Patient Stories

My story began in July 1999 when I was struck with this excruciating pain on my upper abdomen. I went to the emergency room and after the lab test came back, I was told I had acute pancreatitis. I had no clue what this was but one of the doctors told me the most common …

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I’m a member of the Young Professionals Committee for the Western PA chapter of the NPF. I’d like to share my story of why I support the National Pancreas Foundation.   Well, it started a little over 3 years ago when I was 24 and living in Dallas. I had recently moved from LA, where I …

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I had the honor of marrying into the large and welcoming Birsic family of 9 children, when I married Tom Birsic in 1978.Coming from a small family; it took me awhile to understand the dynamics of a larger family and the various interactions amongst the siblings on a number of levels. Over the years, I …

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It was early January, 1988.  I had been feeling fine all day long.  We had dinner at home and went to bed as usual.  In the middle of the night I woke up and thought my insides were exploding.  There is no other way to explain the pain.  It was the most intense pain I …

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I had my first acute attack when I was only 15, it was minor in comparison to what my future held. Only a weeks stay in the hospital and a few life style changes and I was “as good as new.” Five years later I was finally going to college at the school of my …

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