Patient Stories

Stent diagram. It looks like a serpentine curve of wired mesh.

Stryker Neurovascular Atlas Stent.

March 15, 2018

Dr. Ramesh Grandhi from UT Health Neurosurgery San Antonio was the first physician in San Antonio/Central Texas, and one of the first in the country, to use the @StrykerNV Atlas Stent. The Atlas Stent can be delivered through a smaller catheter which makes it able to access smaller vessels in difficult areas of the brain. […]



Dr. Izabela Tarasiewicz and Nicki sitting in clinic and smiling.

Nicki’s Story

March 13, 2018

Nicki’s family told us that they originally brought her into the emergency room because she was “getting fevers that she couldn’t shake.” After they found out she had a serious left-sided intracranial abscess, Nicki was rushed into surgery. Izabela Tarasiewicz, M.D., performed a hemicraniectomy and Ramesh Grandhi, M.D., placed a pipeline. She also had multiple […]



Dr. Garvin and other members of the Neurocritical Care Team standing and smiling with Patient Victoria Briseno.

Victoria Briseno’s Story

January 8, 2018

Last November, Victoria Briseno began experiencing neck pain that quickly progressed to limb weakness. She was taken to an ER for fear that she had suffered a spinal cord stroke. After being hospitalized for nine days, Victoria was transferred to the Neuro ICU at UHS for evaluation and treatment. She was treated by Rachel Garvin, […]



Former Patient James Durham standing and smiling with a group of Neurocritical Care Team members.

James Durham

December 14, 2017

Six years ago, James Durham was in a motorcycle accident. He was immediately rushed to the ER, where he was treated by the Neurocritical Care team. During his time in the hospital, he had a craniotomy, which was performed by Viktor Bartanusz, MD. James shared part of his experience with us: “I was in a […]



Dr. Izabela Tarasiewicz standing and smiling with other members of the pediatric pain clinic.

Pediatric Pain Management Clinic

November 15, 2017

UT Health is excited to announce that we have a new pediatric pain clinic taking place in the UHS Neurosurgery Clinic on the fourth Tuesday of every month. Clinic co-directors Drs. Mina and Eckmann from the Department of Anesthesiology are collaborating with our very own Dr. Tarasiewicz to provide our community with a multidisciplinary approach […]



Outside view of the Medical Arts and Research Center.

Cordelia’s Story

November 9, 2017

Cordelia has had Parkinson’s disease for 13 years. Recently, she started to notice that her symptoms were getting worse; she became afraid of falling whenever she stood up or tried to move around. “The tremors were getting hard to handle,” Cordelia explained. “I thought I was going to have to retire, which would mean I […]



Pablo and Amanda Gonzalez smiling with their daughter, Alessia, in clinic.

Craniofacial Clinic

September 18, 2017

Last Tuesday, Pablo and Amanda Gonzalez brought their daughter, Alessia, to the very first craniofacial clinic. Alessia has Apert syndrome and came to the clinic for a follow-up after having two craniosynostosis surgeries. The clinic is unique because it gives families a chance to meet with many specialists in one visit. The doctors and their […]



Veronica Cuevas smiling brightly.

Veronica Cuevas’ Story

August 1, 2017

Veronica Cuevas was at a trampoline park with her friends when she did a back flip and landed on her feet. Immediately, she knew something was wrong. “I had a sharp pain on the base of my head. I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t walk to get water or anything. It was the worst pain I […]



Patient Christian Ehrhard smiling during a clinic visit.

Christian’s Story

July 21, 2017

Earlier this year, Christian Patrick Ehrhard suffered a major stroke while getting ready for work in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was rushed to San Antonio, where he underwent an emergency thrombectomy for an occlusion of his internal carotid artery, one of the main vessels supplying blood to his brain. This procedure, in which a microcatheter […]



Patient Agnes Mensah smiling during a clinic visit.

Agnes’ story

February 3, 2017

Last October, Agnes Mensah suffered a ruptured aneurysm and passed out in her home. When her family found her they immediately called 911. Due to the complicated nature of her case, Agnes’ doctors decided to have her airlifted to UHS from her hometown in Corpus Christi. When she arrived Jeremiah Johnson, MD, performed a coiling […]