When Anthony “Tony” Guida retired from his career as a machinist, he and his wife, Sharon, moved from their longtime home in Swedesboro, NJ, to Bridgeville, a small town in southern Delaware.
“It’s a new start,” he said. “I plan on playing a lot of golf instead of working all the time.”
What he didn’t want to change was the Inspira team that had been caring for his feet for nearly 6 years. So even though he and Sharon now live about 97 miles away, he returns to Inspira Medical Group Mullica Hill to continue seeing Ashley Fought, D.P.M, every three months.
Dr. Fought is a board-certified podiatrist who specializes in foot and ankle surgery and wound care.
Tony first saw Dr. Fought in 2018, after a wound under his big toe didn’t heal. It’s likely that he didn’t notice the wound in its early stages because he has neuropathy in his feet, which dulls all sensations, including irritation and pain.
At his first appointment, Tony was “surprised” by the doctor’s youthful appearance, but quickly knew he was in the right place.
“… as soon as she started talking to me, I could tell she not only knew what she was doing, but that she really cared even though we’d just met,” he said.
When the toe infection didn’t respond well to more conservative treatments, Dr. Fought let Tony know that the only way to address the infection was to amputate his big toe. Tony was understandably concerned and said he might have hesitated if not for Dr. Fought’s straightforward manner.
“She was so kind, but didn’t pull any punches,” Tony said. “She told me that if we waited, I might lose my entire foot.”
Over the course of the next ten months, Tony had two surgeries to treat the infection, including amputation of another toe. Tony had to stay off his foot for months at a time and learn to walk and balance. But he was determined to get back to his daily activities and said that Dr. Fought prepared him thoroughly each time.
“She would call the night before and explain everything to me,” he said. “She’d answer all my questions. She made me understand what to expect. We talk every time I see her. She really is like no one else. She is my doctor first, but I also feel like she is a great friend. She cares that much. That’s why I will not let anyone else take care of my feet.”
Tony said that his admiration for Dr. Fought goes beyond his appreciation of her medical knowledge and surgical skill.
“Before the first operation, I couldn’t eat or drink for many hours,” he said. “When I got to the hospital that morning, I smelled coffee and noticed some people eating donuts. I told Dr. Fought that was killing me because I was so hungry and wanted coffee so bad. Well, when I woke up after the surgery, you know what was on the table by my bed? A bag with two donuts in it! What doctor does something like that after knowing you only a few weeks?”
After another surgery in 2023, Tony said he is back to almost all of his regular activities.
“I have no pain. I walk the dog, I swim a lot, and I am going to start using a stationary bike. Sharon and I play golf too,” Tony said. “She usually wins.”
Tony said that despite the distance, Dr. Fought has continued to help him stay vigilant about the health of his feet.
“She taught me to pay attention to my foot health. She told me to take a picture if I see anything I’m concerned about and send it to her. She’s helped me to live a normal life. When my brother had a foot issue, I sent him to her.”
He said his positive experience extended to everyone on the wound care teams at Inspira Woodbury and Mullica Hill.
“Andrea [medical assistant Andrea Lex] was great. She cares as much as Dr. Fought. My first operations were at Woodbury and Mullica Hill. Everyone I dealt with at Inspira took care of everything I needed. They were friendly. They even helped lighten the mood.”
Summing up his experience with Dr. Fought, Tony said, “I can honestly say that I love this doctor. She is smart. She’s caring. She’s thoughtful. I would do anything for her. She was the tough love that I needed or I wouldn’t have a foot. I would recommend her to anyone who needs excellent foot care. Now I take everything in stride and I am enjoying life.”
