advocate.
Marilyn shared that Wesley’s health challenges began early. He was born prematurely with gastroschisis, a birth defect where a hole in the abdominal wall causes the intestines to develop outside the body. Over the years, Wesley has faced hernia surgery, seizures and other complications. Despite these obstacles, Marilyn calls him her miracle.
“Wesley is a wonderful, joyful human being, with a curious mind like a six-year-old,” Marilyn said. “He is strong in his faith and is wrapped in love by his family, especially his siblings. He just cannot always communicate when he’s feeling bad or has something going on in his body.”
“Wesley was a new patient to our clinic,” said Sherri Ellis, MSN, APRN, ANP-C, FNP-C, a nurse practitioner and primary care provider (PCP) at Baptist Medical Group Primary Care – Perdido. “After meeting him and speaking with his mother, I knew immediately he was very ill. I ordered diagnostics and labs to help determine the extent of his illness and prioritize his care.”
Those tests revealed a tumor and cancer. Thanks to Ellis’ quick action and referrals, Wesley underwent surgery and later began cancer treatments. He was connected with Janelle Bennett, M.D., with Baptist Medical Group – Hematology and Oncology. Ellis and Dr. Bennett work closely to ensure seamless care and keep Marilyn informed about treatment plans.
“We are fortunate to have a great team working closely with Wesley,” said Dr. Bennett. “Our GI cancer nurse navigator, Kristi Jernnigan, R.N., continues to be integral in coordinating his care with multiple subspecialists, as well as primary care. I think our cancer support team of oncology social workers, nurse navigators, registered dieticians, referral teams and a dedicated scheduling team significantly elevates our level of care and communication. Wesley is an incredible person, and it’s no surprise that he has impacted so many people at Baptist. His mom is a supermom and the ideal example of the importance of family and support through cancer treatment.”
Wesley also sees other Baptist specialists for diabetes and urology management. “We love the teams at Baptist,” Marilyn said. “They’ve been so good to our family, taking care of all of us over the years.”
Ellis goes above and beyond, often checking on Wesley outside of scheduled visits. “Sherri is personable, puts you at ease and never rushes you,” Marilyn said. “My husband, Wesley and I all see her.”
Marilyn also praised Dr. Bennett and her staff. “Dr. Bennett looks at the whole health of each patient, not just at the cancer aspects,” she said. “Dr. Bennett is awesome, and she’s helped three of our family members through cancer. Wesley loves her, nurse Amelia Krause and all of Dr. Bennett’s nurses and staff—he even draws pictures for them during treatments. I’m so grateful to everyone at Baptist for the care of Wesley and our family.”
With an established primary care provider, patients have someone who can spot changes early and ensure they are connected to the appropriate specialists when needed. Wesley’s story is a powerful reminder that establishing care before a crisis can lead to timely answers, coordinated support and truly lifesaving outcomes. Visit Baptist Medical Group’s webpage to schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor at a convenient location.
