December 26, 2024 – Alexandra Ibanez, a mother whose life was transformed after a complex surgery performed by Dr. Yoav Ritter, a neurosurgeon at HCA Florida University Hospital, is now walking stronger and living pain-free thanks to Dr. Ritter’s expertise and compassionate care.
Alexandra shared her story, saying “It all started with me going to the emergency room because I was feeling weakness on my left side and constantly falling. Various scans revealed a tumor pressing against my spinal cord and heading toward my brain. It explained everything I was feeling. I was admitted and that’s when I met Dr. Ritter. He made sure I knew he was with me through this and he was going to help me.”
She underwent a highly complex surgery to remove the tumor. The surgery was successful and she immediately noticed improvements. “I’m walking better, I can use my arm better, I have more strength and the pain I lived with every day is gone. I’m so grateful to Dr. Ritter and everyone who assisted during my surgery,” she expressed.
Dr. Ritter reflected on the complexity of the procedure, stating, “The patient had a tumor at the cervical medullary junction and was suffering from worsening paralysis. She underwent a complex section of a large tumor. Given her diagnosis of Neurofibromatosis, this was a highly intricate surgical procedure. I am happy to see her significant improvement since the surgery.”
About HCA Florida University Hospital
HCA Florida University Hospital is a state-of-the-art, multi-specialty hospital that partners with top clinical leaders and use enhanced technology to deliver exceptional patient experiences. The comprehensive medical facility provides a full range of healthcare services to Davie, FL, and its surrounding communities, including 24/7 emergency care with board-certified emergency physicians, maternity, orthopedics, oncology, neurosciences, diagnostic services, imaging, and a full range of robotic and minimally invasive surgical services. HCA Florida University Hospital features all-private patient rooms. It is located adjacent to the campus of Nova Southeastern University in Broward County. For more information on HCA Florida University Hospital, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
About HCA Florida Healthcare
HCA Florida Healthcare, a part of HCA Healthcare, is a family of more than 650 affiliated sites of care, including hospitals, physician practices, freestanding emergency rooms and urgent care centers. United as a statewide network in 2022, HCA Florida Healthcare includes approximately 11,100 experienced doctors and more than 84,000 colleagues working together to deliver equitable, evidence-based collaborative care through more than 11.6 million patient encounters each year. HCA Florida Healthcare is committed to improving more lives in more ways and giving back to the communities it serves. The network provides more than $903 million in uncompensated care and contributes nearly $2.2 million to community organizations across the state. In addition, HCA Florida Healthcare offers patients access to highly-trained specialists, including the state’s largest cardiovascular network. A strong advocate for the next generation of healthcare professionals, HCA Florida Healthcare is also a major supporter of university-based healthcare programs and residencies and fellowships throughout the Sunshine State. For more information, please visit HCAFloridaHealthcare.com.
