Neurology Patient Stories

Barbara Cruz first noticed a small tremor in her hands when she was in her mid twenties. When she would hold a glass with a long stem, it would shake slightly between her fingers, sloshing the liquid inside. She knew what tremors looked like, so it wasn’t a shock when the shaking began, but it made her heart sink. Her father had essential tremor, a condition that affects the nervous system, causing involuntary shaking or trembling – and that future wasn’t one she wanted for herself. Watch Barbara's story.

Andrew Salmon, a stroke survivor, shares his powerful story of experiencing a stroke at just 31 years old. Josh Snavely, DNP, ARNP, Stroke Program Chair at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, provides crucial information on recognizing stroke symptoms (BE FAST), understanding risk factors, and the importance of seeking immediate medical attention. Watch Andrew's story.

With the help of doctors, nurses and physical therapists at Virginia Mason Medical Center, Misty is on the road to recovery after her stroke. Watch Misty's story.

Von Freudenstein suffered from trigeminal neuralgia. He found relief from non-invasive radiosurgery at Gamma Knife at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma. Watch Von's story.

Joyce was on the phone with her sister when her sister noticed Joyce sounded funny. Her sister hung up and called 911. Within minutes, emergency crews arrived and transported Joyce to the hospital. She was moved from Bremerton to St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, where doctors performed a thrombectomy to break up a blood clot in her brain. Watch Joyce's story