Patient Stories
Man still thankful for doctor saving his vision
January 29, 2019
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It was one of those picture-perfect days in 2015 Brad Loveland loves so much: fly-fishing for winter steelhead on the Big Elk River in southwestern Oregon. So when the rain started, Brad didn’t really mind; he just took off his sunglasses.
Yet when he stepped into the brush, he scratched his eye. A paramedic with the Corvallis Fire Department (now retired), Brad initially ignored the scratch.
However, when the scratch grew into a scar or growth and began affecting his vision, Brad went to an eye doctor in Corvallis, who recommended that Brad have an appointment with Michael Straiko, M.D., a specialist at Legacy Devers Eye Institute.
“Exceptional … care”
Dr. Straiko removed the growth, and, based on his clinical experience and for safety, sent the tissue to the laboratory for testing.
Good thing, because the growth turned out to be an early stage of cancer. However, because of Dr. Straiko’s quick and thorough action, Brad’s vision is just fine, and the cancer is gone.
“Dr. Straiko is a rock star,” Brad says. “From working as a paramedic, I know good and bad in health care –– and Legacy Devers is exceptional.
“I am delighted with the level of care. Plus, the people are genuinely nice, all of them. I have had nothing but good experiences with every single person.
“And that’s pretty darn cool.”
Yet when he stepped into the brush, he scratched his eye. A paramedic with the Corvallis Fire Department (now retired), Brad initially ignored the scratch.
However, when the scratch grew into a scar or growth and began affecting his vision, Brad went to an eye doctor in Corvallis, who recommended that Brad have an appointment with Michael Straiko, M.D., a specialist at Legacy Devers Eye Institute.
“Exceptional … care”
Dr. Straiko removed the growth, and, based on his clinical experience and for safety, sent the tissue to the laboratory for testing.
Good thing, because the growth turned out to be an early stage of cancer. However, because of Dr. Straiko’s quick and thorough action, Brad’s vision is just fine, and the cancer is gone.
“Dr. Straiko is a rock star,” Brad says. “From working as a paramedic, I know good and bad in health care –– and Legacy Devers is exceptional.
“I am delighted with the level of care. Plus, the people are genuinely nice, all of them. I have had nothing but good experiences with every single person.
“And that’s pretty darn cool.”
