At age 17, Mark Hines of Millstone, New Jersey, seemed to be a fairly average teenager. Mark was exhibiting a few behavioral problems, having a bit of trouble at school and suffering from what his doctor thought were sinus issues. Nevertheless, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. “Ultimately, I thought he was just a disengaged teen,” says David Hines, Mark’s father.

However, a few days after Thanksgiving in 2022, Mark developed a severe headache, followed by nausea and vomiting. Mark and his family went to the emergency room at JFK University Medical Center, where they discovered that Mark had a benign tumor in the center left lobe of his brain.

The tumor was blocking the flow of fluid in Mark’s brain and needed to be addressed immediately. This diagnosis sent David on a frantic search for who could provide Mark with the best possible care.

Cutting-Edge Technology Close to Home

“I had to research and find the best surgeon and hospital in about 12 hours,” David says. He assumed that for Mark to receive premium and specialized care, he would need to be moved to an out-of-state hospital.

However, after a whirlwind of searching and phone calls, David discovered that Mark was already in one of the best places possible. He learned that Thomas C. Steineke, M.D., Hackensack Meridian Health Central Region Chair of Neurosurgery and Vice Chair of the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at JFK, could remove Mark’s entire tumor in a single surgery. Dr. Steineke uses cutting-edge augmented reality (AR) technology only found in a few select hospitals around the country. Other methods would require Mark to undergo multiple procedures.

“The AR is a virtual reality platform that takes high-resolution images and allows me to look at the tumor in 3D,” says Dr. Steineke. This technology allows neurosurgeons to meticulously plan operations and even practice before performing the actual procedure.

Ultimately, AR makes the surgery safer because it’s less invasive, and its precision makes operations faster. “This technology makes the surgery smoother and makes me feel more confident, and this translates into safety,” Dr. Steineke says.

Using the 3D model technology, patients can wear a virtual reality headset while Dr. Steineke talks them through their procedure. This helps patients and their families understand the process and feel more comfortable with it.

Quick Recovery from Brain Surgery

Mark has made a remarkable recovery. He walked out of the hospital on his own just 12 days after the surgery. “Mark’s prognosis is excellent; he is doing very well,” says Dr. Steineke.

And according to David, Mark’s spirit has re-emerged. “Mark has a tremendous personality, and that was turned off prior to the surgery. The Mark we knew was in there came back out.” Nearly all the issues Mark was experiencing before have resolved. His schoolwork has picked up, and he’s feeling like himself again.

Looking back, Mark understands what his family was seeing. “I didn’t realize what was happening until later. I couldn’t put my finger on why I felt weird.”

These days, Mark is doing typical teenage things again. He enjoys drawing and soccer (as long as there are no headers involved). He’s looking ahead to the future and thinks he wants to pursue film production.

Mark’s story is a prime example of the complex pediatric and adult neurosurgery that JFK has been practicing for more than 30 years, and David wants others to know about it. “Dr. Steineke definitely has a gift. He’s our hero.”

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Thomas Steineke, M.D.
• To make an appointment with a neurologist near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
• Learn more about neurology and neurosurgery services at Hackensack Meridian Health.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.