In 2011, Jennifer Yee went from being a happily married woman expecting her first child to an ovarian cancer patient overnight. The elation she felt after years of trying to conceive was suddenly at risk as her world turned upside down. The questions, confusion and fear could have been overwhelming for someone facing two significant, … Read More
Cancer
Rare Cancer Requires Specialized, Caring Team
Jillian Rossello wanted everyone to forget that she had been an ER nurse at Hoag. “Act like I don’t know anything,” she’d tell her doctors and nurses. Because, in the case of her rare form of sarcoma, she really didn’t. At the age of 28, Rossello was diagnosed with dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), a tumor that … Read More
Melanoma Survivor Thankful for Hoag’s New Melanoma & Skin Cancer Program
"World-class health care and very personalized approach, to have that locally at Hoag, it blew me away."
Neuroscience
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
Neuroscience
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.
Cancer
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
Neuroscience
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
Neuroscience
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
Neuroscience
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
Neuroscience
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
