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Patient Stories

Back and Spine; Patient Stories

Twirl, interrupted: Ballroom dancer finds graceful way to overcome chronic back pain

February 28, 2023

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Making transplants easier for veterans and their families

November 10, 2022

Captain Indestructible: Dallas firefighter rises from the ashes and returns to job he loves

September 29, 2022

Son gives ‘most meaningful gift’ to father and stepfather

June 17, 2022

For Mother's Day, 6 stories of survival

May 6, 2022

Saved by the video call: When an aneurysm struck during a Teams meeting, co-workers rallied to rescue one of their own

March 31, 2022

First-of-its-kind aortic root and valve surgery saves unique patient's heart

Shelley Lynne had an aortic root aneurysm, a leaky heart valve, and no room in her life for traditional open heart surgery and a long recovery. See how a new procedure designed by UT Southwestern's Neelan Doolabh, M.D., saved Shelley's life – and livelihood.

Neelan Doolabh, M.D.

November 20, 2020

Orthopaedics and Rehab; Patient Stories

Reaching the summit after hip dysplasia surgery: Cynthia's story

Adult hip dysplasia nearly stole Cynthia's mobility. But an advanced surgery gave it back – and got the UT Southwestern operating room nurse hiking up mountains again. See her story now.

June 26, 2020

Heart; Patient Stories

A softball player with heart: Kaitlynn's aortic valve replacement at age 19

Division I softball player Kaitlynn Dawson faced open heart surgery for a leaky bicuspid aortic valve. See how the less-invasive SAVR procedure by UT Southwestern's Dr. Neelan Doolabh got Kaitlynn back on the field in just three months – with a brand new heart valve.

Neelan Doolabh, M.D.

February 26, 2021

Back and Spine; Orthopaedics and Rehab; Patient Stories

Woman who could barely stand up has 'zero pain' after spinal fusion surgery

Laurie Zapatka was injured in a car accident 20 years ago and her back pain became progressively worse over the years. By the time she came to UT Southwestern, her mobility was severely limited, but a day after posterior spinal fusion surgery with Douglas Dickson, M.D., she was up and moving with "zero pain."

Douglas Dickson, M.D.

May 19, 2021

Patient Stories; Transplant

Living-liver transplant: How a daughter gave her mom the gift of a lifetime

A daughter in Texas gave the gift of life to her mother, literally, when she donated a portion of her liver in the first-ever living-donor liver transplant at UT Southwestern. A year later, both mother and daughter are eager to share their story and help others still waiting for a second chance at life.

December 23, 2020

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