Lakeshia Brown – Behavioral Health Services, Addiction Patient, ParkCare Pavilion/GATS
I grew up the child of two parents who struggled with addiction, both of whom have since passed away. With addiction in my family and both parents incarcerated at times, the odds were stacked against me…
Mary Arditi – Inpatient Emergency Room, Andrus Pavilion
As an 82-year-old mother of eight and grandmother of fourteen, I’ve been a proud Yonkers resident for the past 58 years. While driving home from the shore with my handicapped son, I first started to feel sick with horrible stomach cramps. Upon arriving home and stepping into the shower, I suddenly started coughing up blood…
Tomas Cruz – Hyperbaric Services, Andrus Pavilion
My father has always been the rock of our family, our financial guide, wise advisor, and the heart of our extended clan. In March 2025, while undergoing prostate cancer treatment, he suffered two debilitating strokes that left him unable to speak or stand…
Erika Colyar Davis – Pain Management Patient, Dr. Stephen Erosa, St. John’s Medical Group
I was experiencing extreme pain in my back, neck, and legs. I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and restless leg syndrome and had numerous back and cervical surgeries throughout the years—yet the pain never dissipated…
Judi Santiago – MAKOplasty® Hip Replacement Surgery – Dr. Vishal Mehta, Westchester Orthopedic Center
With United Healthcare insurance, I was a patient of Montefiore, but they stopped taking my insurance abruptly. I needed to switch and found St. John’s Riverside Hospital accepted United Healthcare…
Frederick Horsley – BHS Detox & Rehab Patient
34 years old and I am from Bronx, NY.
Following a string of family losses, I sought solace in alcohol and rapidly became an alcoholic. I started waking up with shakes that could only be soothed by alcohol, and next thing I knew, I was having seizures.
Dale Tate – Cardiac Arrest ICU Patient, Andrus Pavilion
The only thing I knew about St. John’s before this issue was that my daughter Zoe was born there. In the evening of Labor Day 2024, Zoe dropped by to see me. The next day, during a FaceTime conversation with her, suddenly I passed out…
Bruce Bernacchia – Pneumonia ICU, Andrus Pavilion
Bruce was stricken with pneumonia and admitted to St. John’s Riverside Hospital where he spent over three months fighting for his life. “I am forever thankful for the quality care I received from everyone at St. John’s Riverside Hospital. Every day I am aware that they saved my life…
Anne Hewes – Severe Sepsis, Emergency Department, Dobbs Ferry Pavilion
An Ambulance took me to St. John’s Riverside Hospital Dobbs Ferry ER immediately. One of the really great things about St. John’s at Dobbs Ferry ER is that there is never a wait…
Jaime Pleva – Breast Care Center, Dobbs Ferry Pavilion
Meet Jamie Pleva an optimistic, confident and just plain beautiful woman. What is not as obvious is that she is a breast cancer survivor. She was diagnosed over 5 years ago and with the help of St. John’s Riverside Hospital’s Breast Care Center and Dr. Ashikari she beat it and is living cancer-free. “I like to read, travel and spend time with my amazing family and friends. Diagnosed in 2008, I am 34 and 5 years cancer-free”.
Adrienne – Heroin Addiction, Behavorial Health Services, ParkCare
“Five years ago I had compiled mounds of regrets and bad decisions. I was no longer the athletic and smart girl or daughter and friend I had once been. Today I am most grateful to St. John’s Riverside Hospital for not only saving my life (as I would surely be dead if I had not come here) but for giving my family back their daughter and granddaughter. For that, I am forever indebted and it inspires me to work on my recovery wholeheartedly.
Patricia Macias – Critical Care Emergency Room & ICU, Dobbs Ferry Pavilion
“Quite simply, there is no rating system or “check off” box that would allow me to express the deep gratitude I hold in my heart for all the doctors, nurses, and professional staff who cared for me during my recent two-week stay in the hospital.”
More Patient Testimonials
Americo Vega – Movement & Incontinent Emergency, Andrus Pavilion
On Tuesday, September 9th around 5:45AM my 83 year-old, father-in-law, Americo Vega, came in need of urgent medical attention. He was unable to functionally move and was incontinent with urine. Americo was transported to St. John’s Hospital Yonkers emergency room via ambulance…
Jason Villanueva – Cardiac Arrest Testimonial
We brought our son to the ER at St. John’s Riverside Hospital with a stomach issue. Five minutes before he was discharged, my husband suddenly went into cardiac arrest. He fell forward, started snoring, turned purple—and in a flash the ER staff jumped into action…
Ida DeLeo
After having breast cancer over eight years ago, Ida DeLeo took it upon herself to schedule a CAT scan to make sure she was in good health. The results of that test prompted Dr. Rosen to schedule a PET scan, which showed Ida had early stage lymphoma. Under Dr. Rosen’s care, she began treatment for the lymphoma with chemotherapy…
Ignacio “George” Febles
Seventy-three year-old retired teacher Ignacio “George” Febles is a track and field coach and avid tennis player. When sudden knee pain began to set him “off-track,” he found himself taking daily doses of Ibuprofen to maintain his lifestyle. As the effectiveness of the Ibuprofen declined, George made a life changing decision to go to his trusted Orthopedic Specialist, Dr. David Lent. Dr. Lent recommended that George consider a more effective long-term solution for the pain and to regain his quality-of-life…
Lewis Navedo
On December 2, Yonkers resident Colleen Navedo called 911 after her husband Lewis complained he was not feeling well. His blood pressure was dangerously low and he began to feel lightheaded as Colleen spoke to the 911 dispatchers. The Navedos are no strangers to medical emergencies. Mr. Navedo had a kidney transplant several years ago and he also suffers from diabetes. He often went to a large medical center for healthcare in the past. But this particular night, Mr. Navedo didn’t have the time to get there. He needed immediate attention…
Mary O’Sullivan
Mary O’Sullivan was in a wheelchair as a child after suffering from a unique strain of Polio. However her time of immobility did not last long and she was back on her feet sooner than expected. Her sister Anna explains: “We Irish are stubborn, and as fate would have it that stubbornness would not keep Mary from walking.” Mary continued to walk freely until later in life when a tumor on her spine left her partially paralyzed.
Tami Urban
Tami Urban was 223 lbs. when she first met Dr. Artuso. Her weight caused her health to decline. She was dependent on pain medication for her acute asthma, suffered from Restless Leg Syndrome and was undergoing spine injections for back relief. After trying unsuccessfully to lose weight thru Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Atkins, The Grapefruit Diet, South Beach Diet, as well as working out at a gym every day, Tami got to the point where her “skin hurt.”
