Patient Stories

UC San Diego Health System is changing the lives of thousands of people through advanced, comprehensive surgical care. Here, our patients tell their stories.

Gastric Banding Surgery Willie De Pascale underwent gastric banding surgery after he had a heart attack at age 43. At 390 pounds, the retired chef found a good solution at UC San Diego Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. He has lost 125 pounds without losing his passion for food. Read more about Bariatric Surgery.	Awake Brain Surgery Krista McFadden underwent awake brain surgery to remove a brain tumor at UC San Diego Health System. Being awake during the surgery helped doctors remove the entire tumor without harming McFadden's ability to speak. Read more about Neurosurgery.	Chemo Bath Surgery Matt Youmans received a terminal cancer diagnosis. But Moores Cancer Center offered him a new kind of surgery. See how the chemo bath surgery he received at UC San Diego Health System changed his life. Read more about Cancer Surgery (Surgical Oncology).
Robotic GI Surgery Eve Gardner was healthy one day and sick the next day. She suffered excruciating pain she compared to shards of glass ripping through her insides. Dr. Elisabeth McLemore performed a robotic surgery on Eve to treat ulcerative colitis. Read more about Colorectal Surgery.	Robotic Cancer Surgery Scott Thurman was diagnosed with prostate cancer and treated by Dr. Christopher J. Kane at UC San Diego Health System. Watch his story of recovery. Read more about Urology.	Cancer Surgery Jenn Brady was treated for breast cancer at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Watch as the survivor continues to practice ballet and spend time with her family. Read more about Cancer Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Gastric Banding Surgery

Willie De Pascale underwent gastric banding surgery after he had a heart attack at age 43. At 390 pounds, the retired chef found a good solution at UC San Diego Bariatric and Metabolic Institute. He has lost 125 pounds without losing his passion for food. Read more about Bariatric Surgery.

Awake Brain Surgery

Krista McFadden underwent awake brain surgery to remove a brain tumor at UC San Diego Health System. Being awake during the surgery helped doctors remove the entire tumor without harming McFadden's ability to speak. Read more about Neurosurgery.

Chemo Bath Surgery

Matt Youmans received a terminal cancer diagnosis. But Moores Cancer Center offered him a new kind of surgery. See how the chemo bath surgery he received at UC San Diego Health System changed his life. Read more about Cancer Surgery (Surgical Oncology).

Robotic GI Surgery

Eve Gardner was healthy one day and sick the next day. She suffered excruciating pain she compared to shards of glass ripping through her insides. Dr. Elisabeth McLemore performed a robotic surgery on Eve to treat ulcerative colitis. Read more about Colorectal Surgery.

Robotic Cancer Surgery

Scott Thurman was diagnosed with prostate cancer and treated by Dr. Christopher J. Kane at UC San Diego Health System. Watch his story of recovery. Read more about Urology.

Cancer Surgery

Jenn Brady was treated for breast cancer at UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Watch as the survivor continues to practice ballet and spend time with her family. Read more about Cancer Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.