By Vitals editorial staff
Evan Hines is a piano prodigy who can play a song after just hearing it just once. But one morning, he woke up and couldn’t play at all. He was taken to the Sutter Children’s Center, where a physician specialist diagnosed him with a rare virus. After eight days of treatment, Evan was back playing the piano.
For healthcare providers, that is music to their ears. Doctors and nurses often cite the reason they got into the healthcare field was to help others and even save lives.
Here are 15 of Northern California “medical miracles” from 2023 that will send goosebumps down the spine. Click on the headings to read the stories and view photos and videos. And return often to Vitals in 2024 for more inspiring patient stories.
1. Gabby gets a new kidney from a family member who isn’t even related to her
Gabby Rojas smiles post kidney transplant at Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center.
2. Little Graison needed surgery, but what he really wanted was a hug
Graison Corbell sits in a hospital bed at inside the Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento Children’s Center playing with Play-Doh.
3. Shaniya was part of a 2023 trend: Millennials having more heart attacks
Shaniya Peterson was just 30 years old when she had a heart attack.
4. Leticia lost both legs, but it couldn’t keep her from dancing
Dr. Mahazarin Ginwalla with Leticia Boykin-Owens.
5. Mick’s been living with a new heart for 30 years and says it’s more than Irish luck
Mick Doughty is flanked by Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento CEO Rachael McKinney and Dr. David Roberts, medical director of the Sutter Heart and Vascular Institute.
6. Mother and son battle cancer together and get comforting assistance to help their healing
Shawna Majerus and son Elec on their separate cancer battles.
7. Modesto family finds a new ‘home’ at an unlikely place: An infusion center
Shelly Andersen, right, celebrates the new Infusion Center at an after-hours reception with the Whitecottons, from left, Tom, Scotty and Kim.
8. He died on the battlefield, but miracle survivals continue for Vic
The bullet that was removed from Vic Patkowski pierced his heart and lungs. He was miraculously brought back to life by a military doctor.
9. Heart transplant recipient Ted to honor donor as he walks in Rose Parade
Dr. Ranjan Ray, left, Leslie Barratt, heart transplant patient Ted Jung, Nancy Jung and Dr. Brett Sheridan at Sutter’s CPMC.
10. ICU room is turned into wedding chapel for Ed and Lucy
Ed and Lucy Dugan were married in Sutter Eden Medical Center’s ICU.
11. Born as micro-preemies, NICU miracle babies Loriellen and Jilyn celebrate 40th birthdays
Loriellen and Jilyn were both born just over 1 pound. They celebrated their 40th birthdays at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento.
12. As Pamela battles multiple sclerosis, she advocates for more research and clinical trials
Patient Pamela Swint spoke at the 2023 Sutter Research Symposium.
13. How a phone call from a mammogram scheduler helped save Malaka’s life
Malaka Thompson, right, with her family. A persistent scheduler got Malaka the mammogram that caught her breast cancer.
14. After throat cancer, CT scan reveals a “spot,” leading to life-saving surgery for Stefan
Stefan Walczak got a chest CT after surviving throat cancer, and it revealed a cancerous spot on his lung, which was caught early.
15. Piano prodigy Evan gets his chops back after forgetting how to play
Piano prodigy Evan Hines, 15, was taken to the Sutter Children’s Center in Sacramento after entirely forgetting how to play the piano. His diagnosis was rare and life-threatening. After eight days in a pediatric ICU room, he was well enough to play for his care team.
