Patient Perspectives

Learn about the inspiring stories of real Hackensack Meridian Health patients.

Cardiac / Heart Health

Breaking the Chain of Heart Attack

Joe Leone Introna has 20 male relatives who died of heart attacks in their 40s. The local chef and business owner is determined to break that chain.

Meet Joe

Cardiac / Heart Health

Surviving Multiple Heart Attacks

A near-fatal heart attack gave 80-year-old Peter Pica the excuse he needed to finally retire. An artificial heart pump is the reason he’s around to enjoy it.

Meet Peter

Feet of Strength for Diabetes Patient

When Joe Coles developed open sores on his legs and feet, he discovered that his type 2 diabetes was more dangerous than he’d thought.

Meet Joe

Cancer Care

A Strong Bond Between Patient and Physical Therapist

Hear how physical therapist Alissa Rocco paid attention to uterine cancer patient Debbie Petrucelli’s physical and emotional well-being.

Meet Alissa

Neuroscience

Breathing Again After Spinal Cord Injury

Learn how pioneering surgery is helping William Marshall, who is paralyzed from the neck down, breathe without a ventilator.

Meet William

Neuroscience

Go BIG and LOUD, or Go Home

Learn how Riverview Medical Center’s LSVT BIG and LOUD Program helped Laura Hanf regain some of the speech ability she had lost due to Parkinson’s disease.

Meet Laura

Cancer Care

Genetic Testing Saves Lives

Discover how genetic testing for cancer risk saved Sue Barbour’s life—and the lives of at least 10 family members.

Meet Sue

Pregnancy, Women's Health

An Astonishing Baby Delivery

During pregnancy, Rosanna was diagnosed with a condition that can cause life-threatening bleeding. But her faith prohibits blood transfusions. Hear her remarkable story.

Meet Rosanna

Cardiac / Heart Health, Pediatrics

Treating SVT: The Kid’s Got Rhythm

Learn how pediatric cardiac specialists at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital saved baby Charles Caravella Jr. from a life-threatening heart crisis.

Meet Charles

Cardiac / Heart Health

Aortic Aneurysm: Fixing Mr. Fix-it

Amado Velez is known for fixing anything that breaks. But when an aneurysm grew dangerously large, he turned to Southern Ocean Medical Center for the fix.

Meet Amado