Amy - Breast Reconstruction - Kouris MD - Hinsdale, IL

My name is Amy Burke. I found Dr. Kouris at Midwest Plastic Surgery. I was basically referred to him by another doctor. At 28 years old, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My team of doctors recommended that I have a mastectomy. That was a big decision for me to have that at 28 because it scared me. I also knew I had to go through chemotherapy. For some reason, I was absolutely terrified of both. I never in a million years thought I would have a mastectomy because it never crossed my mind. I thought the typical thing was radiation and chemotherapy. I couldn't wrap my head around it.

Then I walked into Dr. Kouris' office and I swear it's like he was like the sun for me coming through the clouds. It was one of the darkest times in my life. I saw him and met him and Nurse Sheila. The two of them together make quite a team. I know that they're the reason why I did what I did. I could foresee, I guess, the end result being positive. It truly is. For me, I hope this message helps other women out there that are scared, whether they're 28 or like 68, to know that they're in good hands. My family with Dr. Kouris is that God works through his hands. I really believed that, that I was safe when I was in his care. I had double mastectomy in the end. One was prophylactic and I decided that symmetry was important and without even fully being able to articulate all of that, Dr. Kouris knew. He knew what I wanted and he made it easy for me to foresee where he was gonna go with it.

He did reconstruction on both and the end result, honestly, is more... probably more beautiful than what I had before. I can't say enough wonderful things about him and his team. In some ways they didn't just save my life. They helped me also be whole again. That was important to me 'cause I'm still young and I have a long life to live. They made that real for me. I'm very appreciative. If I could tell other people out there having go... to go through a reconstruction process or even just plastic surgery in general, I'd highly recommend going to Dr. Kouris. There's nobody else I'd go to.

I recommend him so much that when my sister actually had to consider having double mastectomy with reconstruction as well, we had met with another surgeon only because they recommended it at this other hospital. Within moments of sitting there I'm like, "This just isn't right." It wasn't a good feel. There's something truly special about being with Dr. Kouris. I left it up to her to decide. She ultimately chose here, too. He's a godsend. For me and for her, we... I know that we made the right choice. My father was a big part of our life and he used to help us figure out some of the next steps medically, what to do and stuff, and he passed away from something called cholangiocarcinoma not too long after my cancer diagnosis. We lost him, but I know I had to help guide my sister through her journey. I can't help but think my father was sending us back to Dr. Kouris as well.

We wound up establishing a really good rapport with him. We consider him like family now. He's a wonderful doctor. He's the best. I can't thank him enough for saving my life and, for a lack of better words, putting me back together again. I'm really glad and I highly recommend him. I hope other women see the light at the end of the tunnel, too, 'cause he's great to have.