Patient Spotlight

Atrial Fibrillation Precision Research Program clinic team members arrange genetic testing for patients with AFib. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
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
Patient Johnny Cleveland, right, with Kamran Idrees, MD, MSCI, MMHC.
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
Melissia Boynton speaks with a visitor a few days after her heart transplant. (photo by Kylie Avery)
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
March 29, 2024

A gunshot to the head. A long recovery. Then a wedding.

Special Agent Adam Daniels celebrates ongoing recovery after gunshot causes traumatic brain injury; family’s gift will support care of others with similar injuries
By Jill Clendening
March 8, 2024

Scalp cooling allows woman to keep hair during chemotherapy

The Food and Drug Administration first granted marketing approval for the DigniCap system for patients with breast cancer in 2015, then in 2017 the FDA expanded the authorization, making it the first cooling cap cleared for use in cancer patients with solid tumors, such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer.
By Tom Wilemon
February 27, 2024

Ballerina dancing again after inspiring recovery from brain tumor

Emily Kneussle, a 20-year-old aspiring professional ballerina, was “born a dancer.” When a tumor in her brain threatened her dreams, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt helped her get back on stage.
By Nancy Humphrey
February 20, 2024

System offers new option to treat mitral regurgitation

In a novel procedure, the Vanderbilt Heart & Vascular Institute (VHVI) successfully performed the first large-flange Innovalve transcatheter mitral valve replacement.
By Matt Batcheldor
December 18, 2023

The fourth grader was in the hospital and missed his classmates. They missed him too. So all 66 of them came to visit.

"It was really important to us to show him he is in our hearts.”
By Jessica Pasley
December 15, 2023

Owen Canavan was badly injured six years ago. He uses experience to encourage others recovering from traumatic injuries.

In 2017, Canavan was working out at a fitness center when a car came crashing into the building and pinned him against a wall. In the span of a week, he underwent eight surgeries.
By Jill Clendening