Patient Spotlight Archive — Page 2 of 12
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January 22, 2026
A grateful patient says ‘thank you’ to Vanderbilt Medical Laboratories
The infection can result from inhaling spores of the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, which grows in soil throughout Middle Tennessee, especially in soil contaminated with bird or bat droppings. Previously, blood samples had to be sent to a reference lab in Utah. -
January 20, 2026
From tragedy to triumph: How a 6-year-old beat the odds after a devastating brain injury
A fall from a tree left Mark Ogorodnik fighting for his life. Thanks to faith, family and cutting-edge neurocritical care at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, his story became a testament to resilience and hope. -
December 12, 2025
How Scott Smith beat the odds to live a full life with hydrocephalus through over a dozen surgeries at Vanderbilt Health
The Tullahoma, Tennessee, native turned 60 this year — something that would’ve seemed like an impossibility when he was growing up with a neurological condition. -
December 8, 2025
Minutes to hours, to weeks, months and years … How a patient defied the odds
Born at 34 weeks gestation June 8, 2023, Sebastian Brook was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt with severe hydrocephalus and tetralogy of Fallot. -
November 18, 2025
A renowned music producer needed a laryngectomy. His VUMC team helped him achieve the ‘Cadillac’ of vocal recovery.
Dan Hannon’s music industry accomplishments include over a billion streams, more than 4 million albums sold and multiple No. 1 albums and songs. Doing it all without his voice wasn’t an option. -
November 3, 2025
A walking miracle — patient receives three major surgeries sequentially
The patient, Theresa Stratman of Louisville, Kentucky, is now able to get to her continuing medical appointments and live without medical oxygen. -
October 27, 2025
Macon County father’s voice restored following oral cancer surgery
After surgical removal of a rare tumor left a sizable hole inside Nick Schrock’s mouth, he could only speak in a muffled, lispy whisper. Tyler Ames, a dentist at VUMC, fashioned a prosthetic device to close the hole and allow Schrock to speak more clearly.