Patient and Family Life-changing Stories

At Brigham and Women's Hospital, we are dedicated to delivering life-giving breakthroughs. Patients, family members and caregivers share their life-changing stories through illness, diagnosis, treatment, and recovery—and their hopes for the future of medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Brigham and Women's Faulkner Hospital.

The Rau Family

Lissy and Evan Rau always wanted a family, and embarked on a fertility journey, that took them from IVF to the NICU, and ultimately to a healthy daughter.

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Rick

Thanks to BWH's innovative approach to improving knee replacements, Rick was not only pain-free within days after surgery, but walking and biking within weeks.

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Chuck

Less than one year after his bariatric surgery procedure, Chuck Uglietta's cholesterol and blood pressure levels were optimal, his sleep apnea and diabetes were cured, and he weighed 261 pounds – less than half of his peak weight.

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Toshiko

Proving that organ transplant surgery has no age limits – At age 80, Toshiko received a kidney transplant. More than two years later, she continues to make good use of her gift.

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Tommy

Less than one year after receiving a heart transplant at Brigham and Women’s, Tommy used that heart to compete in the 7.2 mile Falmouth Road Race on Cape Cod.

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Brianna

After doctors at four hospitals couldn't remove a tumor from her trachea and gave her just one year to live, Brianna came to BWH, where a team developed a first-of-its-kind procedure to grow a trachea from the cells in her abdomen.

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Eileen and Claire

Eileen’s daughter Claire was born three months early, weighing just two pounds. Two months later, Eileen suffered a heart problem requiring cardiac surgery. Eileen and Claire both recovered well and are enjoying life.

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Jim Maki

Jim Maki suffered an injury so devastating that the surgeon who treated him in the BWH emergency room, Bohdan Pomahac, MD, said that he had never seen such significant facial burn damage in his entire career.

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Heather and Stephen

Heather and Stephen were a happy young couple expecting the birth of their third daughter. The pregnancy had its normal ups and downs, but nothing unusual until one day Heather began to experience increasing pain.

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Joanna and Dreux

When Joanna and Dreux experienced infertility challenges, they turned to BWH. In addition to comprehensive fertility options, Joanna also received stress management and social support, and gave birth to son Luke.

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Brad

When Brad's heart began to fail, he and his wife Mandra – both in their 30s – suddenly found their lives on hold. That was until he had life-saving heart transplantation.

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Terry

Terry had been living with advanced heart disease. When his heart began to fail, he and his wife Gail were faced with one state-of-the-art option – a mechanical heart.

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Courtney and Muriel

An athlete all of her young life, Courtney began experiencing neck and joint pain that soon made it difficult to walk. With her mother Muriel's support, Courtney received advanced care to address two very different conditions.

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The Schoultz Family

Veronica and Deandre Schoultz moved to the Boston area when Deandre was newly stationed at Hanscom Air Force Base. Shortly afterward, they began their journey to grow their family, ultimately welcoming twins early after a 28-week pregnancy.

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