When 16-year-old Maria Kovach from Indiana started having unexplained problems with swelling and discomfort in her mouth, her family never imagined it would lead them halfway across the country.
“It ended up being salivary stones — two of them, one on each side,” her dad, Bill Kovach, explains. “One had already been removed, but we knew the second one would eventually cause the same issues. We wanted to find the right solution before it became a bigger problem.”
During their search for answers, one of Maria’s earlier surgeons mentioned Dr. Rohan Walvekar and the advanced techniques he offers. That connection proved to be the turning point in finding the care Maria needed at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge.
Dr. Walvekar, a fellowship-trained head and neck surgeon with Our Lady of the Lake and the Director of Salivary Endoscopy Program in the Department of Otolaryngology Head Neck Surgery, LSU Health Sciences Center, has spent the past 15 years specializing in complex head and neck care, from oral and throat cancers to advanced thyroid surgery.
Finding a Rare Option
Removing a salivary gland is the standard treatment in many cases, but at Maria’s age, that would have been a lifelong loss.
Dr. Walvekar offered something different: a minimally invasive salivary endoscopy. Instead of removing the entire gland, Dr. Walvekar uses a tiny scope to go in through the natural opening and remove the stone, preserving the gland and speeding recovery.
“It’s a rare capability,” Bill said. “Not many specialists can do it, especially for someone Maria’s age.”
Making the Connection
Maria’s mom Wendy, took the lead on making calls and sending emails. She worked closely with Dr. Walvekar’s nurse to get scans and records sent from Indiana to Baton Rouge.
“We’re not nearby, not even regular patients, but they took the time to work with us,” Bill says. “Dr. Walvekar made the time for a virtual consultation.”
Once the surgery was scheduled, the family coordinated it around Maria’s cross-country training. Maria and Bill flew to Baton Rouge in late June.
A Warm Welcome in the Red Stick
Neither Bill nor Maria had ever been to Baton Rouge. They arrived early enough to have an in-person appointment with Dr. Walvekar before the procedure. Between appointments, they explored LSU’s campus and found a favorite coffee spot, Highland Coffees.
“I’d say everyone, from receptionists to nurses to the anesthesiologist to Dr. Walvekar, was extremely helpful and patient-oriented,” Bill says. “It might be because I’m from Indiana, but the focus on kindness and customer service seemed very prevalent. Maybe it’s Southern hospitality. I was impressed all the way across the board.”
A Smooth Surgery and a Fast Recovery
On the morning of surgery, everything went smoothly.
“Recovery time was much quicker than her first surgery,” Bill said. “Pain was less, too, probably because the first time, the stone was infected.”
Maria was back at her hotel that same day, resting off the anesthesia. The next morning, she and her dad flew home to Indiana.
“She’s doing great,” Bill says. “And as a parent, it meant so much to see her get relief without needing a major surgery. You don’t want to go through all this. But if you have to, you want a team like this one at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.”
Looking Ahead
Maria is back to her normal activities, including cross country. And after walking the LSU campus during her trip, she’s even considering it for college.
Bill credits his wife’s persistence in finding the right care and the team at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital for making a complicated journey feel manageable.
“We never realized we’d have to do something like this,” he says. “But it worked out really well. We felt taken care of every step of the way.”
