Patient Testimonials
Cancer  | Betty Stallard
Betty Stallard was shocked to learn her mammogram found a lump that needed evaluation. Fortunately for Betty, she didn't have to go through the process alone. She had a patient navigator from the Bronson Center for Women to help her.
Read Betty's story. |  | James Dean
After James "Jim" Dean was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his doctor recommended robotic-assisted surgery as a treatment option. Jim's surgery took four hours. He was home in two days. And, six days later, he attended an open house at Bronson to see the da Vinci® Surgical System.
Read Jim's story. |
Heart
 | Larry Hopp
Larry Hopp was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, the most common type of arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). Larry had minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery, which required an incision of just over 1 1/2 inches. He was home within three days.
Read Larry's story. |  | William "Rex" Weller
When Rex Weller was told he needed surgery to replace a failing heart valve, it created a significant challenge. As a Jehovah's Witness, he could not receive a blood transfusion. Rex was able to have minimally invasive mitral valve repair surgery without receiving any blood.
Read Rex's story. |  | Ed Annen
It was in August when Ed Annen, former Kalamazoo mayor, first felt a dull ache in his arm and chest and began sweating. Soon after arriving at Bronson, Annen was diagnosed with a completely blocked artery and had a stent put in.
Read Ed's Story. |  | Maggie Bullard-Marshall
It was an ordinary Saturday for Maggie Bullard-Marshall until she found out her mom was having chest pain. After having a series of tests at Bronson's Chest Pain Emergency Center, a heart attack was ruled out.
Read Maggie's story. |  | Carrie Kotecki
When Carrie Kotecki found out her father was having chest pain, she made sure he went to Bronson's Chest Pain Emergency Center. Shortly after his arrival, her father was diagnosed with a severely blocked artery and a stent was immediately put in place.
Read Carrie's story. |  | Deb Lyons
Shortly after arriving to Bronson's Chest Pain Emergency Center, tests revealed that Deb Lyons' father had three blocked arteries. Within 24 hours, he was recovering from open-heart surgery.
Read Deb's story.
|  | Sarah Thurston
When Sarah's husband was dizzy and experiencing chest pain, she thought the worst. Shortly after his arrival at Bronson's Chest Pain Emergency Center, her husband underwent several tests and a heart catheterization.
Read Sarah's story. |  | Chuck Ritter
When Chuck came to Bronson for a heart scan, he had no symptoms, no problems, and expected to receive a clean bill of health. Eleven days later, Chuck had five bypasses and spent five days in the hospital.
Read Chuck's story. |  | Vince Long
Vince Long and his wife were visiting Kalamazoo for a conference. On Sunday morning, Vince woke with what he thought was a bad case of indigestion. Long was having a heart attack.
Read Vince's story. |  | Ronald Dundon
Ronald Dundon had a sudden cardiac arrest. The attending emergency team's use of CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) saved him.
Read Ron's story. |
Surgery
 | Angela Castellani
Angela Castellani suffered from uterine prolapse since having her first son in 1988. After receiving a referral to Paul Berkowitz, MD, she decided to become the first person at Bronson to receive a total hysterectomy using the da Vinci® surgical system.
Read Angela's story. |
Ortho/Neuro
 | David Loveland
For David Loveland, an incident at his brother's wrestling match had him wrestling with an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), a tangle of abnormal blood vessels in the brain that disrupts normal blood flow.
Read David's story. |  | Astrida Rozenbergs
Astrida Rozenbergs went to her family doctor because of constant lower back pain. Tests showed that she had lumbar spinal stenosis or LSS. After having the X-STOP® procedure, a new technology that offers a minimally invasive alternative for LSS, the pain was gone.
Read Astrida's story. |  | Lawrence Price
Lawrence Price had been living with lower back pain and leg pain for five years. After having the X-STOP® procedure, a new technology that offers a minimally invasive alternative for LSS, the pain stopped immediately.
Read Lawrence's story. |
Weight Management
 | Dan and Julie Reisner
Julie's moment of truth came when she couldn't buckle the seatbelt around her waist while go-carting with her son and daughter. Dan was 5'9" and weighed 311 pounds. They both decided to have bariatric surgery. After surgery, they've lost a combined weight of 266 pounds.
Read Dan and Julie's story. |  | Darcie Mitchell
Darcie Mitchell was always aware of her weight and as hard as she tried, she couldn't lose it. After having gastric bypass surgery, Darcie went from a size 26 to a size 10.
Read Darcie's story. |  | Sheryl Walker
Sheryl Walker decided to lose weight for good when she was huffing and puffing going up the stairs to her third floor apartment. Sheryl's doctor recommended the New LEAF Program. After completing the 10-week program, she has lost 40 pounds and continues to lose weight.
Read Sheryl's story. |  | Ralph Balkema
Two years ago, Ralph Balkema had one functioning kidney and joint problems in his legs. After having bariatric surgery and losing 140 pounds, Ralph has gained better kidney function and joint movement.
Read Ralph's story. |
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