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Category: Patient Stories

A car accident saved my life

Had it not been for an automobile accident five years ago, 81-year-old Ann Draper may not have known she had pancreatic cancer before it was too late. “It was a miracle,” Ann said. “My car was thrown into someone’s backyard from the impact of the crash and the air bag hit me hard!” A visit […]
A car accident saved my life

Annual Exams Critically Important

When 69-year-old Mark McNally of Palatine went for his annual exam his primary care physician, Arthur Hong, MD, noted there were no prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test results in his file. PSA is something made by the prostate gland — high PSA levels, determined through a simple blood test, may be a sign of prostate cancer, […]
Annual Exams Critically Important

Annual Exams and Preventive Screenings Save Lives

Beth, a suburban mother of three in her fifties, is thankful that she did not let concerns about COVID-19 stop her from getting an annual exam. That exam ultimately led to a stage 1a breast cancer diagnosis, a lumpectomy to remove a tumor and lymph nodes, and radiation treatment. Because of her family history of […]
Annual Exams and Preventive Screenings Save Lives

Enjoying life’s simple pleasures, pain-free

After two knee replacements in less than two years, Pam Garceau shares her experience with both traditional and robotic procedures. When the little things you enjoy become difficult or impossible to do without pain, it’s time to find a solution. Sometimes – like in the case of Wheeling resident Pam Garceau – the solution includes […]
Enjoying life’s simple pleasures, pain-free

Life back to normal

For nearly three years, Rose Agriel, 42, of Chicago, was deprived of a full night’s sleep, waking up 4-6 times a night to use the bathroom. She woke up wet after most nights and regularly experienced urinary leakage throughout the daytime from coughing, sneezing, laughing and exercising. “I thought I had a kidney or bladder […]
Life back to normal

Colonoscopies are worth the inconvenience

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Health experts say this type of cancer is highly preventable, but becomes less easily treatable the later it is detected.

Colonoscopies are worth the inconvenience

How far would you travel for the best care? You don’t have to!

When retired reference librarian Kevin Lause of Gibsonburg, Ohio was diagnosed with stage III pancreatic cancer, he was determined to find the best surgeon to perform his Whipple procedure, a specialized procedure that treats cancer of the pancreas while preserving the entire stomach. He read about Malcolm Bilimoria, M.D., a pancreas and liver surgeon at Northwest Community Healthcare and decided to seek consultation with him.
How far would you travel for the best care? You don’t have to!

Breathe easier — advanced lung cancer screening and care are close to home

Mount Prospect resident Mary Jo Thelander has depended on NCH medical staff for her healthcare needs for more than 25 years. Her most serious need was in 2016. A CT scan of her lungs showed what appeared to be lung cancer. She shared with us her experience of surgery and healing.
Breathe easier — advanced lung cancer screening and care are close to home

A different kind of hip replacement

It was approximately three years ago when Wheeling resident Celia Johnson started experiencing what she considered an “annoying discomfort” in her right hip. “It wasn’t long until it progressed into consistent pain and limited range of motion,” Johnson describes. “As the pain increased I walked with a pronounced limp.”

In November 2019, Johnson finally received an official diagnosis ― osteoarthritis of the hip. And she finally decided it was time to do something about her pain.
A different kind of hip replacement

No ‘butts’ about it, this test is crucial

A colonoscopy is the most reliable way to prevent and detect colon cancer. Polyps are found in at least 25 percent of men and women over the age of 50 through colonoscopies. As most colon cancer begins as precancerous polyps (called adenomas), detecting and removing these polyps are key to preventing cancer. Learn about one patient’s experience having this procedure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No ‘butts’ about it, this test is crucial

Sooner, rather than later

Most people do not look forward to medical procedures, but Diane was disappointed when the State ordered hospitals to cancel all elective procedures during COVID-19 and, as a result, her surgery was postponed. “I was looking forward to having it done,” she says. When NCH could resume procedures on June 4, Diane was one of the first to schedule the surgery she missed.
Sooner, rather than later

Patricia’s Story

When 48-year-old Buffalo Grove resident Patricia Krug was a teenager, she was in a car accident and unknowingly tore her right anterior cruciate ligament (ALC). Over the years, Patricia developed progressive arthritis and deformity in her knee. In 2013, Thomas Kim, M.D. scoped Patricia’s knee to clean up some meniscus tears followed by lubricating injections […]
Patricia’s Story

Mark’s Story

Dr. Mark Jacquot is a recently retired optometrist living in St. Charles. Ever since his high school days, Mark has led a very active lifestyle. About 20 years ago, his knee pain started and kept increasing over time. He tried a number of different treatments, but they all just provided temporary relief. Then in 2019, […]
Mark’s Story

Jose’s journey

Jose was diagnosed with an acute stroke in March. His recovery included occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech therapy over nearly five weeks, during which he benefited from the newest technologies and caring practitioners.
Jose’s journey

Precision medicine allows breast cancer patient to skip chemo

Some women don’t ever expect or think about getting breast cancer. Elaine Florczak’s best friend had it, so it was on her radar.
Precision medicine allows breast cancer patient to skip chemo

Patient thanks expert prostate cancer team at NCH

“When you first hear the diagnosis of ‘cancer,’ it shakes you down to your boots,” Keith Brunelli, 62, of Arlington Heights describes. “Then you start reading and learning about it and you just want to do whatever you need to do to get rid of it.”
Patient thanks expert prostate cancer team at NCH

Advanced prostate cancer technology and treatment close to home eases patient’s mind

As Owner/Operator of Efficient Cleaning Company, Dale Anderson was always near a bathroom. But it got very inconvenient having to constantly use it instead of clean it.

Minimally invasive TAVR procedure repairs patient’s heart valve

Ed Pufunt first experienced heart trouble in 2006 when doctors at another healthcare system said he needed emergency quintuple bypass surgery. The 85-year-old recalls spending five days in the hospital and another two months at home recovering.
Minimally invasive TAVR procedure repairs patient’s heart valve

Gastric bypass patient says goodbye to old habits, extra pounds and insulin

For most of her life, Vicki Mesa of Mount Prospect struggled with her weight. But after undergoing gastric bypass surgery with Benjamin Veenstra, M.D. and participating in the Comprehensive Weight Management Program under the direction of  Monika Cohen, M.D., she’s now learning the difference between head hunger and real hunger, as well as what it means to live a healthy life.

One young man’s journey to sobriety

“Jack” tells the story of his addiction to drugs and alcohol and how the Linden Oaks at NCH Addictions Residential Program helped him get clean and stay clean.

Story of survival: NCH saves teen’s life, thanks to Flight For Life

A teen gets airlifted to NCH for critical care following a terrifying car accident. Years later, NCH is receiving an award for its helicopter crash simulation through a partnership with Flight For Life.

Seeing red? It could be colorectal cancer, no matter your age

Among a younger set of patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer, Joseph House, 44, thought his rectal bleeding was due to hemorrhoids. 

‘Why did I wait to get a colonoscopy?’

Terri Moore received a rectal cancer diagnosis and thought she was going to die. Following surgery and chemotherapy, she's now cancer free and wants to tell others about the importance of getting a routine colonoscopy to detect cancer early.

Patient says he almost fell asleep during relaxing radiation treatment

Far from frightening, the Halcyon system, used for delivering radiation therapy at Northwest Community Healthcare (NCH), is comfortable, quick and quiet, according to patient Joe Nitti, a 59-year-old salesman who completed 25 treatments.

One overnight hospital stay relieves heart issue for retiree

Barry Carlson spent six decades of his life without any hint of heart trouble. But stress played a role in heart symptoms that surfaced around the time of his daughter’s wedding three and a half years ago. At that same time, he was nearing the end of a high-pressure sales job where he spent more than three decades.

Putting the kibosh on GERD: Learn how Scott Stordahl was able to stop taking PPI meds

Scott Stordahl couldn’t remember a time when he didn’t struggle with heartburn. After undergoing the TIF procedure at NCH, the northwest suburban man is thankful those days are in the past.

GERD gone, thanks to TIF procedure

Usually heartburn is the key symptom of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), a common digestive disorder that results in acid reflux and affects about 30 percent of Americans. But Nancy L., a 63-year-old retired Barrington resident started out with a strange symptom. She kept losing her voice.

‘No-no’ foods for GERD patient are now a ‘yes, yes’

When Jakub Koziuk thinks back to his worst gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) moments, he recalls how horrible bananas were to digest, and how often he’d regurgitate his food back up and have to swallow it down again.

Fast-acting ED staff helps boy with coffee burn

“I was sleeping in and my husband Jon was in his office drinking coffee,” reflects Tanya, the mother of 3-year-old Alec. “Alec was sitting on Jon’s lap. Jon said, ‘Daddy needs more coffee.’” That’s all it took for the helpful young child to take off running toward the kitchen where he promptly pulled down a heavy, glass carafe filled with hot coffee.

Behavioral health patient celebrates 14 months of sobriety

Jon P. was raised in an affluent suburb of Detroit with loving parents and siblings. He played sports and did well in school, but in his teens he started taking pharmaceuticals, including opioids.
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