Complex hernia surgery gives New York father a second chance

For years, pain quietly took pieces of Ben’s life.

At 43, Ben was an active truck driver, lifelong builder, devoted husband and proud father of two boys, ages 14 and 10. But after surgery for severe diverticulitis at a hospital near his New York home, Ben was left with multiple hernias that worsened over time. What followed were years of escalating complications and repeated procedures, infections and abscesses that left him weaker each month.

“I went from doing everything I loved to barely getting out of bed,” Ben said.

Despite undergoing yet another major hernia repair at a New York City medical center, Ben’s condition continued to deteriorate. His infections went undetected, and at one point he was carrying more than two liters of infected fluid in his abdomen.

He lost his job. He grew sicker. And time and again, he was told there was nothing more that doctors could do.

Finding a healthcare hero

That all changed in January 2026, when Ben’s case was shared with Andrew Robinson, MD, director of the Hernia Center at Atlantic Health Overlook Medical Center. Ben had never heard of Overlook, but Dr. Robinson immediately recognized a solution for him.

"Even though Ben had been told there were no more options, we knew of another path forward,” says Dr. Robinson.

"Using the precision of the da Vinci® 5 robotic surgical system, we removed the infected mesh and scar tissue, drained multiple abscesses and reconstructed Ben’s abdominal wall. A complex case like Ben’s required careful planning, advanced techniques and a knowledgeable team to make sure we safely restored his function for proper healing."

Using advanced robotics to repair and restore

Just days after his first meeting with Dr. Robinson, Ben underwent a complex, hours-long procedure using the most advanced robotic technology available. With real-time feedback and extraordinary precision, Dr. Robinson resolved the infections and surgically repaired the multiple wounds inside and outside Ben’s abdomen.

When Ben woke up, he felt the difference immediately.

“I felt like a completely different person,” he said. “For the first time in years, I wasn’t sick or scared.”

The recovery that followed was nothing short of miraculous. Ben’s hernia and wounds have healed and he is now back to his work, back to his hobbies and back to all-in family time with his kids — with no more surgeries ahead.

“Dr. Robinson saved my life,” Ben said. “I thought I was running out of time, and instead, he fixed everything in just one day.”

Human touch that delivers trust and hope

What seems to stay with Ben just as much as the remarkable surgery is how he was treated at Atlantic Health Overlook.

“Everyone cared,” he said. “From the nurses to the people who cleaned my room, I felt safe. You don’t see that everywhere.”

In fact, Ben passed by several major medical centers on his way to receive care with his medical team. For him, this hospital was the little-known gem in a nearby community that had the advanced technologies, specialized expertise and compassionate care that all came together to give him a second chance at life.