The impact of transformational care Mary found hope at Adventist Health Glendale
Fifteen years ago, Mary was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. She was successfully treated by hematology and oncology specialist Boris Bagdasarian, DO, with chemotherapy and radiation. Thanks to the expert care she received at Adventist Health Glendale’s Cancer Center her cancer went into remission.
For more than twelve years she lived cancer free, but when a recurrence caused dysphagia, an inability to swallow, Mary sought additional treatment at a neighboring academic hospital. Enduring two more years of challenging treatments, Mary’s quality of life quickly declined. Then came the devastating news from the team at the academic hospital: there was nothing more they could do and they recommended that she continue using a feeding tube — perhaps for the rest of her life.
With fading hope, Mary returned to Adventist Health Glendale. She met with interventional gastroenterologist James Tabibian, MD, PhD, who carefully examined years of Mary’s past treatments and medical records, seeing an opportunity for possible minimally invasive endoscopic treatment.
Together with Mary’s determination and Dr. Tabibian’s expertise and willingness to seek a solution, surgery was scheduled. Dr. Tabibian placed a stent, restoring Mary’s ability to eat within hours of the procedure. With great relief, Mary’s son Ray proclaimed, “Dr. Tabibian is a miracle worker.” Within a few months, the stent was removed, as her dysphagia was successfully treated by the stent, making it possible for Mary to swallow normally again. “Dr. Tabibian, Dr. Bagdasarian and the exceptional care at Adventist Health Glendale truly transformed my life!”
Thanks to this amazing combination of world-class innovations, expertise and determination, Mary has hope today for making more memories. “My greatest joy is spending time with family and friends and enjoying a meal together — something I thought I would never be able to do again.”
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