During a visit with his primary care doctor, Don Cooper of Cranberry Township was told he had hernias that needed surgical repair. Because there were so many, Don would need to see a specialist, and he was referred to Brodie Parent, MD, a plastic surgeon with the UPMC Department of Plastic Surgery.
“Dr. Parent was honest with me and said this surgery was going to be a bit of a big deal, require a few days in the hospital, and I might need to limit the maximum amount of weight I could lift for the rest of my life,” Don recalls. “But he was nice and factual. He looked me right in the eyes as he spoke to me and gave me confidence that he knew what he was doing.”
Dr. Parent also told Don he would need to lose a significant amount of weight before having surgery.
Don’s hernia repair would include abdominal wall reconstruction, moving the muscles back into their normal positions, and using a high-quality mesh to reinforce the repair. The procedure would be performed in partnership with general surgeon Dominick Motto, MD, bringing together expertise from both general surgery and plastic surgery.
Preparing for Surgery
After several months, Don successfully lost enough weight to proceed with the procedure.
“I wasn’t seeing any progress before meeting with Dr. Parent,” Don explains. “But he instilled motivation in me. And others from UPMC checked in during my journey to show their support, from sending me a protein drink to recommending exercises I could do to strengthen my core.”
In July 2025, Dr. Parent and Dr. Motto performed the surgery at UPMC Passavant, removing Don’s hernias and reconstructing his abdomen.
“Everything went well,” Don says. “I woke up with a big bandage on my stomach, and the pain never got too bad. The care team regularly checked on me to make sure I was okay.”
The Road to Recovery
After spending five nights in the hospital, Don was sent home with instructions to “take it easy” for the following six weeks. He was grateful to have his wife by his side throughout the recovery process and is now happy to fully enjoy his time with other members of his family.
“I can play with my eight grandkids and fully engage with all of them. Plus, Dr. Parent told me I could go skiing again but that I should ‘stay on the easy hill,’” Don explains with a laugh.
He adds that not only did Dr. Parent help him get his life back, but everyone he encountered at the hospital was “10 out of 10.”
“Everybody is so capable and very kind. I can’t say enough good things about them," adds Don. "My room was nice, the parking was free, and I wouldn’t hesitate to tell anyone who needs surgery that they should go to UPMC Passavant.”
Don’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases.
