Research has the power to transform lives, and the Faces of Research series showcases the incredible impact it can have on individuals facing complex health challenges. These stories are a testament to the cutting-edge research and dedicated healthcare professionals at Duke Health who are pushing the boundaries of modern medicine. Let's dive into the lives of five remarkable individuals and explore how research has given them a second chance at life.
Akenji and Asanti Dingaoyo: A Family's Fight for Survival
Janae Dingaoyo's twin boys, Akenji and Asanti, were born prematurely, weighing barely a pound each. Their journey began in the Duke Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where they spent six months fighting for their lives. Through the combined efforts of researchers and clinicians, the boys received life-saving treatments, including a delicate surgical procedure to close a hole in Asanti's heart and medication for an eye disease. Today, they are thriving, and their mother is forever grateful for the research that gave them a chance to grow up and experience life to the fullest.
Sabrina Lewandowski: Beating the Odds with Experimental Treatment
At just 30 years old, Sabrina Lewandowski was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer. Instead of giving up, she turned to the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, where she received an experimental treatment that rotated different chemotherapy drugs. This innovative approach, combined with radiation, extended her life beyond expectations. Today, 23 years later, Sabrina is alive and well, and she volunteers with Angels Among Us to support brain tumor research at Duke, taking nothing for granted.
Yvette Crawley: Retaining Independence Through Gene Therapy
Yvette Crawley's world started to go dark when she was diagnosed with macular telangiectasia type 2 (MacTel), a retinal disorder that causes slow vision deterioration. But after the FDA approved a new gene therapy in March 2025, a team at the Duke Eye Center implanted a tiny capsule into her eye, significantly slowing the degeneration. This groundbreaking procedure, the first of its kind in the state, has given Yvette the independence and confidence to continue living her life to the fullest.
Creed Kolasa: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the Promise of Research
Creed Kolasa was just six months old when he was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an aggressive disease that typically leaves children unable to walk by age 12. Doctors offered little hope, but Duke Children's Hospital had a solution. Creed joined a clinical trial for a new treatment that aims to restore a protein essential for muscle function. Today, he is thriving, walking on his own, and living a full life, thanks to the research and dedicated care of his team at Duke.
Alfonzo Grafton: A Second Chance at Life with Clinical Trials
Alfonzo Grafton's lung cancer was not responding to traditional chemotherapy. But a clinical trial at the Duke Cancer Institute, funded by the National Institutes of Health, turned his life around. The medication targeted a protein that put the brakes on his body's ability to fight the tumor, and he reacted so positively that his doctor called him a 'super responder.' Grafton is now living again, spending time with his family, and grateful for the research that gave him a second chance.
These stories are a powerful reminder of the transformative impact of research on individuals' lives. They are also a call to action, encouraging us to support and invest in research to solve other health challenges and save even more lives. With continued support, we can unlock the potential of research to change the world and create a healthier future for all.
