Final four brings basketball coach, former patient back to thank hospital care team

San Antonio, Texas — Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan welcomed Elon University Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach Greg Herenda to its facility today for a special visit during the NCAA Final Four. The visit marked a significant return to a city that holds deep personal meaning for him. In 2018, during the Final Four hosted in San Antonio, Herenda experienced a medical emergency that led to life-saving care at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan.

After spending 15 days in the hospital, including eight days in the intensive care unit, Herenda – then head coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University – made a remarkable recovery. The following year, in 2019, his team made history by winning its first-ever NCAA Tournament game, a feat he in part attributes to the support he received during his hospitalization.

"It is extremely difficult to put into words how much appreciation I have for all of the great people that were there for me," said Herenda. "The care, love and support that I received was the driving force for my recovery. I know one thing - if it weren't for the people at Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, I would never have been able to get back to the NCAA in 2019. They, along with my players, were my driving force."

Herenda visited the hospital to express his gratitude and reconnect with some of the healthcare professionals who played a crucial role in his recovery. 

Greg Seiler, CEO of Methodist Hospital | Metropolitan, expressed his gratitude for Herenda's visit. "Our mission of 'serving humanity to honor God' is at the heart of everything we do. It is so meaningful to all of us that a former patient from seven years ago experienced that mission firsthand and came back to express his gratitude for our healthcare heroes. It is truly an honor for us all, and a testament to the incredible work our team does each and every day."