“In 20 years of singing, I’ve never had anything like this happen,” said Deleen Davidson, a lyric soprano, formerly with the New Orleans Opera. Deleen, who now heads up The Muses Creative Artistry Project in Hot Springs, began to experience sinus and allergy problems in November, but within weeks her laugh changed, her speaking voice…
As any new mom would, Maria Borja worried when her 3-month-old son, Brian, developed chills, a rash and a high fever. She took him to a series of doctors in nearby Texarkana and Little Rock, but all were unable to determine the cause. “I was always told that he was a very special boy and…
Audiologist Samuel R. Atcherson, Ph.D., has a more personal view of hearing loss than some in his profession since he began losing his own hearing at age 3. Atcherson has used a hearing aid in his left ear, a cochlear implant in his right ear and his lip-reading ability to perceive sounds and communicate. But with…
Brother and sister Ambra Jackson and Bryan Clay share more than just the normal sibling bonds. They also share the challenges that come with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Jackson first noticed a problem in 2001 when she began experiencing blurred and double vision, as well as numbness in her feet. I didn’t really…
At UAMS, we practice our mission of proving personalized service for our patients. When Jack Heinritz came to UAMS, he expected a simple examination and instead received individualized care that instantly made a difference in his hearing. Jack had purchased hearing aids from another clinic and needed an examination to check the operation of his…
Bruce Bell is proof that a persons life can change in an instant. While applying weather-proofing material to the ceiling of a building in Pine Bluff, Bell fell 20 feet, landing on his back. No one witnessed his fall, and it is estimated that it took his employees about 10 minutes to find him. “I…
After 15 years of a recurring ear problem, Beth Stockdell was skeptical when told that a doctor at UAMS could help her. She had seen ear, nose and throat doctors since 1995 to relieve the pain and pressure of her right ear, which “popped” and never recovered after a cold in 1994. The only treatment…
While suffering a major stroke at her home near Mena, Iva Sikes assumed the worst, not knowing that a UAMS-led telemedicine program would provide her a complete recovery. Sikes, who lives alone four miles outside of Mena, was about to tend her flower garden June 1 when the left side of her body went numb,…
Frank Williams appeared to be the picture of good health. An avid golfer, Williams also enjoyed bicycling and weight lifting. And at only 46 he showed no signs of slowing down. However, that very same night, Williams’ life took an unexpected turn. While getting ready for bed, he experienced a seizure and lost consciousness. His…
You might say life handed Susan Freyaldenhoven a few lemons, and although she was making lemonade, it was becoming a struggle. The 45-year-old Conway middle school principal and her nephrologist had been watching her kidneys deteriorate for 20 years as she went about her career and became the mother of three boys. But over time,…