Why Our Patients Trust St. Vincent's

Isabel Todisco: Survivor

Isabel Todisco is a survivor. Having gone through three surgeries for cancer, she is thankful to be living strong. Isabel has lived in the area all her life, and St. Vincent’s has always been the hospital of choice for her health care, saying “I gave birth to all of my children there (daughters, Louise, Linda and Lorraine, as well as her son, John) and my family and I have always had a positive experience at St. Vincent’s.

I knew I would receive excellent care when it came time to have surgery.” In 1995, a spot was found in her right breast and she underwent surgery. In 1997, she was diagnosed with colon cancer, and had surgery for a second time.

Both surgeries were performed by Dr. Richard Lovanio, division chief of general surgery, and were very successful. No follow-up chemotherapy or radiation was necessary.

This year, Isabel suffered a fall and injuries. After an MRI, a spot on her lung was discovered. A biopsy revealed it was cancerous. For the third time in her life, Isabel had surgery. Dr. DiMeo performed an upper lobe segmentectomy with the daVinci robot sparing Isabel an open incision and a full lobectomy.

With two successful surgeries as a comparison, Isabel relates that her recovery was “unbelievable.” She was walking around the nurses’ station that day, and was able to return home on the third day. Isabel describes herself as feeling “exceptionally good” with almost no pain whatsoever. Furthermore, her small incisions healed remarkably well.

“My excellent recovery and future prognosis enables me to keep enjoying my family,” she said. You can be sure that her four children, 12 grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren are happy to be enjoying her company as well.