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Fantastic he could call on. Luis knew of Healthnetwork
In this case, he had another connection
Relationships Foundation through his friends John and
Martha Eggemeyer, who had connected him
for the Win for help with another medical issue several
years earlier. When that resolved successfully,
Luis made a donation and maintained his
As a former NFL player, Luis Castillo is very Healthnetwork connection.
familiar with surgery. He’s had at least 15 of
them—mostly orthopedic, some of them major. A Workout for the Voice
So when his local physician, a well-known Healthnetwork connected Luis with Dr. Anca
Ear, Nose and Throat doctor in San Diego, told
him he needed a quick outpatient surgery Barbu at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in A silver lining of the month of silence after surgery:
to remove a polyp on his vocal cord, it seemed Los Angeles. The experience this time was “Having to sit there and whisper, it changed my way
completely different. Dr. Barbu explained
like no big deal. of parenting. I had to be more measured. It made
how the tissue of the vocal cords is unique,
how it’s supposed to vibrate at 110 beats me a better dad.”
ormally, Luis would seek multiple
per second. She showed Luis where he had
N opinions before a medical scar tissue because of how the first procedure
was done—tissue that would never vibrate
procedure. “I’m very diligent
as a patient,” he says. “After Luis has done more than his share of physical therapy the way it should. She described how she
years of professional football, seeing how over the years, but voice physical therapy was a first. would create a flap, remove the polyp and lay
experts disagree on the best course of the flap back down so there would be no
treatment or how long healing should take, scarring and no further loss of voice quality.
I’ve become a skeptical patient.” Worst of all, he says, “It changed the quality Beside recommending a different
But this time, Luis decided just to go with of my parenting. I wasn’t reading to my kids procedure, Dr. Barbu also had a different
his ENT’s recommendation. “It seemed like as much, and I stopped singing to them at night. approach before and after the surgery.
standard, straightforward course of treatment There are four of them and we usually do For three months ahead of time, Luis worked
and I felt comfortable with him,” says Luis. multiple songs per kid per night.” with a vocal cord specialist doing drills
“As a patient I believe you should do more Luis went back to the ENT and asked, on how to project air flow, appropriate tones “We’ve known Luis for about ten years.
than just take the first doctor’s opinion, but “What now?” The doctor suggested they repeat to speak at, how to clear his throat. After He is an outstanding individual and
it is time consuming, and it’s exhausting. the procedure to remove the polyp again. the surgery, Dr. Barbu instructed Luis not to a great family man. We believe in health
I had just had two orthopedic surgeries, and And, to Luis’s alarm, he said they needed to speak at all for two weeks, followed by care, and we believe in trying to help
I was tired of the back and forth. So I didn’t look into what might be causing such fast another two weeks of very limited and quiet our friends in any way we can. To be able
do my super due diligence like I usually do. growth. “So that sent me down a path of MRIs speaking. And it worked! Within a few months to connect our friends with outstanding
I just scheduled the surgery for a week and ultrasounds and other specialists.” of the surgery, there was no sign of the professionals is so valuable, especially
later and went with it.” polyp returning and Luis’s voice was back to as medicine is becoming more and
Second, Third and Fourth Opinions its normal quality. more specialized.
What Happened to My Voice? This rinse-and-repeat approach didn’t sit Luis says he still has respect for his local We give to Healthnetwork because we

The procedure was straightforward—15 well with Luis. “I felt like, okay, now I’m going ENT and would go back to him for routine recognize it requires money on their part
minutes, no pain, no recovery time. But then to approach this with same diligence as I ear, nose and throat issues. But he also says to do what they do, to maintain access
things took an unexpected turn. Within a normally would.” the experience “reinforced my skepticism to those resources, and we are pleased
month, the polyp had come back bigger than Because of his football experiences, Luis in the world of medicine” and reminded him to be part of the support network.”
the original. Within three months, it was has an extensive network. “I’ve navigated how important those second, third, and

three times bigger and growing rapidly. Luis’s that world of second, third and fourth opinions even fourth opinions can be. — JOHN AND MARTHA EGGEMEYER
voice became hoarse and raspy. He stopped when it comes to orthopedic stuff,” he says. “Healthnetwork has fantastic relationships, Healthnetwork Supporters
going out to restaurants because he couldn’t “But when it comes to non-orthopedic stuff, and I’m so grateful they got me connected
project his voice enough to be heard. that’s not a familiar world to me.” with Dr. Barbu.” ✦

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