Patient Stories

 

Patient Stories

Hunter

Hunter

When Hunter Dowden woke up in the middle of the night with abdominal pain and bleeding, he was worried. His mother, who had been a nurse at Huntington Hospital, called Hunter’s pediatrician, who recommended Hunter go to the nearest emergency department. As he approached our Nan and Howard Schow Emergency & Trauma Center, Hunter felt […]

Continue Reading Hunter CONTINUE READING
Josie

Josie

Josie Hanafi has a clear preference when she needs medical care. A clinical lab scientist in our hematology department, Josie chooses to receive care at Huntington Hospital for the same reason she chooses to work here. “I love Huntington Hospital, and I trust all the doctors here,” she says. “I believe in the work we […]

Continue Reading Josie CONTINUE READING
Matthias

Matthias

Last winter, Matthias Beeguer started coughing, had body aches and found it difficult to breathe deeply. A COVID-19 test came back negative. At the time, there were wildfires in his area, so Matthias thought poor air quality might be the culprit. He continued to have symptoms for months with no answers. One day, when Matthias […]

Continue Reading Matthias CONTINUE READING
Bill M

Bill M

At first, Bill Mahoney thought he had come down with a cold. As time went on, it became clear something was wrong — very wrong. He started having trouble breathing. Soon, he was unable to lie down without being in excruciating pain. Finally, Bill couldn’t take it anymore. “It felt like someone was stabbing me […]

Continue Reading Bill M CONTINUE READING
Marcela

Marcela

During the recent birth of her baby at Huntington Hospital, Marcela* realized the life-saving importance of donating blood. Marcela was pregnant with her second child and developed a life-threatening complication that required a platelet transfusion. “My platelet count was low, so there was a risk that my baby was not getting enough oxygen to survive,” […]

Continue Reading Marcela CONTINUE READING
Peyton Jeffrey (PJ)

Peyton Jeffrey (PJ)

When Mayra Epstein was choosing where to give birth, she relied on the advice of friends and family. She and her husband, Paul, had heard only good things about Huntington Hospital-affiliated OBGYNs, nurses and facilities from many sources — including her own father, who has worked at the hospital for more than a decade. Still, […]

Continue Reading Peyton Jeffrey (PJ) CONTINUE READING
Caesar

Caesar

One day, out of the blue, Caesar Penney started experiencing severe abdominal pain. It did not improve after a few days, so he made an appointment with his primary care physician to get checked out. The next day, Caesar received a message that said he needed to go to an emergency room right away. When […]

Continue Reading Caesar CONTINUE READING
Mary Lynne

Mary Lynne

When Mary Lynne Knighten was diagnosed with aortic stenosis — a potentially life-threatening heart condition characterized by the narrowing of the aortic valve opening — she was surprised. She exercised regularly and felt perfectly healthy. She soon began experiencing extreme fatigue and had to nap several times a day. She was often out of breath […]

Continue Reading Mary Lynne CONTINUE READING
Becky

Becky

In 2019, Becky Harman and her husband, Tyler, were delighted to welcome their baby boy, Cooper. When it was time for Tyler to go back to work, though, Becky developed intense anxiety. She had trouble eating and sleeping. Eventually, her anxiety led to severe depression, and suicidal thoughts. “I started working on Cooper’s baby book,” […]

Continue Reading Becky CONTINUE READING
George

George

Hayley English and her husband, Nick, recently welcomed their son, George, into the world in May 2020. George was part of the fourth generation of the family to be born at Huntington Hospital. When Hayley and Nick arrived at the hospital in May, the reality of a widespread pandemic was still fairly new. For many, […]

Continue Reading George CONTINUE READING