Bedside Stories

Forty-three-year-old Nicole DiCamillo of Arizona has stage 4 cancer – and she feels absolutely the best and happiest she’s been in years. If that sounds odd and unexpected, we’re just getting started in this episode on the strange, fascinating world of radiation treatment and nuclear medicine.

When Janice Cmeyla sought help for difficulty breathing, she had no idea that would involve a “three-armed surgeon” – or that major breakthroughs in new technology would save her months of treatment and recovery.

A hospice music therapist and a 37-year-old Phoenix woman with terminal cancer spent four months creating deeply personal music, as a legacy for the patient to leave her family. One of the powerful songs features her heartbeat as a rhythmic part of the track.

Deanna Spizzirri’s diagnosis with one of the most severe cases of Tourette’s syndrome didn’t stop her from becoming an elementary school teacher, and helping other patients learn to manage their tics and enjoy life. She shares her highs and lows with us, and we speak to a Banner doctor who has Tourette’s and treats patients with the disorder.

Patient Kim Alten’s annual mammogram led to an option to have genetic testing for cancer, which can help determine whether someone – and their family – has a higher risk of developing certain cancers, and passing some genetic disorders to their children. We spoke with Kim and our experts to learn more. 

(Episode was recorded in February 2020.)

Thirteen-year-old Ben Zaccardi took a ride around the block on his dirt bike that ended with him hurling into a cinder block wall, demolishing his body. But his story has a happy ending, as thousands of people have cheered on the upbeat boy through every milestone of his unexpected recovery.

For 15 years, physician assistant Tara Burns has been quietly helping to change lives for hundreds of people in undeveloped areas around the world. She recently returned from her 30th humanitarian mission, offering free surgical care to families in need. We asked her to share some of her most memorable moments.

NOTE: Tara attended PA school; narration mentions her having attended medical school, where physicians and surgeons are trained.

An interview with nurse Kaitlin Nicholas about her ongoing experience treating potential coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients at Banner Casa Grande Medical Center. She may be “beat up from the feet up” tired, but she and her dedicated colleagues remain fueled by positive energy and a passion for saving lives.

Ten-year-old Peyton Gonzalez is like any other kid her age, but she’s also literally one in a million -- a survivor of an extremely rare cancer that required a 10-hour surgery that was spellbinding in complexity and drama. The experience made Peyton wise beyond her years. (Happy birthday to her, by the way!)

As we wrap up our first season of inspiring and dramatic stories, we’re checking in on many of the memorable patients, medical staff and volunteers who shared their memorable experiences throughout the past year. Quite a bit has happened since we met them!