ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — As a West Orange High School athlete, basketball and food were staples for Djems Narcisse until this past fall.

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“It was our very first team meal, and it was a sandwich and it just got stuck in my throat and I was like, ‘Whoa, I’ve never felt this before,’” he said.

His mother, Jennifer Narcisse, told him to slow down and eat, but it only got worse, and he was rapidly losing weight.

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“It came to a point where I couldn’t even drink water. That’s how bad it got,” Narcisse said.

After an X-ray in the emergency room, they learned Narcisse had achalasia, a rare condition that causes spasms in the esophagus, which keeps food from reaching the stomach.

Dr. Dennis Yang with AdventHealth and an industry leader in interventional endoscopy research saw Narcisse as a candidate for POEM, an innovative endoscopic procedure done through the mouth to reopen the throat, instead of invasive surgery.

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Now, Narcisse is back on the court and at the table.

“I should have said something earlier though. Don’t be afraid to speak out,” he said.

About 80% to 90% of POEM patients have long-term success, according to data.

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