Family

Ken Darby was in pain. His aortic valve had grown so calcified, his cardiologist likened it to porcelain. He couldn’t walk up hills without getting winded, he was tired all the time, and a trip he and his wife, Annette, had planned to France had to be put on hold. He needed surgery. Darby had … Read More

For about a year, Huntington Beach resident Janis Kirkpatrick, was experiencing irregular bleeding, so she decide to speak with a physician about it. She was referred to Jonathan Wheeler, M.D., a Hoag-affiliated Obstetrician/Gynecologist who discovered that Janis had been through menopause, and that the spotting she was experiencing was post-menopausal. “I didn’t even realize I … Read More

Robotic surgery is also utilized in the fight against cancer – as was the case for Gloria Medlin, a devoted mother, grandmother and energetic Irvine resident. During her annual well-woman check-up, Gloria discussed with her physician that she had been having post-menopausal spotting. She was referred to a gynecologist who performed a biopsy, which determined … Read More

​When cancer strikes “below the belt,” the results can be devastating to a couple. In addition to standard fears that accompany a diagnosis of the “Big C,” reproductive cancers carry the potential for sexual dysfunction and loss of intimacy. The Pinterpes of Huntington Beach faced those fears. Twice. Sam Pinterpe, 69, was diagnosed with prostate … Read More

​​In 2011, Jennifer Yee went from being a happily married woman expecting her first child to an ovarian cancer patient overnight. The elation she felt after years of trying to conceive was suddenly at risk as her world turned upside down. The questions, confusion and fear could have been overwhelming for someone facing two significant, … Read More

For Lindsay Susskind, life is good. Wearing a bright sundress and a sunny smile, Lindsay’s excitement towards life shows as she talks about her recent engagement.

​Many people worry about hereditary cancer, especially if they have a close family member who has had cancer. Although most cancers are not hereditary, in some families a predisposition to cancer is passed down from one generation to the next, with about one in 10 cancer patients having hereditary cancer. It is also important to … Read More

Steve Heins tried to cover up his symptoms of Lewy Body Disease, but his Eagle Scout son, Robert, was not about to let his father lose his mind. Steve’s wife, Gincy, will never forget the day – her birthday, Oct. 11, 2009 – when 12-year-old Robert came home and revealed to his mother that dad … Read More

Cathy Nishimoto has been a long time patient of Obstetrician/Gynecologist Jonathan Wheeler, M.D. “He is one of the best there is in his field and at what he does,” shares Cathy. “He is detail-oriented, extremely thorough and takes into account the big picture. He always has time for questions and shows appropriate concern for his … Read More

​Robotic surgery has had a significant impact on many patients’ lives, including Michelle Hetzel, a 43-year-old Long Beach resident. For almost a year, Michelle was experiencing a consistent, sharp pain in her abdomen, as well as the feeling of being very bloated, making her everyday activities challenging and uncomfortable. She underwent multiple tests, yet the … Read More