We are well because… The team of physicians at UMass Memorial has surpassed our expectations in every way! When my husband was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a deadly brain tumor that has no known cures, we planned to do everything in our power to fight this awful disease. With our kids just one and four years old, we couldn't imagine how we would get through this. We began researching Boston hospitals and looking for the best surgeon we could find, since this was brain surgery! But after talking with Dr. Richard Moser, we knew we could stay right here “at home” and be treated for this horrible disease. Dr. Moser was amazing and his surgical skills clearly helped to save my husband’s life. He also helped to get him into a clinical trial at Duke University that was studying how a vaccine could …
…help prevent the tumor from recurring. But the care didn't stop there: Anyone with cancer knows it's a team of providers who work together to care for the patient. The physicians who care for my husband—his PCP Dr. Steve Erban, Radiation Oncologist, Dr. T.J. Fitzgerald, Medical Oncologist Dr. William Walsh, Pulmonologist Dr. Richard Irwin, Dr. Wiley Hall in Critical Care—and the many, many nurses and caregivers who have coordinated to deliver the best care possible, have helped to keep him here to see his kids grow! It has been eight years and our kids are now ages nine and 12. Not only has he lived seven years longer than the 14 months they had initially given him, we have been able to go on vacations to Disney, Cape Cod, and many ski trips. The doctors are amazed when they hear my husband is skiing black diamond trails with his family. We are truly “well” because of all that UMass Memorial has provided to us over these past eight years. Thank you to all who care for us every day! —Sandy Taubert
I’m well because… I’m well because of the staff at UMass Memorial Medical Center. On February 8, I was admitted into the hospital for what was believed to be a kidney infection. Come to find out I had something far more serious, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a very rare condition on top of Lupus which I was diagnosed with in 2001 when I was 19. I needed an intensive care unit fast! With my platelet count down to 20,000 and my first seizure, we didn’t have much time. After many calls to hospitals, UMass Memorial admitted us into their intensive care unit. For the next two days I was intubated after having a very bad seizure and remember very little of the days after that except for waking up and seeing double, and not being able to hear or talk. Throughout my time at the hospital I received plasmapharesis to increase my platelet …
levels. During one exchange I went into anaphylactic shock. Fortunately, the nurse caring for me acted fast and most definitely saved my life. During this time, my family and fiancÊ were by my side caring for me. The medical providers took the time to explain what was happening, answer questions and comfort them during this difficult time. From the minute I arrived to the day I was discharged, I received the very best treatment from the medical doctors, nurses, PCAs, transfusion nurses, etc. I had a team of hematologists, rheumatologists, neurologists, nephrologists, primary care, and transfusion specialists all following my case. After some very scary experiences over the course of 17 days, I know it was their level of dedication, expertise and the technology that UMass Memorial has to offer that saved my life! My road to recovery will consist of close monitoring with all the doctors, receiving treatments as needed and finally officiating my marriage due to missing it while I was intubated. THANK YOU, UMASS MEMORIAL! —Rekha Sreedhara