Medical Miracles

Amazing stories of patients who escaped death and disease, and the breakthroughs that made it possible

Photography by David Torrence

Even now, the stories are hard to comprehend: a cancer patient facing long odds saved by his colleagues’ research, a once-catatonic girl back in school and playing volleyball, a child who couldn’t walk now climbing mountains. New treatments at area hospitals have made the once-impossible possible—and dramatically changed these 13 patients’ lives in the process.

Fresh Air
By Stefene Russell

Lightning Strikes Twice
With twins on the way, Alison Coburn faced a high-risk pregnancy and months of anxious waiting. Park of the solution? Retail therapy.
By Stefene Russell

Soldier On (Web-Exclusive Extended Version)
By Nancy McMullen

Cracking Cancer's (Genetic) Code
When leukemia threatened the life of a St. Louis oncologist, his colleagues came to his aid by putting him under the microscope.
By Jarrett Medlin

Putting Out the Fire
Chris Sichra was used to rescuing other people. Then, when he threw out his back, doctors rescued him from chronic pain with a "bag of bones."
By Jeannette Cooperman

Pain's End
By Jeannette Cooperman

First Fix
By Stefene Russell

Scaling the Summit (Web-Exclusive Extended Version)
Children from across the globe are carried to Shriners Hospitals for Children. When they walk away, some are ready to climb mountains.
By Jeannette Cooperman

Growing Back a Finger
Florist Walter Knoll lost half of his thumb—until Saint Louis University Hospital helped him grow it back with an unconventional technique involving pig guts.
By William Powell

Quick Thinking
By Jeannette Cooperman

As Time Runs Out
A young woman falls dramatically ill. She is terrified, then delusional, then catatonic. There's only one hope left. And the clock's ticking...
By Jeannette Cooperman

Helping Hand
By Jarrett Medlin