Check out our top stories of 2015

2015 was a big year for the U-M Health System. We improved lives through custom-made vocal cords, lung transplants, valve replacements, and an artificial heart. One of our nurses saved a stranger on a plane and our innovative diagnoses and treatment gave new hope to stroke patients.

From groundbreaking research to life-changing care, here are our top stories of 2015!

1.) Life-changing surgery for three-year-old Ugandan boy
One of our most heartwarming stories involved little Jonathan and the giant tumor on his neck. Branded as “diseased” and shunned by his community in Uganda, Jonathan was a lost cause until a ray of hope from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital broke through. Watch his amazing story.
2.) 3D printing breakthroughs
3D printing breakthroughs at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital received international attention this year. Two of our biggest stories of involved little Kaiba (video below) and baby Conan. Learn about these remarkable kids and the technology that saved their lives.

3.) Boy born without vocal chords gets them “built” by U-M doctor
Born with no vocal cords and given less than a 5% chance of survival before coming to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, today Grant Hasse is full of life and working on his first words!

4.) Stanley Larkin is back in the game
Without a human heart, Stan Larkin was able to visit a water park and play basketball this summer. An artificial heart from UMHS and a backpack-sized power supply let him go home from the hospital and gave him independence while he waits for a heart transplant.

5.) Miracle machine keeps lungs alive outside the body
“Time to wake up. We got new lungs!”  Kyle Clark, his transplanted lungs, and the amazing Perfusion System keeping lungs “alive” outside the human body, combine to make this one of our best stories.

6.) Taubman Health Sciences library gets $55M transformation
The 35-year-old building on the U-M medical campus has emerged from a metamorphosis, making it into a new kind of library, and much more. The transformation turned the 143,400-square-foot facility into all-digital, light-filled, dynamic learning space for future physicians, scientists and other health professionals.

7.) Study finds perceptions about impact of double mastectomy
A survey of women with breast cancer found that nearly half considered having a double mastectomy. But of those who considered it, only 37 percent knew that the more aggressive procedure does not improve survival for women with breast cancer. Read more>>

8.) Frankel Cardiovascular Center marks 500th valve replacement surgery
The U-M Frankel Cardiovascular Center performed its 500th transcatheter aortic valve replacement, a minimally invasive procedure that’s transforming aortic care for elderly adults. The U-M participated in the early stages of studying the survival benefit of TAVR and is testing the next generation of heart devices designed to allow doctors to replace an aortic valve without opening a patient’s chest. Read more>>

9.) New Hope for Stroke Treatment
A new specialty called neurointervention is helping to make huge strides in stroke diagnosis, treatment and care. Neurointerventional radiologist Neeraj Chaudhary, M.D., MRCS, FRCR, an assistant professor of radiology and neurosurgery, explains how this new specialty is successful in treating stroke patients. Dr. Chaudhary works with neuroradiologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, emergency physicians, vascular surgeons, physiatrists, neurointensivists, physical and occupational therapists, and speech and language pathologists to provide the best possible stroke treatment and care. Read more>>

10.) U-M nurse saves stranger on a plane
When Rosemarie McDonald boarded a flight with her husband to San Diego, she didn’t know she would be putting her 35 years of nursing practice into action just minutes after leaving the ground. A passenger began experiencing a miscarriage and inflight staff asked if any medical professionals were on the plane. Rosemarie sprang into action, selflessly displaying her willingness to help others at all times. Read more>>

Want even more? Check out some of our coolest science stories of the year.