**This is part 4 of 4 of Victoria’s story.**

“Everyone was so nice, especially the nurses,” she says. “They are the ones who take care of you during the whole thing, the doctor comes at the end.”

Of Morgan Gold and Lauren Greenwood, her Labor and Delivery nurses, Dr. Barany says: “They were both so skilled, sweet and calming. I felt really taken care of, and they gave me great tips while making sure that I was comfortable, and everything was running smoothly. Having a baby can be a stressful time, and these ladies made it easier.”

Dr. Kitagawa readily agrees: “The nursing staff is phenomenal. They do 99% of the work. It’s because they’re so good that I can do my job,” he says. “Everyone who works here is in it for the same goal. We have a vested interest in good outcomes for everybody.”

Baby Pablo was born just after 6 p.m. on March 8, weighing 8.8 lbs. and 20 inches long. Even during the delivery, Dr. Barany says Dr. Kitagawa managed to make her laugh and relax.

“He truly cares about his patients, not just as a medical record number but as real people,” she says.

Dr. Barany also raved about Maggie Tuitel and Cathy Jenkins, her postpartum nurses.

“Cathy is a real gem! I felt like I was being taken care of by my mom or aunt. She is that great,” Dr. Barany says.

Dr. Barany, who resumed seeing her own patients in early May, also had praise for the anesthesiologist and the woman at the front desk who took her to her room once she was admitted.

“When I was in Connecticut [for birth of her first son in 2018] it was great … but this was off the charts,” she says. “Overall, my experience was great, and it made all the difference for my family.”

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**This is part 3 of 4 of Victoria’s story.**

For the most part, Dr. Barany’s pregnancy was uneventful. In November 2021, she had COVID-19. After she recovered, Dr. Kitagawa ordered a couple extra ultrasounds to make sure that the virus hadn’t affected the baby’s growth.

An ultrasound that Dr. Barany had at 32 weeks gestation spotted something on the baby’s heart. She followed up with a pediatric cardiologist, who scheduled a test that would be done prior to Dr. Barany and her baby leaving the hospital.

Dr. Barany’s original due date was March 17, but at a routine check-up on March 7, Dr. Kitagawa told her the baby would likely come sooner than that. He used humor to stress how close she was to delivering.

“He said I could go at any second, he didn’t want me to have the baby on the freeway if I waited too long,” she says.

So, Dr. Barany went home and started gathering her things for the hospital, intending to go to the hospital the next morning. But when her contractions became more pronounced around 4 a.m. on March 8, she and her husband left for the hospital.

Dr. Barany was already familiar with MetroHealth’s Birthing and Perinatal Center. She had a great experience there with the birth of her second son in the fall of 2020. Her first-hand knowledge received added validation when a neighbor, a Cleveland Clinic physician, told her that MetroHealth’s center is renowned throughout the state. The physicians and nurses, used to caring for high-risk patients, are trained to handle so much more than neonatal teams at other hospital systems.

**Follow us tomorrow for part 4 of Victoria’s journey.**

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**This is part 2 of 4 of Victoria’s story.**

One day in the summer of 2021, Dr. Barany was chatting with Nancy Rehker-Heard, one of her patients and the administrative coordinator for MetroHealth’s Department of OB/GYN.

“Nancy said, ‘The next time you’re pregnant, let me know and I’ll introduce you to a doctor who’s super great,’” she says.

It turned out that Dr. Barany and her husband were expecting their third child (she’d had her second son in late 2020). She had already arranged to see another obstetrician but instead decided to make an appointment with Gregory Kitagawa, MD, and was glad she did—she liked him immediately.

“He’s so nice, so personable,” Dr. Barany says of Dr. Kitagawa. “Going to the OB isn’t always the most fun experience. But he was funny, always cracking jokes, and he was very knowledgeable. He approaches you as a friend.”

A member of the MetroHealth staff since the first day of his residency 20 years ago, Dr. Kitagawa is one of the top choices among employees who get their OB care at MetroHealth.

“I have four kids of my own. It’s very rare that a patient has more kids than I do,” he says. “From experience alone, I can help guide them through the process.”

One of the most important aspects of that process is for parents to have time to bond with their newborn. So, when Dr. Barany mentioned that she had used up a lot of her sick time for the birth of her second son, Dr. Kitagawa didn’t hesitate to donate 80 hours of his accumulated time to her.

**Follow us tomorrow for part 3 of Victoria’s journey.**

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**This is part 1 of 4 of Victoria Barany Nuñez’s story.**

Victoria Barany Nuñez, DDS, was on her way to California to start a new job in early 2020 when she decided to make a stop in Cleveland. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Dr. Barany completed her general dentistry medicine residency in Connecticut. Before she and her husband, David Chiossone, and toddler son moved to California, they changed their travel plans to squeeze in a quick visit to Cleveland.

Dr. Barany’s best friend lived there and was working at MetroHealth as a dentist. The friend convinced Dr. Barany that she should meet with Gregory Heintschel, DDS, Chair of Oral Health and Dentistry at The MetroHealth System.

She did—and received a job offer on the spot!

Dr. Barany joined MetroHealth in March 2020. After six months, she was promoted Director of the Department of General Dentistry. Today, she sees patients at the MetroHealth Broadway and Ohio City health centers.

“I liked having the opportunity to help the underserved population, and MetroHealth was a larger hospital with a bigger impact,” she says. In addition, living in Cleveland meant a shorter trip to Venezuela and it seemed to be a better fit for her and her husband to raise their children.

**Follow us tomorrow for more of Victoria’s journey.**

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A few months ago, we told you about Makayla Barlow – a remarkable young adult whose life changed in an instant on July 10, 2021. While driving to one of her part-time jobs, she was shot in a random act of violence.

The bullet entered the right side of Makayla’s head. She was rushed to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center where she had surgery to remove the bullet. Her life was saved, but her recovery would be long and strenuous. The team at MetroHealth’s Rehabilitation Institute helped Makayla channel the strength she needed.

The resilience Makayla had shown balancing school, sports and work shined through again during her recovery at MetroHealth. Slowly, but surely, Makayla regained her balance, cognition and motor skills. She steadily became more independent. Liz Galvin, Makayla’s occupational therapist, said, “Under no circumstances was she going to do anything but return to her baseline function.”

Last fall, Makayla’s peers elected her Homecoming Queen. By January of this year, she returned to in-person school. And on June 4, she graduated from Campus International High School in downtown Cleveland.

As for what’s next, Makayla recently learned she’s received a full-ride scholarship to Hiram College. She also recently started a summer job through Youth Opportunities Unlimited at a local social service agency.

Congratulations, Makayla. You continue to inspire us.

#storiesofhope #fabrehab #hopehealthandhumanity

**This is part 3 of 3 of Ian’s story.**

Drs. Robert Pollard and Bram Kaufman—both of whom have worked at MetroHealth for more than 20 years—regularly perform gender affirmation surgeries together.

And when Ian Rock met with them, he knew he was in good hands.

After delays due to the pandemic, Ian’s surgery was scheduled for April 8, 2022. It was the first time MetroHealth physicians completed a hysterectomy and mastectomy for gender affirmation surgery at an outpatient facility. While many surgeons perform the top surgery, the combined procedure is a relatively new offering for hospitals and remains relatively rare in the Cleveland area.

Ian was a bit on edge the day of the surgery. But talking to the nurses and anesthesiologist calmed him—as did the open, inviting space of the MetroHealth Brecksville Health and Surgery Center. Plus, Jared was able to be by his side until he went back for surgery.

“Dr. Kaufman talked to both of us before I went back, and when I told him I was nervous, he simply responded, ‘I’m not,’” Ian says.

Dr. Kaufman performed the double mastectomy, which included some liposuction. Dr. Pollard then completed the total hysterectomy (removal of uterus and cervix).

The back-to-back procedures lasted three hours, and Ian went home later that day.

Ian saw his newly flat chest for the first time during an appointment with Dr. Kaufman 10 days after surgery.

“I was almost overwhelmed,” he says, describing his immediate emotions as a mixture of happiness and euphoria. “I’d been thinking almost nonstop about what I would look like underneath it. I felt like I could finally breathe."

Ian and Jared plan to marry in 2023. In the meantime, they have a trip planned to Provincetown, a seaside town in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, known for being welcoming to the LGBT community.

“Going to the beach and swimming was one of the things I gave up while transitioning,” he says. “I’m so excited for whenever I’m able to go to the beach shirtless for the first time!”

For Ian, he’s simply ready to meet people as his real self.

“I just feel like my life isn’t on pause anymore,” he says.

#storiesofhope #hopehealthandhumanity