UI Health Patient Stories

Patient Stories

Raquel & Rocky’s Transplant Story: ‘Don’t Worry, Mom. I Got Your Back!’

10/25/2023

When Raquel Ramirez needed a life-saving liver transplant, her daughter, Rocky, did not hesitate to step up. Read More

Living Liver Donation: Brian and Jodey

09/24/2018

Brian Herberer and Jodey Seaman.are lifelong friends, so when Brian needed a liver transplant to save his life, Jodey stepped up to be a living donor. Says Brian: ‘We have our future back.’ Read More

Employees as Patients: Joy Castellanos

01/08/2018

Joy, who works in the College of Medicine, struggled with a thyroid condition for years. Dr. Ari Rubenfeld helped her finally get the answers — and treatment — she needed. Read More

Employees as Patients: Anne Gallagher

12/21/2017

Anne, a longtime labor & delivery nurse, suffered a frightening brain hemorrhage after an ice-skating fall, but she was in good hands at UI Health. ‘Dr. Charbel saved my brain — and saved my life.’ Read More

Employees as Patients: Tanya McCarter

07/27/2017

Tanya, a UI Health nurse, sought out oral and maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Michael Miloro to repair a damaged nerve Read More

UI Health EP Lab Utilizes 3D Mapping for Safer, More Accurate Cardiac Ablation

07/21/2017

Angelica Murillo’s congenital heart condition caused complications during her pregnancy. With cutting-edge technology, her UI Health team was able to treat her issue with no hard to her — or her baby. Read More

Kamia Quinones Lived with Sickle Cell Disease Her Whole Life — Until UI Health Cured It

11/23/2016

Kamia’s brother donated the stem cells that cured her sickle cell disease — and she hasn’t had a pain crisis since. “It’s great to just live life without that worry.” Read More

Ear Nose and Throat - Throat Issues Kept Him from Eating and Drinking

11/22/2016

Pete Carrara’s Throat Issues Kept Him from Eating and Drinking. Read More

Patient Receives Vision-Restoring Implant

11/15/2016

Robert Selby, a legally blind man, has retinitis pigmentosa blindness with the help of an artificial retina, Argus II, hopes to be able to get around more independently and safely. Read More

Chicago comedian Vinnie Hickey was diagnosed with aggressive leukemia, but he never stopped smiling.

08/24/2016

The force behind his recovery? His friends at UI Health and an unstoppable wit. Read More

Karen Koszut thought she had a terrible headache. It was a brain aneurysm

05/10/2016

“My husband went downstairs to get me an aspirin. When he came back upstairs, I told him to dial 911 or take me to the hospital. I felt like I was detaching from myself.” Read More

Todd Shelton didn’t realize he had suffered a ruptured aneurysm

05/10/2016

“I had no presenting conditions. They asked me if I was diabetic, if I had a heart condition — a whole laundry list. Was I on drugs or drunk? But there was nothing that would make a healthy middle-aged man fall down.” Read More

Maria Micheletto was experiencing paralyzing pain in her head, so she called called 911

05/10/2016

She was taken to UI Health and diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage and brain aneurysm. Read More

Yvette Kennedy thought her headaches were normal — until she was diagnosed with an aneurysm

05/10/2016

The procedure I had at UI Health saved my life — in more ways than one. The life I had before aneurysm and the life I have now is very different. I spend more time with my family than ever before. I rest. I learned the hard way that stress can kill you. My aneurysm was the “reset” button. Read More

Alana Subleski was 25 when she suffered a ruptured aneurysm while working at the gym

05/10/2016

Her parents were out of town and were told they may not make it home in time to see their daughter alive again. Read More

Laura Lora was impressed with the compassionate care she received as a stroke patient at UI Health

04/29/2016

My neurologist, Dr. Fernando Testai is awesome. Read More

Marshelle Samuels is a two-time stroke survivor, looking forward to a life of renewal

04/29/2016

The positive atmosphere at UI Health led Marshelle to an awakening that with time and patience she would get better Read More

Jason McClellan was a healthy college basketball player, until he suffered from a stroke — twice.

04/29/2016

Thanks to the fast action of the stroke team at UI Health, Jason is now fully recovered and has a new medical plan to remain stroke-free. Read More

When a second diagnosis revealed that Felicia’s cancer was more aggressive than originally thought, she turned to UI Health for trusted care.

04/05/2016

My mom passed away in 1999 after having breast cancer for five years. The medical staff at UI Health kept telling me, ‘This is not the same journey. Read More

Christine Adley knows the importance of self breast exams and early detection.

04/05/2016

Thanks to her diligence and the experts at UI Health, she’s receiving treatment for breast cancer that might have gone undiagnosed. Read More

Robotic Surgery - Personal Trainer Brian Schoenborn

10/12/2015

Only a handful of surgeons can perform the procedure that saved his life and helped get Brian back to his passion. Read More

His Doctors’ Dream Gave Julius Means Something To Sing About.

10/07/2015

Their dream of a stem cell transplant for people with sickle cell is my reality. - Julius Means Read More

Marguerita hoped her own weight-loss surgery would inspire her sister to address a life-long struggle with obesity – and maybe save her life.

10/02/2015

Patients who have Laparoscopic adjustable gastric band weight-loss surgery often go home the day of the procedure. Read More

A Touchdown for Health

10/01/2015

Overcame acute lymphoblastic leukemia with the help of clinicians. Read More

Michele Is Too Busy To Let Breast Cancer Sideline Her For Long

09/30/2015

My doctors at University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System discovered cancer on my right breast and saw things in my left breast that didn't look right. Read More

Best Care & Beyond

09/10/2015

Transferred to UI Health department of obstetrics and gynecology that specializes in high-risk obstetrics after ultrasound determined that my son had hydrocephalus. Read More

Rocio Prieto's Severe Asthma and Allergies Impacted Her Career, Her Relationships, Even Her Fashion Choices

09/08/2015

Good candidate for allergy treatment for sever asthma and allergies. Read More

Brothers Bond A Community

09/05/2015

Having to watch two sons battle two different cancers? Read More

Surprises and Blessings

09/01/2015

Their baby had a rare genetic condition called Apert syndrome that causes the joints of the skull, hands and feet to fuse together. Read More

Collaborative Care to the Rescue

08/01/2015

Children's Hospital University of Illinois, led by Dr. Schmidt, has now treated more than a dozen babies with very significant hemanglomas Read More

Katie says her weight-loss surgery has changed more than just her size

07/01/2015

After a lifetime of being overweight, the University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System’s skilled medical team and innovative and sleeve gastrectomy procedure gave a young mother improved health and improved her life. Read More