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Blog

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November 15, 2016

PATIENT STORY: Clival Chordoma

by Amy Eisenberg

As I approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am eternally grateful for Dr. Daniel Kelly, Dr. Garni Barkhoudarian, Dr. Chester Griffiths and their entire team. Because of these brilliant doctors and the staff at Saint Johns Health Center (now Providence), I am alive, healthy, strong and...

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November 9, 2016

The Hidden Plight of Family Caregivers

by Marlon Saria

If this is the first time you are hearing that November is National Family Caregivers Month, you are not alone. Many Americans, including professional healthcare providers, are not aware that there is a month designated to promoting national recognition of family caregivers. President Clinton signed...

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November 3, 2016

When a Stroke Survivor Becomes a Leader

by Zara Jethani

Pacific Stroke & Aneurysm Center’s patient support group leader Dana Rivera, tells her story from devastation to success. In the summer of 2009 at the age of 44, Dana’s life changed forever. An active, full time mother and wife, Dana Rivera suddenly experienced startling symptoms....

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September 22, 2016

Cushing’s Disease: What Happens When Your Whole Life Changes?

by Sharmyn McGraw

As I walked into my favorite health food market I noticed Laurie, one of my closest girlfriends, hurrying to catch up with me. Laurie took one look at me and gasped. My heart sank and tears welled up in my eyes. The expression on her...

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September 16, 2016

Traveling the Extra Mile: International Patient Stories (Part 2 of 2)

by Daniel F. Kelly

We welcome patients from around the globe and invite you to contact us. Here are a few of our patients who tell their stories. Information for International Patients Juan from Chile – Pituitary Adenoma:  Finding the diagnosis was the hardest part. It took me a year;...

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September 7, 2016

Acromegaly 101: Pituitary Patient Perspectives (Part 2 of 2)

by Sharmyn McGraw

As a patient advocate I work with many pituitary patient advocate organizations around the world.  Since my own pituitary surgery with Dr. Daniel Kelly over 16 years ago my passion has grown stronger. I’m still seeing too many patients showing acromegaly symptoms going far too long...

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June 15, 2016

PATIENT STORY: Endocrine-Inactive Pituitary Macroadenoma

by Amy Eisenberg

All In A Day’s Work In July 2015, Brent B. noticed that he was losing his peripheral vision and made an appointment with an ophthalmologist. After a battery of tests, his doctor determined that he should see a neuro-ophthalmologist. He found that Brent had damage to a portion of his optic nerve and an MRI...

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May 11, 2016

PATIENT STORY: Many Options to Treat CNS Lymphoma

by Zara Jethani

It was Winston Churchill who famously said, “Never give in—never, never never.” He could have been describing Rudolf Metzger and his Providence Saint John’s Health Center physician Santosh Kesari, MD, PhD. Metzger has confronted numerous obstacles over his 70 years. As a young immigrant from Austria,...

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March 16, 2016

PATIENT STORY: Seeing Clearly After Pituitary Adenoma Surgery

by Sharmyn McGraw

There is a pea-sized structure at the base of the brain called the pituitary gland. It doesn’t look like much and it could be easy to overlook, but don’t underestimate the power of the pituitary gland. Small, yet mighty, this “master endocrine gland” is part of the...

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February 15, 2016

Adapting to a Chronic Condition

by Sharmyn McGraw

by Guest Writer Dr. Patti Johnson It takes Two – You and Your Support Team A chronic condition is one that persists over time without an easily definable beginning, middle and end. After being diagnosed with a chronic condition, such as some types of brain...

Last updated: November 13th, 2019