MHSI Patient Testimonials

Stephanie
Stephanie was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm while she and her husband were stationed in Germany. Followed and treated for the aneurysm for years, she finally met Dr. Ali Luqman who used a distal approach through her arm into the aneurysm to prevent its growth.

Kevin K.
A very large pituitary macroadenoma tumor pressing on the optic and sinus areas and his brain stem caused Kevin to pass out and experience memory loss. After visits to several doctors, Kevin was referred to Dr. Jeffrey Jacob who performed a nasal endoscopic surgery to remove the tumor.

Stephen M.
Double vision was the first sign something was very wrong. Stephen was diagnosed with a clival chordoma, an aggressive malignant brain tumor. Kim, his wife, asked her colleagues, and everyone recommended Dr. Jeffrey Jacob. He used a nasal endoscopic approach to remove the tumor so Stephen could see his future.

Valerie F.
When Valerie learned she had a meningioma sitting on the olfactory groove of her brain, a craniotomy to remove the benign tumor was recommended. That's when she began her search for a second opinion that led her to Dr. Jeffrey Jacob. He explained a nasal endoscopic approach was best in her case. Dr. Jacob partnered with Dr. Adam Folbe, a nasal endoscopic skull base surgeon, at the Michigan Sinus and Skull Base Center, to create the opening through the sinus. Dr. Jacob then removed the tumor through her nose.

LaMonta B.
Enjoying lunch with his friends at school, LaMonta began drooling and had a severe headache. His friends recognized he was having a stroke—at 17 years old! Everything aligned to save LaMonta's life that day. Dr. Holly Gilmer was already in the OR and did immediate surgery. Meet this 17 year-old who wanted to be a surgeon even before his own medical experience!

Maureen W. 
Maureen's shooting facial pain was unbearable, Trigeminal Neuralgia was the cause.... She found Dr. Jeffrey Jacob to conduct the surgery. She has not had any pain since the surgery.

Stefan K.
When Stefan was a teen, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and told surgery wasn't necessary. Years later he experienced blurry vision in his right eye. The diagnosis was trigeminal schwannoma, a tumor at the base of his brain. Dr. Jeffrey Jacob and Dr. Seilesh Babu of the Michigan Ear Institute worked together to treat Stefan's schwannoma.  Stefan recommends two Facebook groups that helped him:  1) A facebook group called Brain Tumor Talk and 2) Schwannoma's of the head/neck.

Kevin C. 
A renown concert pianist's career could have come to an end due to a diagnosis of Acoustic Neuroma. Kevin put his trust in partners Dr. Jeffrey Jacob and Dr. Seilesh Babu who made sure that didn't happen using skull base surgery.

Debra S.
Debra met Dr. Fredrick Junn in the Emergency room. Diagnosed with a brain tumor, surgery was immediate. Debra shares her experience.

Sean C. 
When Sean was diagnosed with a very large and complex tumor at the base of his skull, his doctor suggested a visit to Dr. Jeffrey Jacob at Michigan Head & Spine Institute. As partners in Sean's surgery Dr. Seilesh Babu and Dr. Jeffrey Jacob gave Sean the opportunity to raise his children.  

Heather's Story
Heather is an RN and a busy mom. She was noticing a great deal of fatigue doing day to day functions. She had an MRI and was referred to Dr. Richard Fessler. She was diagnosed with an Unruptured Aneurysm. She had found more women in her family had Aneurysms. Dr. Richard Fessler performed an Endovascular Aneurysm Coiling. She was in the hospital for 20 hours and back home to her family!

Letitia C.
Letitia was unable to eat and many of her motor functions were showed how Parkinson's disease was taking over her body. Her family found Dr. Frederick Junn, at Michigan Head & Spine Institute. Deep Brain Stimulation gave Letitia relief from many of her symptoms and she began to thrive again.

Paul E.
For 30 years Paul struggled to work and live his life with Essential Tremor Disorder. When Dr. Richard Veyna suggested Deep Brain Stimulation. Now Paul is in charge and uses a modulator to control the tremors, which are nearly non-existent.

Suzanne H.
Suzanne was just not acting herself and found out she had a massive brain tumor. Dr. Richard Venya removed the tumor.

Duane S.
After suffering a massive headache, Duane's visit to the clinic ended up with a transfer to the ER. Scary as it was,  Dr. Richard Fessler explained how serious an Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM) is and performed a life-saving procedure.

Alicia R.
For years, Alicia was unable to turn her head to look forward - her head was stuck.  Dr. Fredrick Junn recommended Deep Brain Stimulation to Alicia. Immediately after surgery, Alicia was able to move her head, now she can hold her head in the forward position without pain. 

Patty D.
Patty is pain-free after a cervical (neck) fusion performed by Dr. Robert Johnson. She is now able to enjoy time with her granddaughter.

Larry T.
Larry couldn't move his head due to a Cervical Disc Herniation. He did his research and discovered the Mobi-C, a Cervical Artificial Disc implanted through minimally invasive surgery performed by Dr. Richard Veyna. Today he can move his head like he used to.

Joshua B.
When Josh's motorcycle collided with a mini van, he landed in the ER where he met Dr. Tejpaul Pannu of Michigan Head & Spine Institute. The accident caused herniations in cervical discs, which were replaced with a Mobi-C artificial disc.

Seham
Seham experienced searing pain from her back down her leg. After several visits with different neurosurgeons, Seham chose Dr. Luqman to release the sciatic nerve from being compressed by discs in her back.

Tony W.
As a business owner, back pain kept Tony from his physically demanding job. He learned during a TeleHealth visit only surgery could relieve his pain and despite COVID-19 causing hospitals to reduce surgeries, it was necessary. Dr. Ratnesh Mehra performed a spinal fusion which got Tony back to work -- and dancing!

Cayleen

A very active teen, Cayleen learned to compensate for the curvature of her spine that caused her ribs and clavicle to not be aligned. Diagnosed with Scoliosis, she did her own research and chose Dr. Ratnesh Mehra to perform surgery to straighten her spine—which made her taller!

Ian D
A rough carpenter, Ian dropped to his knees in pain while lifting a wall. He experienced a ruptured disc which created sciatica down his legs -- he couldn't walk.   

Dr. Fernando Diaz performed an ALIF (Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion). Post-surgery Ian worked with Dr. Diaz' partner Dr. John Marshall, a physiatrist, to get back to work. Now he can lift 150 pounds over his head.

Joanne C. 
After seeking help from several doctors, Joanne found Dr. Fredrick Junn at Michigan Head & Spine Institute. Before surgery she couldn't stand for even a few minutes, but today she's back to baking cookies with her granddaughter.

Cherrie A.

Cherrie had very complicated spine disorders. As a nurse, she got to the point where walking was impossible. She knew Dr. Fredrick Junn from working with him and his patients and when surgery was the only way to relive pain, she sought him out at Michigan Head & Spine Institute.

Dino A.

After 10 years of not being able to put weight on his left leg, Dino was referred to Dr. Richard Fessler. He was diagnosed with a ruptured disc, after surgery he immediately was relieved of pain.

Tom D.
Decades of hard work and a failed spine surgery brought Tom to Dr. Richard Fessler. Barely able to walk with cold hands and feet, Tom's symptoms were immediately relieved when the pressure was removed from the spinal cord in two areas in his back and neck.

Walter C.
Walter's back pain was determined to be from disc deterioration, but it was not bad enough for surgery. Instead Dr. Henry Tong performed spinal injections along with physical therapy to strengthen his back. Walter is back to enjoying his retirement!

Diane M.
For 15 years Diane experienced chronic back pain, struggling to make it through a work day, to ride in the car, and to stand in her own kitchen for more than a few minutes. After a simple outpatient procedure and a series of injections by her physiatrist, she is back on her feet once again.

Tyler B and Trish.
Tyler had back pain, leg pain and had urinary accidents from a young age of 3 years old. Dr. Holly Gilmer diagnosed Tyler with a Tethered Spinal Cord.

Gerry M.
Gerry has been dancing the Argentine Tango for most of his life, but last year severe arthritis of the spine brought his dance career to a halt. After countless non surgical therapies Gerry knew it was time to get his neck and back pain evaluated. After the initial evaluation Dr. Goldberger saw degeneration of the spine which happens over time. Before surgery he wondered if he'd ever tango again, but after surgery at 81-years old Gerry is now pain free and dancing once more.

Penny P.
Penny is a very active person. She noticed that she would get pain in her leg and back. Dr. John Marshall decided to do epidural injections into her herniated disc.

Cenia F.
After a car accident she had neck and lower back pain and treated it with physical therapy. She wasn't getting any relief so she was referred to Dr. Miguel Lis-Planells at Michigan Head and Spine.

Michelle
Michelle had headaches and couldn't hear well, a diagnosis of Chiari resulted. Her research led to Dr. Holly Gilmer at Michigan Head & Spine Institute. She moved her family from Tennessee to Michigan. Following successful Chiari decompression surgery, Michelle's husband gifted her a very special tattoo to celebrate.

Tyler H.
After being diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, Tyler's mom Jennifer was advised surgery was not yet necessary. But when Tyler landed in the ER, it was time to find a Chiari specialist. She found Dr. Holly Gilmer.

Maggie M.
Maggie had headaches, trouble with swallowing, and ringing in her ears. Dr. Holly Gilmer diagnosed her with Chiari Malformation. 

UPDATE:  Maggie went on to become a fire fighter, in addition to being a college professor.

Zeke P.
Zeke had pressure behind his eyes and headaches. After being diagnosed with Chiari Malformation his mom conducted research and found Dr. Holly Gilmer. Travelling from out of state, Zeke had surgery, did well and was back home very quickly.

Tina M.
Finally the answer Tina had prayed for. After decades of misdiagnoses, excruciating pain, dizziness and near blindness a correct diagnosis of Chiari brought Tina to Dr. Holly Gilmer at Michigan Head & Spine Institute.

Lu Anna D.
Lu Anna had constant headaches. She went to multiple doctors for any sort of relief. She kept doing research which brought her to Dr. Holly Gilmer who diagnosed her with Chiari Malformation.

Shenna and Tammy
Tammy, diagnosed with Chiari Malformation, recognized her mother Sheena had the same symptoms during her first visit with Dr. Holly Gilmer.  They both had Chiari malformation decompression surgery and both recovered from constant severe headaches and dizziness.

Amy S. 
Amy is a teacher she would have headaches and fought to stay awake. She had been diagnosed with Chiari Malformation eight years before she met Dr. Holly Gilmer.  Amy was able to return to her classroom and her ability to sleep returned. 

Ezra, Katelyn and Mom.
Two years earlier … Kate was first to be diagnosed with Chiari, then Ezra. Mindy and Jeremy began a journey to heal their kids that led to Dr. Holly Gilmer in Southfield.

Update:  Both children are doing well, happy and healthy.

Zion D.
Zion traveled from Arizona to Michigan to have Dr. Holly Gilmer conduct surgery for her Chiari Malformation.