From Fear to Healing: Janice Hardy’s Journey to Recovery at The Wound Treatment Center at Opelousas General

After 18 months of battling a non-healing wound following breast cancer surgery, Janice Hardy found renewed hope through advanced wound care and a loving, compassionate team dedicated to helping her heal. For Hardy, a breast cancer survivor from Grand Prairie, the road to recovery took an unexpected turn long after her initial cancer treatment.

Hardy underwent a lumpectomy to remove a cancerous mass, then followed with a round of radiation. For patients who have undergone radiation therapy, wound healing can be particularly challenging. Radiation can cause lasting damage to tissue and blood vessels, reducing the body’s ability to heal and increasing the risk of complications following surgery. Nearly a year later, she began experiencing fever, warmth and pain in her breast. Despite undergoing two additional surgeries, the wound simply would not heal. Concerned about her condition, Hardy’s surgeon referred her to Dr. Kerry Thibodeaux, medical director and founder of The Wound Treatment Center at Opelousas General.

“I was really scared. I thought I was going to lose my breast,” Hardy recalled. Dr. Thibodeaux recognized the challenges associated with Hardy’s wound and developed a comprehensive treatment plan that combined three advanced wound care therapies.

The first was hyperbaric oxygen therapy, which helps stimulate the development of new blood vessels and supports healing in tissue previously affected by radiation. The second was negative pressure wound therapy, commonly known as wound vac therapy, which removes excess fluid, promotes blood flow, and encourages tissue growth. The third treatment involved an advanced three-dimensional collagen graft called Miro 3D. Designed to support the healing of larger wounds, the graft provides a structure that allows the patient’s own cells to grow across healthy tissue and support wound closure.

By combining these therapies, Dr. Thibodeaux and his team addressed multiple barriers to healing simultaneously. “Because we were able to apply all the therapies at the same time, we were able to obtain wound closure in a very short amount of time,” Dr. Thibodeaux explained.

After receiving the Miro 3D graft, Hardy began noticing signs of improvement after only a week. For the first time in a long and frightening journey, she felt hopeful about her recovery. After 18 months of dealing with a persistent infection and a wound that would not heal, she was finally moving toward healing and a renewed sense of normalcy.

Today, Hardy says she no longer lives with the fear that once overshadowed her daily life. “I rarely think about it. I am able to do anything I want to do, and I feel wonderful,” she said. Her experience also left her with a strong appreciation for the people who cared for her throughout treatment.

“If anyone is in need of wound care of any type, I highly recommend Dr. Kerry Thibodeaux and The Wound Treatment Center at Opelousas General, because they are caring, loving and kind people who know their job,” Hardy said.
Hardy’s experience illustrates the importance of early intervention and individualized treatment for patients experiencing complicated wounds, particularly those who have undergone breast cancer surgery and radiation therapy.

At The Wound Treatment Center at Opelousas General, the goal is to identify barriers to healing and develop treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs. By combining advanced wound care techniques when appropriate, the team works to support healing, prevent wounds from becoming chronic and help patients return to the activities they enjoy. “We always strive for early intervention,” Dr. Thibodeaux said. “It is especially important in breast cancer patients who have had complications. Because we used a combination of therapies, we were able to manage the wound while it was still in an acute phase. This resulted in permanent healing and an improved quality of life for our patient, Janice Hardy.”

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