Routine test leads Palm Coast man to lifesaving robotic surgery

What started as a routine at-home screening turned into a life-changing experience for Doug Fritz of Palm Coast, one that reminded him of the power of modern medicine and the compassion behind it.

“I wasn’t feeling well for a while,” Fritz said. “I finally did the Cologuard test, and the results weren’t good. I really didn’t want to do anything, but my wife, Erica, convinced me to go see Dr. Ali.”

That decision led Fritz to Dr. Abubaker Ali, a general surgeon at AdventHealth Palm Coast, whose skill and calm approach helped turn uncertainty into trust. After reviewing test results and a series of scans, Ali determined that Fritz had a serious colon condition that required surgery.

“It was much worse than I thought,” Fritz said. “I had an abscess and had to go on a liquid diet for a week. After another scan showed no improvement, Dr. Ali told me surgery was the best option.”

For Fritz, who had never undergone surgery before, the thought was daunting. “I was scared, even about being put under,” he said. “But Dr. Ali was great. He explained everything and I trusted him.”

Ali, who trained internationally in robotic and minimally invasive surgery, performed the robotic-assisted procedure at AdventHealth Palm Coast. Thanks to the precision of the robotic system, the surgery required only small incisions, allowing Fritz to go home later that day and recover more quickly.

“Robotic surgery allows us to perform complex procedures with remarkable precision,” Ali said. “For patients like Doug, that means smaller incisions, less pain, and a faster return to normal life.”

That experience didn’t just make a difference for Fritz — it also resonated deeply with his wife, Erica, who works at AdventHealth. Seeing her husband experience the same compassion she sees every day at work brought the organization’s mission to life in a new way.

“Whenever we receive our heart badges, you write the name of a person who inspires you to treat every patient like them,” she said. “I put Doug’s name on mine years ago. To see him receive such excellent care really made me proud to be part of this organization.”

Fritz’s recovery spanned the holiday season, but within a few months, he was back to feeling stronger than ever.

“I didn’t realize how bad I felt until after the surgery,” he said. “Now, I feel healthy, energetic and grateful.”

Before his operation, Fritz often struggled to get through his workdays running a local ride service that takes passengers to and from airports across North Florida.

“I’d have stomach pain and break out in cold sweats,” he said. “Now, I feel great. I can do my job and enjoy life again.”

AdventHealth Palm Coast’s robotic surgery program continues to expand, with multiple robotic systems — including the da Vinci Xi and MAKO robotic-arm technology — now available at both AdventHealth Palm Coast and AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway

The program is part of AdventHealth’s broader investment in innovation, ensuring patients in Flagler County have access to advanced surgical options close to home. By combining precision technology with whole-person care, surgeons like Ali are helping more patients heal safely, comfortably, and with fewer disruptions to their lives.

“Innovation only matters if it improves someone’s life,” Ali said. “That’s what robotic surgery does — it helps us care for people in ways that make healing faster, safer, and more human.”

Today, Fritz says he’s simply grateful — for his health, his doctors, and the team that helped him feel whole again.

“I can do my job, spend time with my wife, and not worry,” he said. “That’s a blessing.”