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- Memorial Experience Letters
Real People. Real Stories. The Memorial Experience.
Memorial's remarkable healthcare team is dedicated to delivering extraordinary patient- and family-centered care. This lifts us up above other healthcare providers. This is The Memorial Experience.
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Aimee
Aimee's instincts led her to seek answers at Memorial Breast Cancer Center where she requested a mammogram with an ultrasound. "I knew in my heart, something was wrong," says Aimee. "Thankfully, my Memorial doctors listened."
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Alex
Alex doesn't remember anything about his trip to Memorial Regional Hospital's Trauma Center that night in March 2007. But he knows that when he got there, he was essentially dead on arrival.
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Katie
Born with a congenital heart defect, Katie underwent her first open heart surgery as a toddler. In her 20s, another heart defect led to a second surgery — and a career at the Cardiac Center at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital at Memorial.
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Anniel
Diagnosed with end-stage peripheral vascular disease, 84-year-old Anniel also found herself dealing with blistered feet that would not heal. The family turned to Memorial Hospital Pembroke Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine and found the support and relief they needed.
Read Anniel's Story -
Valerie
While caring for an elderly woman, Valerie herself suffered a fall. Initially, she was not concerned, but the pain increased and gradually became excruciating. When anti-inflammatory pills and pain medication brought no relief, Valerie had spine surgery at Memorial Neuroscience Center. Now she's pain-free.
Read Valerie's Story -
Adrian
After surgeons at Memorial Regional Hospital reattached one of Adrian's fingers severed in an accident, he faced a challenging recovery. Memorial Hospital Pembroke Center for Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Medicine provided the advanced treatment he needed.
Read Adrian's Story -
Tobin
After collapsing at the dinner table, Tobin was unresponsive and on life support when he arrived at the Memorial Regional Hospital Emergency Department. Doctors cooled his body to preserve his brain cells while treating him. And that's just the beginning of Tobin's story.
Read Tobin's Story -
Michele & Sandy
Shortly after her 32nd birthday, Michele discovered a lump on her breast. Nine years later, so did her mother, Sandy. Today, they share a story of strength and survival – thanks to Memorial.
Read Michele and Sandy's Story -
John
An avid cyclist and photographer, John was used to intense physical activity and the associated aches and pains. But as the pain in his legs became severe and unrelenting, he sought relief at Memorial Neuroscience Center.
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Ted
Anxious and frightened over the possibility of open heart surgery, Ted was relieved to have his fears put to ease after meeting his Memorial surgeon.
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Peggy
Nagging hip pain forced Peggy to quit her job. Now, thanks to the staff at Memorial Hospital West, she's feeling better than she has in years – and she's off pain medications.
Read Peggy's Story -
David
Crippling hip pain almost made David quit his job as a chef. Following a hip arthroscopy procedure at Memorial Hospital West, David is pain-free and back in the kitchen.
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Jeanne
Jeanne was 37 years old and feeling healthy when she discovered a lump during a breast self-exam. After a mammogram, the words of her physician were shocking – Jeanne had stage III breast cancer. While searching South Florida for the region's top oncologist, a friend referred her to Memorial Healthcare System.
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Ann
Ann was shocked when routine blood work revealed multiple myeloma. Fortunately, she found Memorial Cancer Institute, South Florida's only outpatient bone marrow transplant program.
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Frank
An otherwise healthy 31-year-old's acute diverticulitlis was landing him in the hospital for days at a time. At the Robotic Institute of South Florida, he found the solution that helped restore his quality of life.
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Robert
Overcome by abdominal pain, Robert was taken by ambulance to Memorial Regional Hospital. Diagnostic tests revealed not only acute appendicitis, but kidney cancer. Robert found help in the healing robotic hands at the Robotic Institute of South Florida at Memorial Hospital Pembroke.
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Kim
"With the Memorial team on my side, there was not a doubt in my mind I would have a full recovery," says Kim, a breast cancer survivor from Hollywood. Learn how Memorial's leading-edge care and wide-ranging support services enable patients like her to thrive.
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Anselm
Following a biopsy, Anselm learned he had prostate cancer. Fortunately Memorial Cancer Institute's new RapidArc™ provided quick, precise treatments with few side effects.
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Lillian
Diagnosed with stage III uterine cancer, Lillian, 82, needed surgery and aggressive treatment to survive. Her search for the top treatment facility in the country led to Memorial Cancer Institute at Memorial Regional Hospital – right in Lillian's hometown of Hollywood.
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Jennifer
Rushed by ambulance to Memorial Regional Hospital, 27-year-old Jennifer had suffered a broken neck, internal injuries and bleeding and swelling in her brain. Her condition was life-threatening.
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Martha
Diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer, 72-year-old Martha was stunned by the news. And just as shocked to hear Dr. Raja Mudad at Memorial Cancer Institute say he believed they could overcome it together. He was right.
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Michael
At 6 feet tall and 600 pounds, Michael is a big name in ultracompetitive professional wrestling. And "Maximum Capacity," as he is known to his fans, is also no stranger to injury and pain.
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Judith
Diagnosed with stage II breast cancer, Judith brought the same focus and determination to dealing with cancer that she brings to her career as a lawyer. Referred by her physician to the Memorial Breast Cancer Centers, Judith prepared for what was ahead.
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Bryant
Bryant could hear the whistles blowing as he walked by the gymnasium, but a congenital foot condition kept him from joining his classmates on the basketball court. Today, thanks to surgery and a highly individualized rehabilitation program, young Bryant is back in action.
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Trish
When Trish was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer at the age of 37, she sought a second opinion from Alejandra Perez, MD.
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Diego
Diagnosed with a rare form of germ cell cancer, Diego didn't know where to turn for help. After searching the Internet and contacting several area cancer centers, the 27-year-old man found the hope and treatment he needed at Memorial Cancer Institute.
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Louise
Louise is an 86-year-old Hollywood woman with a serious bone marrow disease. Because of Memorial Cancer Institute's array of medical services, she has access to "wonderful care" close to her home and family.
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Samir
A young college student living in Orlando, 25-year-old Samir enjoyed partying and hanging out with his friends. At a party for a friend leaving for military duty, Samir made a tragic mistake that nearly cost him his life.
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Dawn & Dylan
Dawn took her 5-year-old son straight to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital for an apparent attack of appendicitis. But after carrying Dylan into the ER, she suddenly fainted. By the time her husband, Shawn, arrived, he found Memorial Regional Hospital's adult ER team working hard to save Dawn's life.
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Joanie
A young stroke patient in her 40s finds the determination and strength to get her life back at the Rehabilitation Institute of South Florida at Memorial Regional Hospital South.
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Nancy
Nancy knew something was wrong, but uterine cancer took her by surprise. After a quick recovery, thanks to minimally invasive high-tech robotic surgery at Memorial, the 70-year-old dynamo is cancer-free and going strong.
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William
William had always enjoyed good health. He was rarely ill and didn't even have a doctor. Then pain in his abdomen and back sent him looking for medical help.
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Monica
Registered Nurse and Clinical Resource Manager
Monica uses her professional expertise and compassionate nature to help enhance patients' care and safety – even after they leave the hospital.
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Maria
Registered Nurse and Clinical Manager
Maria understands how overwhelming cancer diagnosis and treatment can be for patients and families. As a clinical manager and certified oncology nurse, she's devoted to helping those in her care.
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Victoria
One night, 81-year-old Victoria awoke unable to breathe and Richard made an urgent 911 call for help. As the ambulance rushed through the streets of Hollywood, Victoria's heart stopped, and at Memorial Regional Hospital she was placed on life support.
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Louis
Two years ago, a near-fatal fall fractured Louis' neck. At Memorial Hospital Pembroke, he began a circuitous and life-affirming healthcare journey. Now 84, he's a true believer in Memorial's remarkable brand of patient- and family-centered care.
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Phillip
It was a fun day at the beach for a group of high school buddies – until a miscalculated dive left Phillip helplessly bobbing in the water. He arrived at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood paralyzed from the neck down.
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Joni
At just 51 years old, Joni was told she had six months to live. Unwilling to give up, she turned to the highly skilled doctors at Memorial Cancer Institute for a second opinion.
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Tron
Once active and athletic, the high school social studies teacher found himself making frequent trips to emergency rooms. Finally, his search for help led to the Cardiac and Vascular Institute at Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood.
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Danielle
Just eight weeks after giving birth, Danielle experienced a life-threatening heart condition. By the time Danielle arrived at the Memorial Hospital Pembroke ER, her heart was hammering at a very dangerous 270 beats per minute – and she was blacking out.
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Jeffry
Jeffry moved to South Florida to be close to his five grandchildren, but ongoing chest pain made him fear his time with them would be cut short.
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Mario
Mario started smoking cigarettes at the age of 12. He was just a kid – carefree and invincible – and he never gave lung cancer a thought.
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Maury
Broward Sheriff's Office Detective
When Detective Maury Hernandez made a traffic stop on a hot South Florida day, his worst nightmare became a chilling reality.
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Nekita
Memorial Caregiver
The emergency department at Memorial Hospital Miramar was already busy when a new patient entered. With just a glance, Nekita knew something was seriously wrong.
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Raphael
When Raphael told his family he had multiple myeloma, the news was devastating. They turned to Memorial Cancer Institute at Memorial Hospital West – the only hospital in Broward and Palm Beach counties offering lifesaving bone marrow transplant treatment.
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Ken
It never occurred to Ken that the numbness and tingling he felt in his toes might be caused by something serious. But when Ken's symptoms progressed, he made an appointment to see his physician.
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Cleveland
Overweight and leading an unhealthy lifestyle, 48-year-old Cleveland faced the terrible trio: high blood pressure, high cholesterol and high blood sugar.
