Patient Testimonials
WakeMed employees, physicians and volunteers are all unique, talented and contribute so much to our community every day.
If you have a story to share simply complete the form to share your experience or email your story to share@wakemed.org and we will contact you directly if additional information is needed.
Stories From the Blog
March 26, 2024
Illustrating in Technicolor: Hide Terada's Post-Concussion Syndrome Story
Hide Terada has always been the life of the party. With his incredible sense of humor, genuine interests ...
Author: WakeMed Health & Hospitals
March 4, 2024
Mistaken for Muscle Spasms — How WakeMed Critical Care Saved Sabrina's Life
It's true. You never know what a new day will bring, and for Sabrina, her surprise literally took her bre...
Author: WakeMed Health & Hospitals
February 27, 2024
Seeing in Silhouettes: Pat Perry's Story of Regaining Memory and Function after Brain Injury
You've probably heard of sudden nocturnal death, or passing away in your sleep. When it happens to someon...
Author: WakeMed Health & Hospitals
December 24, 2023
It Takes a Village Tanya Blues Cardiac Arrest Story
Back to work from Thanksgiving break and eager to get her students focused and on track before winter break — Tanya Blue was in her second grade classroom at a private school in Knightdale, NC, administering a spelling test. Then, the unexpected happened. “It was December 1, 2023. I remember standing in front of the […]
Author: WakeMed Heart & Vascular
December 20, 2023
Surviving and Thriving After Tragedy Bentleys ESG Weight Loss Journey
At WakeMed, we provide patients from all walks of life with life-changing, state-of-the-art treatments to advance their health care. The Advanced Gastrointestinal Center at WakeMed Cary Hospital is one of our centers where we specialize in top to bottom care for the entire digestive system — from the esophagus to the colon — we diagnose […]
Author: WakeMed Cary Hospital
December 12, 2023
Kelly Smith, the WakeMed Foundation's Helton Scholar, on Realizing the Dream
For Kelly Smith, growing up in foster care was hard. “There was no stability. I was shifted around in my formative years. I felt afraid a lot of the time. And, when I would settle in and make friends with my foster siblings, I’d be torn apart from them and placed in another home.” When […]
Author: WakeMed Foundation
December 7, 2023
A Legacy of Heartfelt Care Dr Jimmy Locklears Dedicated Service Through the Years
Jimmy Locklear, MD, FACC, launched his medical career in 1985 and has since been a beacon for compassionate patient care. Board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Locklear has been a part of the Medical Staff at WakeMed his entire career. He joined WakeMed Heart & Vascular full-time after more than two decades […]
Author: WakeMed Heart & Vascular
December 5, 2023
Service Dogs in Life and Care: Gyan Mehta’s Rehab Story
75-year-old Gyan Mehta resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife, Laurie, who is blind and is supported ...
Author: WakeMed Rehab & Physical Therapy
November 27, 2023
Robert Baker Broke a 51-Year Smoking Habit with Quit With WakeMed
How It Started I began smoking in 1972 at the age of 16 — as I was a rebellious teenager who fell into peer pressure. I went into the military straight out of high school. It fueled the habit because while serving my country, I saw atrocities that no person should see. Smoking helped me […]
Author: WakeMed Health & Hospitals
November 21, 2023
Eric Rodgers Quit Smoking for Good after 30 Years
How It Started I started smoking around the age of 20 while in college because those in my social group all smoked. I had a lot of late nights and was also working at a restaurant at the time. Everyone in the restaurant smoked, so it just seemed natural. I went on to smoke for […]
Author: WakeMed Health & Hospitals
November 6, 2023
Honoring His Dad's Legacy — Joshua Hutchins Receives the Megan Champ Morgan Scholarship
Joshua Hutchins is a sophomore at University of North Carolina Wilmington and the recipient of the 2022 WakeMed Megan Champ Morgan Scholarship, benefitting WakeMed employees and their dependents who pursue post-secondary education in health sciences. The fund was established by former WakeMed president & CEO Ray Champ and his wife, Meredyth, through the WakeMed Foundation […]
Author: WakeMed Health & Hospitals
October 18, 2023
A Team that Demands the Best for Atrial Fibrillation Care Courtney Ammons Story
“I would have periodic episodes of a very rapid heart rate, and I discounted them for about six months,” shares Courtney Ammons, a Wake County high school chemistry teacher. Because she had hyperthyroidism, she experienced rapid heart beats occasionally, so she assumed this was an unwanted side effect of her condition. After an eventful day […]
Author: WakeMed Heart & Vascular
139 Pounds Down and Counting — Kristina Plane's Duodenal Switch Story
Losing weight is tough and the busier life is — with work, family and more — the harder it is t...
3 Firsts for WakeMed Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery A Pediatric Burn Story
On Saturday, August 27, 2022, Moesha, her partner and their two children were involved in a traffic accident. Immediately after the crash, Moesha and her partner jumped out of the vehicle to check on the children. Moesha’s daughter was fine, but their son, Gonnie, was nowhere to be found. Gonnie’s door was ripped off with […]
600 Ounces and Counting — Why Sarah Dugger Gives to the WakeMed Mothers' Milk Bank
Giving is good for the soul. In fact, there is scientific evidence that altruistic people receive pleasure from being generous. This is certainly the case with Sarah Dugger, PhD, a wife, mother of two and clinical genomic scientist. Her life’s work is dedicated to giving help and hope to people with medical conditions to improve […]
A Bug Bite Like No Other — Raven McCrindle's Battle with Testicular Cancer
On an unseasonably warm North Carolina day, Raven McCrindle went outside to do some yard work. Days of sunshine and spring-like temperatures had caused the grass to awaken from dormancy. Raven says, “While I was outside mowing the lawn, a bug bit me on my inner thigh.” A Life-Saving Bug Bite Before long, the bug […]
A Healing Journey at WakeMed Childrens
Twice a week, Jack Montgomery drives himself to WakeMed for outpatient therapy. He’s pretty proud of that because not that long ago, there was a lot of uncertainty about his future mobility and independence after a frightening car accident in June 2021 left him with a spinal cord injury, concussion and broken clavicle. It was […]
A Legacy of Heartfelt Care Dr Jimmy Locklears Dedicated Service Through the Years
Jimmy Locklear, MD, FACC, launched his medical career in 1985 and has since been a beacon for compassionate patient care. Board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Locklear has been a part of the Medical Staff at WakeMed his entire career. He joined WakeMed Heart & Vascular full-time after more than two decades […]
A New Beginning After Bariatric Surgery Jamie Michaels Story
Obesity impacted every aspect of Jamie Michael’s life, from numerous health issues to isolation from loved ones. Eventually, with the help of his primary care provider, Marie Debnam, MD, Jamie determined that medical intervention was no longer an option; it was necessary. So, on January 15, 2021, Jamie underwent gastric bypass surgery. “I decided to […]
A Steady Pace Wins the Race Dina Cobbs Pacemaker Story
In June 2022, upon turning 59 years old, Dina Cobb was determined to lower her BMI and get in better physical shape before her 60th birthday. She began taking an FDA-approved prescription medication for weight loss. Three weeks in, Dina started experiencing lightheaded episodes that worsened as the days progressed. Thinking she was having side […]
A Supportive Space for Mom and Baby at WakeMed North Hospital — Asia's Labor and Delivery Story
A Horrifying Labor and Delivery Experience Having a baby is always an unpredictable experience, especially for first-time moms. A caring, compassionate health care team can bridge the gap between what a mom understands about labor and delivery and how she goes about making the experience memorable and positive. Unfortunately, for mom Asia Batton, this was […]
A Team that Demands the Best for Atrial Fibrillation Care Courtney Ammons Story
“I would have periodic episodes of a very rapid heart rate, and I discounted them for about six months,” shares Courtney Ammons, a Wake County high school chemistry teacher. Because she had hyperthyroidism, she experienced rapid heart beats occasionally, so she assumed this was an unwanted side effect of her condition. After an eventful day […]
A Walk to Remember Steven and Laurens Story
How They Met Steven and Lauren met as kids in elementary school. Steven was a year younger and a grade level behind Lauren, so they knew each other in passing in the school hallways. Years later, as adults, they crossed paths again, and this time, they were inseparable. Shared Passions Happier together, it didn’t hurt […]
A Will to Win: Olivia Jacobs' Story
Olivia Jacobs was born with the attributes of a winning athlete. With passion, self-confidence, self-discipline and resilience, she channeled her competitive spirit into her most beloved sport: basketball. For years, she was motivated and optimistic about her future as a high school and even collegiate athlete, but setbacks followed. A Debilitating Knee Injury In November 2020, […]
Videos
Micah - A WakeMed Patient Story
John - A WakeMed Patient Story
Daniel - A WakeMed Patient Story
Johnny - A WakeMed Patient Story
Everleigh - A WakeMed Patient Story
Preston - A WakeMed Patient Story