What Our Patients Say About Us: Real Stories of Recovery and Hope
At DrGilete.com, we believe in the power of patient voices. The path to diagnosis and treatment for complex spinal conditions like Craniocervical Instability (CCI), Atlantoaxial Instability (AAI), and Tethered Cord Syndrome is often long, misunderstood, and isolating. That’s why real patient experiences are at the heart of our mission. They illuminate what makes our approach unique: personal attention, expert evaluation, and a multidisciplinary treatment plan tailored to every individual.
Below, you will find unedited, literal testimonials from patients around the world who entrusted their care to Dr. Gilete and his team. These stories reflect the values we uphold every day: compassion, accuracy, and excellence.
Defying All Odds: Groundbreaking Neurosurgery That Saved Melanie
This video recounts the story of Melanie Hartzon, a 33-year-old woman suffering from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and congenital muscular dystrophy, who underwent a series of pioneering neurosurgeries to save her life. Due to instability in her skull, neck, and spine, she experienced up to 40 seizures a day, prompting her to raise funds to travel to Barcelona for surgery by a renowned neurosurgeon. Although the first operation was successful, subsequent complications required multiple additional interventions, culminating in complex procedures to stabilize her spine by removing broken screws and performing new fusions. Melanie highlights the courage and skill of her neurosurgeon, who developed innovative techniques that allowed her to survive, eliminate her seizures, and regain some mobility, despite the risks and challenges.
The Story of Karen Scott | BBC Southeast Today
This account tells the story of Karen Scott, who suffered from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that weakened her spine to the point of endangering her life or causing paralysis. Despite the risks and the lack of treatment options in her country, her community raised over £100,000 through crowdfunding to enable her to undergo a groundbreaking surgery in Spain. The procedure, which involved reinforcing her spine with two titanium rods, was successful and has allowed Karen to regain mobility and walk independently again for the first time in years. The narrative highlights her remarkable recovery and the deep gratitude she feels toward everyone who contributed to her personal miracle.
Máxima’s Testimonial on Her Cranio-Cervical Fusion
This video excerpt features a 21-year-old woman named Máxima, who shares her positive experience after undergoing a cranio-cervical fusion three months earlier. She describes the surgery as the best decision of her life and expresses deep gratitude to Dr. Gilete and his team in Barcelona for improving her quality of life. Máxima praises Dr. Gilete for restoring her trust in doctors, his compassionate approach, and his willingness to go above and beyond to help her, contrasting this with her previous suffering and lack of support. She also highlights the kindness and support of the team, specifically naming Amy as an “angel”, always accessible and helpful. Finally, she encourages others to seek treatment in Barcelona, emphasizing Dr. Gilete’s ability to understand and treat complex conditions, and describes a dramatic transformation in her life, going from being bedridden to returning to university full-time and regaining the ability to do activities that were once impossible for her.
Maartje and Her Fight Against EDS
This documentary tells the story of Maartje, a 19-year-old diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a rare connective tissue disorder that causes pain, fatigue, and issues with joints and organs. It focuses on her cervical instability, a serious EDS complication. Due to the lack of surgeons experienced in this type of surgery in the Netherlands, Maartje traveled to Barcelona to undergo a cervical fusion operation, since pressure on her brainstem could be life-threatening in the long term. The video outlines her expectations before surgery, the recovery process, and the postoperative results, which show a significant improvement in her pain, concentration, and other functions, although her ocular problems persist. Despite the improvement in her quality of life, the insurance company refused to cover the costs of the procedure abroad, leading her to pursue legal action upon returning to the Netherlands, also aiming to help other EDS patients.
Surgery in Barcelona Restores Life for Craniocervical Hypermobility
This Antena 3 report focuses on craniocervical hypermobility or Chiari malformations, a condition that affects balance and impacts about 1 % of the population. It highlights the only specialized unit in Europe treating this disorder, located in Barcelona, where patients like Julia—previously confined to bed—and Karen—who regained her ability to walk after surgery—seek help. The report explains that hypermobility involves weaker-than-normal ligaments and mentions symptoms such as headaches and tremors.
Regaining Life: Success Stories After Cervical Fusion
This video features a group of patients who share their experiences with high cervical instability, a condition that caused them extreme suffering and limited their lives. They describe severe symptoms such as intense pain, nausea, fainting, breathing difficulties, and extreme sensitivity before undergoing surgery in Barcelona, Spain. The surgery, a cervical fusion, involved stabilizing their vertebrae or fusing the skull to the upper spine. Despite the complexity of the procedure and the recovery process, all attest to a significant improvement in their quality of life, being able to resume daily activities, care for their families, and, essentially, live again instead of merely survive.
It’s been three months since I had surgery…
“It’s been three months since I had surgery. I am so grateful for my surgeon and medical team there. Every step of the way they were there. Two nights before surgery I had more questions about it and unknown to us at the time Dr Gilete had already traveled 45 minutes home. After he was told we had questions he came back and spent an hour going over our questions and the scans. He wanted us to know everything so we were comfortable moving forward. Two days before that he and the other neurosurgeon spent TWO hours going over all my scans from the previous nine months all the way up to my new ones and showed us the exact surgical plan. Staying in touch with them has been a breeze. They answer questions quickly and have completely become family. Watch out Teknon, you’re getting a Christmas card every year.”
Brooke, USA
It’s safe to say the surgery was the best decision…
“It’s safe to say the surgery was the best decision I could have ever made! I’m incredibly-beyond-words-grateful for everyone involved in Barcelona. It’s such an amazing feeling to be in a lot less pain and be able to be more active- something I have not been able to experience for almost ten years. Since (me and my partner) have been together for so many years we could not wait to plan a small wedding ceremony to celebrate this new beginning. Even if I didn’t know for sure if I would be able to do it, we had a lot of help and luck and five months after the surgery we did it! This would not be possible without all of you.”
Katarina, Sweden
Dr. Gilete operated on me last June…
“Dr. Gilete operated on me last June for two lumbar herniated discs. Both the operation and the recovery were faster than I expected. In fact I very rapidly regained the strength I had lost in my leg and started walking. Now I walk between 4 and 5 Km without any problems! The pain in my leg and back has disappeared. We are very pleased with his professionalism and the treatment received by Dr Gilete. As for the facilities we would have nothing to say because they are known for the quality they offer. Without a doubt we would definitely recommend Dr. Gilete.”
Joan Josep, Barcelona
At age 50 in 2013, I was hit from behind…
“At age 50 in 2013, I was hit from behind at a red light. As a result of the car accident, I received a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and neck injuries. My symptoms concurred with brainstem impact and I had a pain in my head that was unbearable. The doctors in Sweden suspected an injury in the upper cervicals but did not investigate it further and left me with the words: we have no procedures for injuries located high up in the neck. I was getting worse and realized that I needed to find health care providers who could treat these types of injuries. In November 2019 I met Dr. Gilete for consultation. In March 2020, Gilete performed a C0-C2 and C4-C6 fusion and traction. Several symptoms disappeared after the operation and others were significantly reduced. I got some of my life back and best of all – the surgery stopped the deterioration that had escalated. My life is now bearable. I have regained some strength so that I can spend time with children and grandchildren. My family is so happy to see me feeling better!”
Ulla, Sweden
Dr Gilete, from the moment I made contact…
“Dr Gilete, from the moment I made contact, had a reply so rapidly. I felt he was positive, trusting, professional, understanding, empathetic to my personal situation. I needed specialist surgery in a country that was not my own and he made it simple. Dr Gilete made me feel safe in Barcelona from the moment we met in person in our consultation, right through the operating stage, and the final moment of discharge from Hospital. I have a genetic condition that affects the support to all of my joints, so it’s safe to say I’ve seen a lot of doctors over the years and had some major surgical procedures carried out. The best standard of care from start to end has to be from Dr Gilete and his team. I would recommend him to anyone in a heartbeat!”
Nina, UK
Dr. Gilete was the first doctor in many…
“Dr. Gilete was the first doctor in many that I have seen in 23 years to accurately diagnose me with CCI and AAI, and to offer me an actual treatment. He was also the first doctor who genuinely believed my story, my symptoms, and told me that I wasn’t crazy. My meeting with him felt like a validation of everything I went through for more than two decades after I hit my head in my teens. Although the decision for surgery was hard to make, I haven’t regret it one second. Dr. Gilete and the rest of the team are not only very experienced and professional, they are also warm, understanding, and go out of their way to make you as comfortable as can be during such a challenging time. since my brainfog has already almost totally dissapeared, I feel I am slowly but surely becoming myself again. After a year not being able to take care of my children, I now get to have dinner with them, make sandcakes, and do schoolwork with them. I already feel I gained so much from the surgery.”
Rozemarijn, Netherlands
Dr Gilete and his team saved my life…
“Dr Gilete and his team saved my life. I was able to put my wheelchair to the side for now after 6 and half years of relying on it to get around. I managed a 4 mile walk alone a few weeks ago. The biggest life changer has been that I have not had a single seizure since waking up from surgery. Before surgery I was in an extreme amount of pain and fatigue only awake a few hours at a time. My speech and swallowing were going downhill. When my head would slip backwards I would have trouble breathing. My short-term memory was unreliable and my ability to hold conversations was severely lacking. After only 3 and half months after waking up in the ICU after surgery, I was on a plane alone traveling to America to see family and make some amazing memories! I couldn’t thank or recommend their team enough. The whole team was so supportive. They most definitely saved my life.”
Ellen, UK
In February 2017 I had craniocervical fusion…
“In February 2017 I had craniocervical fusion with Dr. Gilete and his team at Teknon hospital. From the moment I became their patient they were very caring and respectful. Their knowledge as well as their compassion amazed me. I felt safe and very well cared for before the surgery, during surgery and recovery as well as afterwards. I trusted them with my life and if needed I would do it again. I’m now slowly getting my life back from being mostly bed bound for several years. The pain is minimal and all previous symptoms caused by the instability are gone. I am forever grateful to them.”
Lisa, Sweden
Patients in the Media
http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/9032899/
http://www.etc.se/inrikes/kunskap-om-sjukdomen-saknas
http://www.etc.se/inrikes/sjukdomen-ovanlig-lisa-nekas-vard?sida=
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Our team specializes in complex diagnosis and treatment of spinal conditions such as CCI, AAI, and Tethered Cord Syndrome. If you’re struggling with symptoms that remain unresolved, reach out to us. We offer both in-person consultations in Barcelona and telemedicine evaluations.