Meet Grateful Patients

Making It Easy Like Sunday Morning

Frankie Antonelli, a young man with Down syndrome, has overcome many challenges to become a college student.

After life-changing surgery, Faith Newsome aims to offer hope and a voice for young people with obesity.

The odds were against Collier before he was even born. Prenatal tests at Duke Children’s showed a problem with his lungs, and when his mother went into premature labor, the neonatology team was ready. Collier arrived at 32 weeks weighing 4 pounds, 3 ounces—and he was crying. No one expected him to be able to cry. Collier was quickly taken away to be placed on a ventilator.

Two-time lung cancer survivor Bob Norris has taken up a new hobby to show his support for Duke Cancer Institute: skydiving. In 2017, just before his 85th birthday, he completed his sixth jump to raise funds and awareness for Duke cancer research. "It's because of Duke I'm getting old," says Norris.

Though she has battled melanoma that spread to her brain, Tricia Gallagher says that cancer has changed her life, and not in a negative way. "It's not the end of the road, it's not the end of your story. It's just a chapter in it," she says.

Small bowel cancer survivor Jim Slaughter says he gets more out of volunteering than he puts in. He encourages others to volunteer with the Duke Cancer Patient Support Program, as he does every week. "It's going to make you a better person," he says.

When Paige Walker was diagnosed with cancer she knew she wanted to best care and treatment possible. She says Duke went far beyond her expectations.

Eight-year-old Shania Robinson's life was saved at Duke with a double transplant of a heart and kidney.

Peter Morrisette and his family are grateful to Duke for saving his life after multiple tumors were discovered in his lower leg.