Mark Eades is a builder by trade. It’s how he makes his living. So, when he severely injured his shoulder and lost the mobility and the strength in it due to an accident, to say it was “critical to someone who does what I do” is readily understood.

“I blew my shoulder completely out. I didn’t know how bad I was hurt, and I tried to work through the pain,” he recalled. “I couldn’t even hold a cup of coffee or pull up a sheet.”

Dr. Kenny McCullough, Eades’ orthopedic specialist, prescribed an MRI to take a deeper look at the source of the problem, and they turned to Coosa Valley MRI for the answer. It turns out it was the best decision he and his doctor could have made.

There, he found the cause of his pain, a solution and a hero. Eades suffers from claustrophobia, and enduring an MRI was one formidable hurdle for him. That’s not unique to Eades. Of the 5,000 scans Coosa Valley MRI performs each year, one percent of the population simply can’t overcome the anxiety of it.

But Chief MRI Technolgist Josh …. was determined that Eades would not be among the one percent. “I wouldn’t have had it if he had not been here,” Eades said. “We made a good connection. He’s a spiritual person like me,” and he eased him through the whole process.

First, Josh told him to close his eyes through the entire procedure. Imagine you are somewhere else, he said, helping to comfort him. Through earphones, he played Christian music Eades loved. And once he was completely relaxed, Josh started the test.

“When you keep your eyes closed, you don’t know where you’re at,” Eades said. “You’re not able to feel the closeness of the machine. I was able to do it without any anxiety at all.”

“MRI exams are an important piece of the patient’s plan of care, so it’s important that we give them every chance to succeed,” said Director of Operations Robin Angelo.

“Josh is my hero,” Eades replied. “He coached me through it, and that’s the reason I have a good shoulder today. I believe God puts people in your life like that to help you.”

The MRI revealed that all three ligaments in his shoulder had been torn in half, the result of the accident and years of injuries and scar tissue taking their toll. It also revealed a way forward for the surgeon, who was able to operate arthroscopically.

Within six weeks, he recovered and as he puts it, today, “I feel strong and healthy – like a young man.” He is bench pressing 225 pounds, the same as before the surgery. And the best part? He’s pain-free.

“I have seen God’s hand in everything in my life,” he said. “It makes you appreciate what you have more. Every little thing that led up to this is a great thing, and that makes me grateful.”