As Vanderbilt Health’s Living Donor Program Coordinator, J.D. Froedge loves helping people receive the gift of life. Turns out, he unexpectedly received that gift from Vanderbilt’s MyUrologyHealth Bundle.
J.D. had been a MyHealth Bundles patient in the past, choosing MyOrthoHealth to treat his shoulder pain and losing nearly 60 pounds through MyWeightLossHealth. Happy with his care with the other bundles, he turned to MyUrologyHealth when he needed a different treatment for kidney stones, which he had been suffering from for about 10 years.
MyUrologyHealth takes a broad approach to kidney stone treatment, including all the services needed to treat current kidney stones and prevent them from returning. Though the bundle includes a non-surgical option, J.D. chose to have the stones removed in January 2026. He was suffering from six kidney stones, and the pain was too much.
“There were some days that I was sitting on the heating pad trying to work, and the pain was at an eight or nine,” he said.
A Critical Discovery
J.D.’s urologist, Nicole Miller, MD, treated his issue with lithotripsy, a non-invasive, outpatient procedure that uses high-energy shock waves or lasers to break kidney stones into small pieces before removing them.
However, during the procedure Dr. Miller found something else — a small cancerous mass in the bladder. Since the procedure to remove the mass, J.D. has been monitored for cancer, and to date, it has not spread.
“The kidney stone bundle saved my life,” he said.
J.D. calls the bundle “the best experience I've ever had from the get-go.” He credits the entire team, from the doctors to the nurses to all the staff, with helping him feel comfortable and informed throughout his care.
“Everyone was up front with me about my prognosis, but also very compassionate and caring,” he said. “I was a little nervous, but my providers explained everything and were beside me every step of the way.”
Accessible, Streamlined Care
Though he was thrilled that the bundle covered most of the procedure costs, J.D. says the best part for him was the accessibility of the staff. He was seen quickly, and his patient navigator, Kristina Baldree, answered his questions and expedited the process.
“I was able to ask more questions than I had in the past at other surgery centers or physician appointments, and nothing strayed from what Kristina told me,” he said. “I never wondered when I would hear from her. She was right there with great support.”
In addition to the incredible communication, J.D. is grateful for the comprehensive care he received.
Right before the surgery, he remembers Dr. Miller requested that J.D. give her permission to use her best judgment during the procedure. Because of her flexible approach and prior coordination with J.D., Dr. Miller was able to find and remove the cancer immediately — actions that may have saved his life.
“I allowed my doctor and her team to do what they knew was best for my care,” he said. “That made all the difference.”
