Lung Cancer Survivor Feels Connected to Hoag
“I was impressed with his expertise with robotic surgery,” she said. “I thought, ‘This is good. I can stay right here and be treated at Hoag.’”
Read Mary's StoryA Diabetes Success Story 75 Years in the Making
“It’s never too late to make a life change.”
Read Sharon's StoryPatient Stories
Steven Fink Hadn’t Slept Well in 30 Years
Before he retired, Steven, 65, had been a high-powered salesman and the single father of three boys. When his head hit the pillow at night, instead of drifting off to sleep, he found his mind racing – going over conversations he had had at work, thinking about his kids, planning, reviewing, contemplating. He didn’t feel … Read More
Brain Tumor Survivor is Celebrating Six Years and Counting Thanks To Hoag
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.
A life-saving service: The Hereditary Cancer Program at Hoag
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
Assessing Your Brain Health: It’s a Family Affair
When you first meet Laguna Beach resident, David Johnson (DJ), his upbeat personality and positive attitude is immediately apparent. Equally transparent is his fondness toward his father, Ken. “He is my best friend and a much better tennis player than I will ever be,” says DJ. Ken is an active 83-year old Corona del Mar … Read More
Acting Fast is the Key to Treating Stroke
Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in adults. The good news is, the faster you seek medical treatment, the better your chance of a full recovery. This was the case for Fountain Valley resident Susie Chew. Susie, a 62-year-old computer programmer, returned to work on Monday morning after a week-long vacation. Getting back … Read More
From a Walker to Walking Freely and Without Pain in One Day
From a life of near paralysis to snatching a 230-pound halibut out of Alaskan waters in less than two weeks is a story Darwin Beckel will always tell. “I was suffering severely because of spinal stenosis,” said Darwin, who had undergone unsuccessful back surgery at another hospital in 2010, and decided to contact Dr. Burak … Read More
Pro-Active Patient of Lewy Body Disease Experiencing Success
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
Retired Firefighter Says Dr. Ozgur ‘Does Miracles’
Burak Ozgur, M.D., is the neurosurgeon Ray Macken had been waiting for. For years, Ray, 71, didn’t talk about his back pain. A firefighter in the days when firefighters didn’t have much job security, Ray figured that if he complained about his back, he’d likely get laid off. Once he retired he began seeking help, … Read More
The Only Doctor Kristy Needs
At one point, Kristy Mandigo was seeing 15 different specialists. Then she met David Millett, M.D., Ph.D. Now she’s just seeing one. Born with right sided hemiplegia and spastic cerebral palsy, Kristy Mandigo was never expected to walk normal, talk normal or graduate from elementary school. She didn’t learn how to read (conventionally) until she … Read More
Feeling Like Herself Again
“It was the first day that I was up and functional,” she says. “I finally feel like myself.”