Lung Cancer Survivor Feels Connected to Hoag
“I was impressed with his expertise with robotic surgery,” she said. “I thought, ‘This is good. I can stay right here and be treated at Hoag.’”
Read Mary's StoryA Diabetes Success Story 75 Years in the Making
“It’s never too late to make a life change.”
Read Sharon's StoryPatient Stories
World’s First Dual Chamber Leadless Pacemaker Restores Lifelong Athlete’s Drive
Jerry Kelleher knew that one day he’d need a pacemaker. His cardiologists over the years had warned him as much. But what he couldn’t have known was that when the time came, he’d be excited about it. “I was thrilled to be part of the clinical trial at Hoag,” Kelleher, 71, said of the world’s … Read More
‘I Didn’t Know How Much Pain I Was in Until I Was Out of It”
Sarah Post was able to get through the day. She was on her feet a lot and took frequent flights for work. Yes, her back hurt. But she figured it was sciatica left over from her pregnancy with twin boys that she delivered at Hoag nine years ago. It would flare up from time to … Read More
Gastric Bypass Patient Loses Over 200 Pounds and Regains His Life: ‘I Feel Like I Have a Future’
Chris Hill can slide right onto a rollercoaster. He finds the seats at Angels Stadium downright roomy. He cycles about 23 miles a day on the vintage beach cruisers that he loves to restore. Life is good. “Everything is beautiful,” said Hill, who received bariatric surgery from the experts at Hoag’s Digestive Health Institute at … Read More
Marathoner Regains Ability to Compete After Life-Changing Spine Procedure
When Beth Sanden found Dr. Burak Ozgur, Director for the Hoag Spine Center, she was losing hope. After visiting 5 other doctors, she wasn’t sure anyone would be able to help her back injury. “She went in and had a consultation. I didn’t get to be there, but when she came home, she was radiant,” … Read More
Ophthalmologist Appreciates Spine Surgeon Who Keeps an Eye on Details
Hoag Ophthalmologist Robert Jones, M.D., hadn’t slept well in more than four years. Leg pain and foot cramping kept him awake. He’d also had back pain for decades. But the neurologists and other physicians he had seen over the years didn’t seem to pay attention to the details that troubled Dr. Jones most. In 2018, … Read More
Patient Finds Wound-Healing Relief from Hoag Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The entire “Star Wars” oeuvre (the old stuff and the new stuff). “Andor.” “The Mandalorian.” While undergoing treatment at the Sally & Joseph Warpinski Wound Healing & Hyperbaric Medicine Center, patients are invited to pass the time by watching movies or TV. Jeffrey Diercksmeier devoted his 50 hours of healing to the George Lucas universe … Read More
Heart to Heart: Father and Son Firefighters Grateful to Hoag’s Cardiac Surgery Team
The nurse was impressed. Recuperating from robotic mitral valve repair surgery at Hoag’s Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute, Kenneth Kamp said a nurse performed a bedside echocardiogram on him and commended the repair. No sign of leakage. Something you’d expect in a valve replacement surgery but remarkable in a repair. Incredible job. “I … Read More
After 10 Years with GERD, Patient Says, ‘I Received the Best Results’
Julie Engquist ties her shoes. She sleeps with just one pillow. She walks her dog. If these things don’t sound groundbreaking, you’ve likely never contended with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). But Julie had. For 10 years. “The pain and discomfort were overwhelming,” she said. “There were a few times where I thought I was having … Read More
Grateful Patient Thanks Surgeon for Not Operating
Linda Lifur-Bennett, Ph.D., wants to clarify one thing: She is a patient of Burak Ozgur, M.D., director of the Hoag Spine Center. No, the Newport Beach neurosurgeon did not operate on Dr. Lifur-Bennett. In fact, he did not perform any procedures on the 70-year-old clinical psychologist. Rather, through his compassion and expertise, Dr. Ozgur prevented … Read More
Bariatric Surgery Patient Loses 91 Pounds and Gains New Lease on Life
Tamra Rose says she was overweight most of her adult life. But when her son turned a year and a half, and the scale tipped passed her delivery weight, Tamra had enough. She works at Hoag and had learned from a colleague that the hospital was opening a Bariatric Surgery Weight Loss Program. She had … Read More