in Rush Stories
MOR surgeons Dr. Craig Della Valle, Dr. John Fernandez, Dr. Walter Virkus, Dr. Mark Cohen, Dr. Steven Gitelis, Dr. Brian Cole, and Dr. Kathy Weber profiled in stories of "hope, inspiration, courage, and wonder."
From Rush University Medical Center "Rush Stories"
Dr. Della Valle: Mary's Story
The osteoarthritis first flared up when Mary Rose was in her late 20s, and by the time she was 44, her hips and knees ached so badly that she could barely walk. She managed only a few hours of sleep at a time before the pain woke her. Even simple things like getting dressed were challenging. She was eventually forced to quit her job as a chef because moving around the kitchen was too painful.
But every specialist she visited over the years told her the same thing: She needed joint replacement surgery, but she would have to wait until she was 50 to have it done. Although she was wary of being told yet again that she was too young for surgery, Mary Rose decided to take a chance at getting her life back sooner rather than later. She made an appointment with Craig Della Valle, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in treating arthritic hips and knees...
Chicago Bulls' Story
The Chicago Bulls aren't just any organization looking to keep their employees healthy: They're a multimillion dollar pro sports team with a legacy of championship basketball. So when a player gets injured, they're looking courtside for the best sports medicine team possible. Which means they're looking for doctors from Rush University Medical Center.
A tap on his head from the Bulls' head athletic trainer Fred Tedeschi sends in Kathy Weber, MD, dually trained in sports medicine and internal medicine, for medical concerns such as a concussion or dehydration. A tap on his knee sends in head team physician Brian Cole, MD, or one of the other team physicians. An orthopedic surgeon and internal medicine physician are on hand for all of the Bulls' home games...
Orthopaedic Trauma: Ki's Story
It was a typical day for Ki. Then a 19-year-old college student, she was riding around town on her bicycle when she was hit by a bus. Despite all the commotion, Ki knew something was very wrong with her foot. No one wanted to look at it. An ambulance transported her to a nearby hospital for treatment. Her injury was so severe, surgeons at the hospital thought she might need to have her foot amputated.
John Fernandez, MD, an orthopaedic microsurgeon at Rush, was called in for a consultation. He thought Ki could benefit from the coordinated expertise available at Rush. Ki transferred to Rush with severe injuries: Her pelvis was broken in several places, and she had multiple fractures of her foot and ankle. Worst of all, the skin and soft tissue had been torn off the bottom of her foot.
The team at Rush had the daunting task of rebuilding her foot out of almost nothing. It was not uncommon for Dr. Fernandez, Dr. Walter Virkus, and Dr. Mark Cohen to be faced with a complex and intricate case like Ki's...
Orthopaedic Oncology: Dustin's Story
Dustin was 7 years old when he came to Rush University Medical Center from a hospital in another state. He had been treated for osteosarcoma, the most common form of bone cancer. It had been a long, difficult process for Dustin and his family, from discovering the cancer to enduring several rounds of chemotherapy.
Eventually, it was time to discuss his long-term options. Surgeons treating him at the other hospital suggested amputation as the only alternative. In fact, the surgeon had already scheduled the operation when a concerned grandmother and aunt began their search to find a way to save Dustin's leg. After several hours on the Internet, they learned about the Limb Preservation Center at Rush and Dr. Steven Gitelis. The center is committed to saving limbs in jeopardy—whether affected by cancer, trauma, infection or congenital problems. The family wasted no time in contacting the center and making the trip to Chicago...
*When in the Rush Stories site, click on the Story Menu tab on the left.
