Patient Spotlight

November 1, 2024

‘Ava got a heart’: the best news a family could share about the baby approaching her first birthday

The phone call that brought her father to his knees

By Jessica Pasley
October 22, 2024

Commodore spirit proves too much for superfan’s blood vessels

While most sports injuries happen on the field, one Vanderbilt football fan managed to score one in his own home the night Vanderbilt beat Alabama.

By Holly Fletcher
October 7, 2024

Skydiving, bungee jumping, deer hunting and the World Transplant Games: 13 years after getting her new kidney, Sheila Spann keeps living life to the fullest

All that’s in addition to her day jobs as a pharmacist and diabetes educator just outside of Jackson, Mississippi.

By Matt Batcheldor
October 4, 2024

“Llama Love and M&M’s Forever”: One family’s palliative care experience leads to a lasting expression of gratitude

“The Palliative Care team is a special group of people, and I wouldn’t have wanted to share probably the most devastating week of my life with any other group,” said Jeff. “I’ve been a woodworker for more than 40 years, and I decided I wanted to do something to let them know just how wonderful they are.”

By Jill Clendening
September 19, 2024

One year ago, VUMC nurse Susie Stephens was thrown from a horse and suffered a broken neck. The story of her injury, her recovery — and the day she got back on the horse.

“I wake up every day and wonder why I didn’t die.”

By Wayne Wood
August 13, 2024

Why is there a 1-year-old staffing a booth at the Farmers’ Market? Her mom will be happy to tell you.

Because baby Jocelyn, the youngest of five, was a patient, the whole Scalzo family now sells their farm goods at the weekly market.

By Jessica Pasley
August 7, 2024

Program arranges genetic testing for AFib patients who may be at risk for inherited cardiomyopathy or arrhythmia syndromes

Without treatment, younger patients may develop other serious cardiac disorders such as heart failure or life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
By Matt Batcheldor
August 5, 2024

When he was 3 months old, an eye operation saved Jai Ailawadi’s sight. Now a 20-year-old college student, he returned to say thank you.

"You have changed my life," the (now grown up) patient said.
By Nancy Humphrey
June 12, 2024

From clinic to comic cons: Team helps nonverbal, nonmobile patient unlock his interviewing voice

Seven years ago, asking questions was not possible. Ivan, who is nonverbal and nonmobile, had no way to communicate. What he was thinking, feeling or wanting was always a “best guess” for his mom.
By Christina Echegaray
May 29, 2024

Robotic pancreatectomy speeds recovery time for retired educator 

He knew he needed complicated surgery, so researching his options, he learned about the Vanderbilt surgical team led by Kamran Idrees, MD, MSCI, MMHC, Ingram Associate Professor of Cancer Research.
By Tom Wilemon
May 17, 2024

A Mother’s Day to remember

Melissia Boynton got the call about 3 a.m. on Mother’s Day that her new heart was available. Immediately, her plans changed from a barbecue around the family pool to a middle-of-the-night drive to Nashville to get her new heart.
By Matt Batcheldor
May 7, 2024

A team approach to care 

LSU baseball fan sporting a new set of lungs after VUMC transplant
By Matt Batcheldor
April 15, 2024

Looking for the coolest place at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt? The new ICEE machine is a welcome oasis.

Patient Emily Rodgers is partial to cherry flavor. “Overall, I just really love it. Oh, and it’s free, which is really nice!”
By Jessica Pasley
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