You’ve heard the saying, “Always trust your gut.” For Tony Steiner, that instinct lead to a life-saving decision.

Throughout his life, Steiner stayed on the move—playing soccer, cheerleading and now parenting four boys and a brand-new baby girl. Through it all, he’s come to know the team at Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee quite well.

“Last April, I looked down and saw a bump on my wrist,” said Steiner. “It hurt really bad. It grew to golf ball-sized, then baseball-sized. I visited a walk-in clinic, and they told me to take something for pain and call my doctor the following week.”

That night, Steiner awoke with the worst pain he had ever felt, and he and his wife planned to stop by Bone and Joint Institute early the next morning. Upon discovering it was not yet open, Steiner’s instinct led him to visit the Williamson Medical Center emergency room located on the same campus.

“I had bloodwork, and soon someone came in to tell me I had an infection and needed surgery now,” said Steiner. “Everything changed quickly. My temperature and white blood cells spiked, and I started to crash.”

Steiner was rushed to surgery and admitted to Williamson Medical Center. He woke the following day to a visit from Bone and Joint Institute’s Jeffery Kutsikovich, M.D., who evaluated his wrist and ensured his hand was able to function.

“I ended up being diagnosed with a strep infection,” said Steiner. “The team at Williamson Medical Center and Bone and Joint Institute worked together to put me on antibiotics and get me into occupational and physical therapy.”

After a second surgery with Dr. Kutsikovich and months of dedicated therapy at Bone and Joint Institute, Steiner has now regained a significant amount of hand function. Looking back, Steiner learned this infection had a 50 to 80% mortality rate, and he credits the combined efforts of Williamson Medical Center and Bone and Joint Institute for saving his life.

“This has touched every aspect of my life,” said Steiner. “Our favorite thing to do is go fishing and boating in Panama City. Soon after this happened, I was determined we were going, but I couldn’t throw the kids, I couldn’t fish or go crabbing. It was sad, but after two surgeries and therapy, I can do all of that now.”

Steiner also operates a side business, The Old Wood Barn, together with his wife, Jamie. The pair builds custom barn doors, tables, games, and can engrave tumblers, mugs and other custom gifts. The store is back up and running now that Steiner has regained his hand function, and he surprised his Bone and Joint Institute team with custom mugs this year.

In April of 2021, the Steiners visited Williamson Medical Center once again. This time, the now-family of seven welcomed their first baby girl.

“We will continue to choose Bone and Joint Institute and Williamson Medical Center for our healthcare,” said Steiner. “They have always been, and continue to be, amazing.”