One Appointment Changed Everything: James Wicker's Road to Recovery

With his wife by his side, James Wicker recently rang the healing bell at Central Carolina Hospital's Wound Care Center, celebrating a milestone that once felt out of reach. Just months earlier, he was living with what he describes as the worst pain of his life. What changed? 

One appointment. 

The Sanford retiree was injured after being struck by a golf cart during a trip to Myrtle Beach. What he initially believed would be a relatively straightforward recovery turned into a painful and frustrating experience as a wound on his leg failed to heal properly. 

"I've had a lot of things done to me in my life, but I've never had pain like that," Wicker said. "I've had surgeries before, but nothing compared to the pain from that wound." 

Concerned about his condition, Wicker's daughter, a nurse, encouraged him to seek specialized wound care. After learning he would have to wait weeks for an appointment elsewhere, she contacted Central Carolina Hospital's Wound Care Center, where he was able to get him seen the very next day. 

That first visit proved to be a turning point. 

During his appointment, the wound care team identified and treated a significant hematoma that had developed in his leg, relieving pressure that had been causing severe discomfort. 

"I just laid back and said, 'Oh my God, that feels so good,'" Wicker recalled. "Since then, I've been in no pain." For someone who had spent weeks struggling with relentless pain, the relief was immediate and unforgettable. 

What followed was a healing journey supported by the Wound Care Center team. Through regular visits, specialized treatment and ongoing monitoring, Wicker steadily progressed toward recovery. 

"It's been a journey," he said. "When it first happened, I thought I'd recover pretty quickly. I didn't realize how difficult it was going to be." 

Throughout that journey, Wicker says he found not only expert care, but a team that genuinely cared about his recovery. 

"Thank God we came here. They're wonderful," he said. "Every single one of them truly cares about what they're doing. It's been a blessing, and I'm very thankful." 

The bell-ringing ceremony marked more than the completion of treatment. For Wicker, it represented a return to normalcy and the freedom to enjoy the life he loves without pain. 

Now back to traveling, walking and golfing, Wicker is especially excited about one simple pleasure he had been missing for months: getting back in the pool. After being cleared to swim again, he says he's looking forward to enjoying retirement pain-free and with a renewed appreciation for the activities he loves. 

About Central Carolina Wound Care Center 

Established in 2015, the Central Carolina Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center provides specialized care for patients with chronic, non-healing wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, infections and other complex wounds. The center offers advanced treatment options, including negative pressure wound therapy, total contact casting, bio-engineered tissues, biosynthetic dressings, growth factor therapies and hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The center has received national recognition from Healogics® for clinical excellence, patient satisfaction and wound healing outcomes, including the Center of Distinction award for three consecutive years and the Robert A. Warriner III, MD, Clinical Excellence Award for two consecutive years. For more information, visit centralcarolinahosp.com/wound-care.