John Zisa and Cynthia DePalma have shared a lot during their 25 years together. But, there’s one experience they never thought they would go through together - kidney surgery. By a remarkable coincidence, both John and Cynthia were diagnosed with kidney nodules that needed to be removed within days of each other.
Their journey began when John, a prostate cancer survivor, had a routine physical that revealed something unusual. A subsequent MRI uncovered a nodule on his left kidney. Within days, Cynthia was also diagnosed with a nodule, the size of an olive, on her right kidney, that was cancerous.
The Bergenfield couple was referred to Mutahar Ahmed, M.D., urologist and Director of the Center for Bladder Cancer at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC). Dr. Ahmed saw a unique opportunity. He suggested scheduling both of their procedures on the same day.
"Being together on this day meant the world to them and aided in their recovery," says Dr. Ahmed.
Single Port Kidney Surgery the Same Day
The team at HUMC’s new Helena Theurer Pavilion, a state-of-the-art facility with all-private patient rooms, went the extra mile. They arranged for John and Cynthia to have beds facing each other, so they could be together right before their operations.
Cynthia and John both had robotic single-port partial nephrectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove a tumor while preserving the kidney, an important factor for their long-term health. The surgery was performed through a 3-centimeter incision and boasts shorter hospital stays and faster recoveries than traditional procedures.
Cynthia happily had her procedure first. "I'm the guy, he's the girl. I could recover while he goes in,” she laughs
Before John’s surgery at 1:30 p.m., Dr. Ahmed told him that Cynthia was out of surgery and doing well. John says the news gave him peace of mind before heading into his own procedure.
"We are incredibly proud of our physicians who, while delivering the most advanced surgical care, always remember to treat the whole person, keeping the heart and soul in mind," says Michael D. Stifelman, M.D., Chair of Urology for the Northern Region of Hackensack Meridian Health.
Using Laughter to Heal
The post-surgery experience became a source of both comfort and comedy. While getting up and down was painful, they found solace in their shared predicament. They could truly say to each other, "I know how you feel," which led to many jokes.
For John and Cynthia, their "comical but flawless experience" has become another chapter in their love story. Cynthia says she’s glad that she was able to go through the experience with her life partner. “I’m forever grateful to the Hackensack University Medical Center team for everything they did to help make this happen,” she says.
Next Steps & Resources
- Meet our sources: Mutahar Ahmed, M.D., and Michael D. Stifelman, M.D.
- Make an appointment online with a urologist near you, or call 800-822-8905.
- Learn more about urology at Hackensack Meridian Children’s Health.
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