When 93-year-old Lidka Satmarova began waking frequently in the night to use the restroom, her daughter, retired Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) pediatrician Dr. Maria Sepetka, knew something wasn’t right. Having cared for generations of families during her 30-year career at PAMF in Los Altos, Dr. Sepetka also knew exactly where to turn when her mother’s symptoms pointed to something more serious: bladder cancer.
Lidka Satmarova’s journey to healing recently reached a pivotal milestone thanks to Bluelight Cystoscopy, a leading-edge technology that enhances a physician’s ability to detect and treat bladder cancer more accurately than traditional methods. During the procedure, a special dye is introduced into the bladder that causes cancerous cells to fluoresce bright pink under blue light, allowing physicians to see tumors that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“This technology gave us much better visualization,” said Dr. Sepetka. “Even though my mother’s earlier scans and follow-ups didn’t show much, the blue light would have revealed what traditional tools may have missed. It gave us a clearer picture—and most importantly, peace of mind.”
Originally from Czechoslovakia, Dr. Sepetka moved to the U.S. in 1985 with her husband. After completing her medical certifications and residency at Stanford, she began working at PAMF in the early 1990s, eventually retiring two years ago. She credits the foundation’s collaborative, physician-led culture for her long, fulfilling career.
“We all felt like owners of our practice,” Dr. Sepetka said. “You worked side by side with your nurses and colleagues, growing and learning together. It’s a place where patients feel heard and connected—and I knew I wanted that for my mother.”
Lidka Satmarova, who splits her time between California and her home country, has become increasingly comfortable receiving care in the U.S. As she grew older, she developed strong relationships with her physicians—many of whom her daughter once worked alongside.
“She’s incredibly optimistic, curious, and tech-savvy—even at 93,” Dr. Sepetka said. “She gardens, travels, watches Czech films online, and stays in touch with friends over the internet. Her outlook has always been: there’s a solution, there’s something to learn.”
When her cancer returned last year after several symptom-free years, Satmarova underwent the Bluelight Cystoscopy under the care of Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group Dr. Daniel Yao and the surgical team at PAMF.
“My mother was up and moving later that same day—no pain, no discomfort,” Dr. Sepetka said. “And the biopsies came back negative. She is incredibly grateful for the kindness, clarity, and thoroughness shown by everyone on her care team.”
David Sakariassen, an administrator at Surgery Center Palo Alto, a member of the surgical team, remembers the case well.
“Everything went flawlessly that day,” he said. “Lidka was happy, and Maria was immensely thankful. I had a brief conversation with her in the lobby—just to thank her for trusting us. That’s why we do what we do. Seeing it all come together for a patient and family like theirs—it’s incredibly rewarding.”
Today, Satmarova is thriving once again, with her signature optimism intact—and the support of a health care team that feels like family.
