Category Archives: patient story

Adventures with Phred: Stem cell transplant resets body’s immune system

Posted on May 1, 2019 by

BY AMBER SMITH Doug Reicher, 65, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia last summer. His treatment at Upstate University Hospital began with intravenous chemotherapy, which meant he would need to be connected to a device on an IV pole that would … Continue reading →

Posted in blood/blood-related conditions/hematology, health care, patient story | Tagged , , ,

Airlifted to Upstate, North Country man undergoes lifesaving heart surgery and beats the odds

Posted on April 29, 2019 by

BY EMILY KULKUS Chris Diaz is no stranger to fear or pain. Diaz, 35, spent four years in the Army, including nearly a year in Iraq from 2009 to 2010. When you’re in the Army, if something hurts, you drink … Continue reading →

Posted in health care, heart/cardiovascular, patient story, surgery | Tagged , , , ,

 How the Upstate pharmacy saved him $20,537.14

Posted on April 26, 2019 by

BY AMBER SMITH He went through a series of imaging tests, looking for an explanation for the pains in his stomach. After all the scans were complete, doctors delivered the news to Reginald Sanford of Syracuse. He had cancer in … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, community, drugs/medications/pharmacy, health care, patient story | Tagged ,

Back on the pitch – after back surgery

Posted on April 22, 2019 by

BY AMBER SMITH For weeks, Kendall Discenza didn’t know what was wrong. The pain in her lower back became crippling, and she was left sobbing.  Surgery brought relief. Discenza underwent a microdiscectomy at Upstate University Hospital. Lawrence Chin, MD, who leads the … Continue reading →

Posted in brain/spine/neurosurgery, health care, patient story, surgery | Tagged ,

Making the most of her rehabilitation: After a stroke, she’s motivated to live a healthier life

Posted on April 17, 2019 by

BY AMBER SMITH Melissa Meloling can walk, if she keeps an eye on her feet, so she doesn’t trip. She learned how to tell time again. She’s relearning how to fix her hair, although assembling a ponytail is still tricky. … Continue reading →

Posted in health care, patient story, physical therapy/rehabilitation, stroke

‘Look Now’: Breast cancer survivors share their stories for artistic project

Posted on March 4, 2019 by

BY SUSAN KEETER Breast cancer led Tula Goenka to re-evaluate her life. “I realized I could use my experience, and my body, to say something about breast cancer. All of us can use our experiences to advocate for others,” she … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, health care, patient story, women's health/gynecology | Tagged , ,

He chose radiation treatment for his prostate cancer

Posted on February 27, 2019 by

BY JIM HOWE Jan Roberts wasn’t sure what to expect when he received radiation treatments for prostate cancer at the Upstate Cancer Center. A disabled Vietnam veteran, he receives primary care at the Syracuse VA Medical Center, where he was … Continue reading →

Posted in cancer, health care, medical imaging/radiology, patient story, technology, urology | Tagged , , , ,

In her own words: Stroke survivor JoAnn Wickman recalls the morning of Feb. 9, 2018

Posted on December 3, 2018 by

“I woke up at 5:20 in the morning. I woke up and thought, ‘What the heck is going on? Something’s not right,’” recalls JoAnn Wickman of Cortland. “I had this weird sensation. It felt like the tip of my tongue … Continue reading →

Posted in emergency medicine/trauma, health care, medical imaging/radiology, patient story, stroke

Getting back on her feet — and deeply humbled during recovery

Posted on November 29, 2018 by

BY JACKIE WARREN-MOORE It was surreal. I remember the dark, almost slow-motion fall. The scream, mine. Then the confusion, pain, red lights, movement and assurances that I would “be fine.” I was in Upstate University Hospital downtown. I had tripped … Continue reading →

Posted in bones/joints/orthopedics, health care, patient story, physical therapy/rehabilitation, surgery