After countless doctor appointments with multiple specialists, we learned at the end of last year…read morethat our daughter had a Chiari Malformation 1.5. We were told that, in order to improve her quality of life, she would require surgery.
We met with an excellent neurosurgeon locally who advised us to go home, do our research, seek a second opinion, and follow up with him in two weeks. I immersed myself in learning everything I could about Chiari malformations. I watched podcasts and YouTube videos, joined Facebook support groups, and spent countless hours researching online. It consumed my life. The thought of my daughter needing brain surgery was absolutely nerve-racking.
During my research, Dr. Jeffrey Greenfield's name kept surfacing. I reached out to his office for a second opinion. Initially, I only wanted him to review my daughter's MRIs and hopefully provide the same recommendation as our local surgeon. If both surgeons agreed, I felt I could move forward with surgery locally with confidence and peace of mind.
Traveling to New York from Tennessee sounded absurd at first--until we had our initial phone consultation with Dr. Greenfield. He confirmed exactly what our first neurosurgeon had told us: if our daughter was going to improve her quality of life, surgery was necessary. After that consultation, my daughter, my husband, and I all agreed that we wanted Dr. Greenfield to perform the surgery.
This was not an easy decision. We really liked our local surgeon. Traveling to New York for surgery felt overwhelming. I worried about being away from our family and support system, recovering far from home, and all the "what ifs" that come with putting your child through a major surgery. In the end, we followed our hearts and chose what we felt was best for our daughter.
From our very first interaction with Dr. Greenfield's office, through the planning and logistics of traveling out of state, Dr. Greenfield and his staff were responsive, supportive, and incredibly helpful every step of the way.
My husband and I have both worked in healthcare for nearly 30 years, so to say we have high expectations when it comes to patient care is an understatement. The care our daughter received from Dr. Greenfield and his team exceeded every expectation we had.
From the office staff to the hospital team and throughout the postoperative period, the care was truly exceptional. Every person we encountered on this journey treated us with kindness, compassion, and professionalism.
Stacey thank you for all your patience with all my numerous question and emails.
Allison, you are a godsend. On the morning of surgery, you helped ensure she was comfortable and reassured.
To Dr. Goldstein and his resident, thank you both for helping calm our daughter before surgery. I spent the first 20 years of my healthcare career working in acute care, and I have never once seen an anesthesiologist personally follow up the next day after surgery to check on a patient. Thank you for taking such wonderful care of our girl.
To the ICU staff--nurses, support staff, dietary, and housekeeping--we could not have asked for better care. Much of that time is a blur, and I hope I don't unintentionally leave anyone out, but Samantha and Paige in the adult ICU provided exceptional care. My daughter wanted to bring you both home with us.
Danielle and Olivia on the Neuro Step-Down Unit, you were amazing as well. To Dr. Larsen who came to see us and check her wound when I was worried that something was wrong, your kindness and compassion did not go unnoticed. We wish you all the best as you continue your healthcare career.
Finally, to Dr. Greenfield and Gloria thank you once again for taking such incredible care of our daughter. We pray this is a one-and-done surgery and that she can return to living a normal, healthy life.
We have absolutely no regrets about traveling to New York for her care. The expertise, compassion, and exceptional treatment we received made every mile worthwhile.
God bless you all, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts .
