International Patient Stories


Beta Thalassemia | Zayed’s Story

Zayed, a young boy from the United Arab Emirates, was diagnosed with the blood disorder beta thalassemia when he was just an infant. The family’s search for care led them to Johns Hopkins, where Zayed received a successful blood stem cell transplant.


Lymphoma | Mr. Yan’s Story

After being diagnosed with lymphoma, Mr. Yan, a teenager from China, was distraught. Thanks to a successful treatment plan and compassion from his care team at Johns Hopkins, Mr. Yan is now cancer free and pursing his dreams.


Baby Alicia’s Journey from Kenya

Alicia was diagnosed with biliary atresia when she was 3 weeks old. Her family flew from Nairobi to Baltimore to get Alicia additional care and ultimately a liver transplant at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.


Cochlear Implant | Mateo’s Story

After learning that their baby boy would never hear, Stéphane and Karla traveled from Mexico to The Johns Hopkins Hospital in the United States for a second opinion. There, audiologist Dawn Marsiglia worked with the family to outfit the child with a cochlear implant that helped restore his hearing.


Thoracic Outlet Syndrome | Mohammad’s Story

Mohammad’s life was like that of any other active young man living in Lebanon — until three blood clots were discovered in his arm. Local doctors said he would have to live with the condition. Then he found Ying Wei Lum, a vascular surgeon at Johns Hopkins Medicine, who diagnosed him with thoracic outlet syndrome. Lum had successfully treated many others with the condition. After treatment at Johns Hopkins, Mohammad returned home and is now living a normal life.


Renewing Our Vows | The Eves’ Story

After suffering an aortic dissection, Wendell Eve was taken from Bermuda to The Johns Hopkins Hospital. After successful treatment, Wendell and his wife, Rose, renewed their vows in celebration of their 25th anniversary.


Minimally Invasive Surgery | Eduardo’s Story

Advancements in minimally invasive surgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine brought Eduardo Estima and his family from Brazil to Baltimore for treatment of his kidney tumor. Mohamad Allaf, director of minimally invasive and robotic urologic surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, helped Eduardo recover in record time.


Spinal Tumor | Adam Ali’s Story

At only 10 years of age, Adam Ali had gone through more surgeries than many adults ever will. His father scoured the internet for better options — a surgery that wouldn’t just eradicate Adam’s spinal tumor, but one that held the greatest promise for full recovery.


Delivering Hope to an HIV-Positive Mother | Johns Hopkins Medicine International

A HIV-positive patient from China came to Johns Hopkins for a second opinion about her recurring ovarian cyst. After treating her for HIV, our experts performed a minimally invasive surgery to remove the cyst while preserving her ovary. The patient delivered a healthy boy at The Johns Hopkins Hospital — she never imagined that would be possible.


Johns Hopkins Shrinks a Patient’s Tumor and Expands His Future

A patient from China came to Johns Hopkins for urgent treatment of a tumor that was pressing on his eye and dramatically impacting his daily life. The patient services team at Johns Hopkins Medicine International arranged for him to see a doctor two days later. Diagnosed with lymphoma, the patient received chemotherapy and radiotherapy to shrink the tumor and prevent its return.