Latest news with #BurkittLymphoma
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller sues hospital claiming doctors left catheter in her abdomen for years
Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller has sued her team of doctors and Cedars-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital in Los Angeles for malpractice. Miller, who rose to fame through her tough-love approach to being a dance teacher on the Lifetime reality show, alleged that after doctors performed a spinal surgery on her in 2020, they left a catheter in her body. According to the lawsuit obtained by People, Miller informed her doctors shortly after the surgery that she was experiencing abdominal pain, but nothing had been done. Then, in June 2024, a doctor gave her a CT scan, where a retained catheter was allegedly discovered. The same day, doctors performed an emergency procedure to remove it. Miller filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court for medical negligence, professional negligence, and medical battery. She is asking for $1.4 million in damages. 'Cedars-Sinai cannot comment on pending legal matters,' the hospital told The Independent in a statement. 'Also, due to federal and state privacy laws, Cedars-Sinai cannot discuss any patient's medical treatment. However, the care and safety of our patients, staff, and visitors are always Cedars-Sinai's top priorities. We are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the highest standards of care for all those we serve.' Miller's attorney, Nadine Lewis, echoed the claims made in the lawsuit in a statement given to The Independent, saying: 'Abby Lee Miller suffered for years from an object left inside of her during spinal surgery; despite complaints to various physicians, not one ordered imaging of any kind to diagnose the source of her pain. 'Rather, they systemically dismissed her chronic pain and let her suffer for years.' She continued: 'As a paraplegic woman with a life sentence in a wheelchair, Abby lives with daily pain in the aftermath of her Burkitt Lymphoma diagnosis. For years, Abby complained of abdominal pain, only to be ignored by her most trusted physicians. Four years post-surgery Abby discovered that her surgeons had left a bright blue catheter inside of her abdomen.' Miller shot to fame on Dance Moms, in which she trained children to go into dance and show business under her exacting tutelage; however, ex-students left the program to complain about the difficult treatment they endured. The show debuted in 2011 and ended in 2019. Miller has since admitted during a May 2024 interview with ABC that she was possibly too harsh on her students, but added that she was only remorseful because 'they just didn't have the talent.' Several cast members have skyrocketed to fame as a result of the show, including Maddie Ziegler and JoJo Siwa.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Abby Lee Miller Sues Cedars-Sinai Hospital for Allegedly Leaving a Catheter Inside Her Body for Years
Abby Lee Miller is suing Cedars Sinai Marina Del Rey for alleged medical malpractice The Dance Moms star claims the hospital left a catheter in her body after performing a spinal surgery in 2020 Miller was previously diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma in 2018Abby Lee Miller is suing Cedars-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital for alleged medical malpractice. Miller, 59, alleges that the hospital left a catheter in her body for years after performing life-saving spinal surgery in 2020. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Tuesday, June 3, was first reported by TMZ. According to the legal documents obtained by PEOPLE, the Dance Moms alum allegedly began suffering from abdominal pain and discomfort following the otherwise successful surgery. She claimed she told her medical team about the pain, including the two doctors who performed her surgery. Miller alleged her complaints were largely ignored until a doctor performed a CT scan, which allegedly revealed a retained catheter inside her body, in June 2024. The scan "confirmed the presence of the foreign object," per the lawsuit. That same day, doctors "performed an emergency procedure to remove the item, which was identified as a retained catheter left inside Plaintiff's body from the prior surgeries," the lawsuit reads. The documents define a "retained surgical object" as "foreign material accidentally left inside a patient's body during surgery." The introduction to the complaint continued, "It's estimated that 1 in 5,500 surgeries will result in a patient with a retained surgical object." She is now suing the hospital for medical negligence, professional negligence, medical battery and more. She is seeking $1.4 million in damages. "Abby Lee Miller suffered for years from an object left inside of her during spinal surgery; despite complaints to various physicians, not one ordered imaging of any kind to diagnose the source of her pain," Miller's attorney, Nadine Lewis, said in a statement to PEOPLE, echoing claims made in the complaint. "Rather, they systemically dismissed her chronic pain and let her suffer for years." "As a paraplegic woman with a life sentence in a wheelchair, Abby lives with daily pain in the aftermath of her Burkitt Lymphoma diagnosis," Lewis went on to say, reiterating allegations in the complaint. "For years, Abby complained of abdominal pain, only to be ignored by her most trusted physicians. Four years post-surgery Abby discovered that her surgeons had left a bright blue catheter inside of her abdomen." "Cedars-Sinai cannot comment on pending legal matters," the hospital said in a statement to PEOPLE. "Also, due to federal and state privacy laws, Cedars-Sinai cannot discuss any patient's medical treatment." "However, the care and safety of our patients, staff and visitors are always Cedars-Sinai's top priorities," the statement continued. "We are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the highest standards of care for all those we serve." The reality star has been battling health issues since 2018, when she was initially thought to have a severe spinal infection. Doctors later diagnosed Miller with Burkitt lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that develops in the lymphatic system. One of Miller's doctors, Dr, Hooman M. Melamed, previously told PEOPLE in 2018, 'It was not an infection, it was a type of a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma – it's a type of a cancer." Melamed, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Cedar Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital who once treated Miller, said, 'We're getting an oncologist involved and we have to figure out what the next steps are as far as chemotherapy or radiation or more spine surgery. Depending on the tumor type, depending on the sensitivity of the tumor – it just depends the type but I feel more than yes, she will undergo chemotherapy or radiation.' Melamed is named as one of the defendants in the new lawsuit. When reached for comment on Wednesday, June 4, a representative for Melamed said, "No comment." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The diagnosis came a year after Miller received a sentence of one year and one day in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release for bankruptcy fraud. She was additionally fined $40,000 and ordered to pay the $120,000 judgment, as well as give a DNA sample relating to her felony charge. She was sentenced in 2017. Miller starred on Lifetime's Dance Moms from 2011 to 2019. At the time, she served as the director of Reign Dance Productions in Pittsburgh. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Dance Moms' Abby Lee Miller Slams L.A. Hospital For Leaving Object In Her After 2020 Surgery
Abby Lee Miller has sued a prominent Los Angeles-area hospital for malpractice, accusing them of failing to honor a proper duty of care. The former "Dance Moms" star filed a legal complaint against Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital and two of the facility's doctors for leaving a foreign object inside her body during a 2020 operation. According to Abby Lee Miller, she felt that following the surgery, the hospital and its medical practitioners did not listen to her concerns. Her issues with the famous facility come years after battling a long list of health problems. In her legal complaint against Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital, Miller revealed she underwent a spine surgery five years ago. She noted two doctors were in charge of the operation, and everything seemed fine until she noticed concerning symptoms. Miller claimed she experienced abdominal pain and discomfort, but her complaints were allegedly brushed off by multiple doctors, including the two responsible for her surgery. She continued to endure the intense symptoms until one of her medical reps decided to perform a CT scan. The scan, per Miller, revealed a "retained catheter" had been left inside her body after the spine operation. On that note, she sued the hospital and the two doctors involved for medical negligence, professional negligence, medical battery, and more. She also asked for at least $1.4 million in damages, per TMZ. A spokesperson for Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital addressed the lawsuit in a statement to the outlet, claiming the medical facility could not comment on pending legal matters or share details about a patient's medical treatment. Although the facility could not address Miller's lawsuit, the representative claimed that the hospital has always prioritized its patients' wellbeing and never dabbled in malpractice. "We are dedicated to ensuring that we meet the highest standards of care for all those we serve," the spokesperson said. The legal drama between the hospital and Miller follows various medical issues. Woman's Day covered the media personality's health struggles, reporting that she underwent a gastric bypass surgery in 2017 to increase the results of her weight loss journey. Miller became focused on shedding the extra pounds in 2015 after a diabetes diagnosis. A month after the gastric bypass surgery, Miller was found guilty of bankruptcy fraud and was sentenced to one year in prison. However, her failing health allowed her to be released eight months later, and she regained her freedom with a new body. Miller reportedly lost 100 pounds during her time in prison, and she declared that she was no longer diabetic after prison doctors discontinued her diabetes medication. In April 2018, she was rushed to the hospital for an unknown thyroid condition that later left her paralyzed from the neck down. Doctors initially performed an emergency surgery, believing she had a spinal infection, but she was eventually diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma. The rare but aggressive type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma needed 10 rounds of chemotherapy and months of rehabilitation before Miller was declared cancer-free in 2019. However, she needed to use an electric wheelchair to move. Although her health problems were significant, Miller was more disheartened by her time behind bars for bankruptcy fraud. In 2022, The Blast covered her reaction to those who abandoned her in her time of need. The media personality slammed her former co-stars from "Dance Moms," claiming the parents of the children she coached did not support her throughout her incarceration. She condemned their actions as ingratitude, saying: "Shame on you after what I did for you, for your children…helped make you a lot of money. You couldn't come to visit me for eight and a half months?" According to Miller, she received tons of letters from children in other countries, yet not a single message came from the families she helped rise to fame. She slammed them for using her as a stepping stone, claiming they wouldn't have made it without her. Miller's medical negligence lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital isn't the first time she has sued a Los Angeles-area facility for improper care. In 2022, she filed a legal complaint against a hotel in L.A. called Hampton Inn and Suites and requested that they pay over $20 million in damages. The choreographer claimed she suffered emotional and physical injuries during her stay at the hotel in March 2020. She noted her room's sliding bathroom door crashed on her head while attempting to free her wheelchair, which got caught under it. Miller alleged the "300+ pound door" pinned her down for six to twelve minutes before the hotel's staff heard her cries for help. She was rushed to the hospital for treatment and blamed the hotel for delaying her healing from a previous cancer surgery. Will Abby Lee Miller emerge victorious in her lawsuit against Cedars-Sinai Marina Hospital?
ABC News
3 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Cough leads Sunshine Coast woman to rare Burkitt lymphoma diagnosis
Childhood educator Jessie Stott knew something was not right when she could not shake an aggressive cough for more than three months. Ms Stott, 33, had always led an active and healthy lifestyle. The Nirimba resident, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, trained at a gym five days a week, ate a balanced diet, and had no family history of cancer. She enjoyed her job and was studying nursing. She and her high-school sweetheart partner, 37-year-old carpenter Lucas Vogelpoel, were even trying for a baby. But her persistent cough would not go away. "Doctors kept saying it was a viral infection, but then it kept getting worse," Ms Stott said. After months of pushing for answers, her doctor ordered a CT scan in March. It revealed an 80-millimetre growth on her chest — the size of an orange. She was referred to a surgeon in April but wait times were more than two months. With the growth pressing on her heart, no diagnosis, and still no real answers, Ms Stott's symptoms worsened. Then in early May, late on a Friday night, she woke up unable to breathe and with a "tingly" left arm. "I thought I was having a heart attack," Ms Stott said. She was rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital. After advocating for herself again while in hospital, Ms Stott received a diagnosis. It was B-cell lymphoma. Just a few weeks later she was told the mass had grown by another 20 centimetres. A biopsy confirmed it was Burkitt lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer requiring immediate and intensive chemotherapy. Burkitt lymphoma is extremely rare and known for rapidly expanding. Ms Stott has since been undergoing intensive chemotherapy. "We were booked in for an IVF cycle, which we had to forgo," Ms Stott said. Mr Vogelpoel said it was heartbreaking to give up the IVF. "But her health is more important," he said. Ms Stott has four months of exhausting treatment ahead of her, involving 21-day chemotherapy cycles with a seven-day break in between. She also has three lumbar punctures a week, where medical staff jab a needle into her spine to remove fluid, then inject her with chemotherapy. "It's very painful," Ms Stott said. General practitioner Katie Gardner, who is also clinical editor at Country to Coast Queensland, said it could be worth following up with a doctor if flu-like symptoms lasted longer than a week. "Australians generally report high satisfaction with their GPs," she said. "But if you feel your concerns aren't being heard or taken seriously, the first step is to raise them directly with your treating doctor, especially if you've noticed a pattern over time or worsening symptoms. She said people who were still concerned could ask whether further tests or a referral might be appropriate, seek a second opinion from another GP, or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84). "You know your body best," she said. "If something doesn't feel right, it's OK to keep asking questions or request additional follow-up." Ms Stott said pushing doctors for answers saved her life. "If I didn't keep pushing I'd still be waiting for a diagnosis," she said. "Most people don't get to hospital until it's too late and their airways are closing. "People know their own bodies and if you feel like something isn't right, just keep pushing."
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
17-year-old graduates high school after beating cancer
A Georgia teen who was diagnosed with cancer during her senior year of high school is celebrating a momentous milestone this week. Aubrey Barnett, 17, graduated from Walnut Grove High School in Loganville on May 20, just five months after finishing chemotherapy and ringing the celebration bell at The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Walnut Grove Principal Lindsey Allen praised Aubrey's resilience and achievement in a statement to "Good Morning America." "Aubrey Barnett's strength, courage, and uplifting spirit have inspired our entire school community," Allen said. "Her victory over cancer while continuing to excel as a student is a powerful reminder of what determination and hope can accomplish. We are very proud of her!" Teen cancer survivor scores winning shot in last high school basketball game Aubrey told "GMA" she first noticed a lump on her neck last summer but never thought it would turn out to be cancer. At the time, she was leading a busy life, running cross country and track, cheering for her school and working, as well as embarking on her final year in high school. On Sept. 16, 2024, Aubrey received a life-changing diagnosis and learned she had Burkitt lymphoma, a rare and aggressive non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma that can cause rapid tumor growth in the head, neck, central nervous system and other areas of the body, according to StatPearls, an online library published in the National Library of Medicine, and the National Organization for Rare Disorders. "I didn't really believe it," Aubrey said. "I was just living a normal life. I was like, there's no way I have cancer. I'm fine. And then when they told me, I was like, 'Are y'all serious?' Like, I didn't really know what to feel." Chancey Barnett, Aubrey's mom, said it was "heart-wrenching" to hear her daughter had cancer. "It went from an unnoticeable little lump to the size of her jaw. And so, it was obviously something," Barnett said. "It was just heart-wrenching to hear when they told us what it was. But just looking at her, I knew that it was going to be fine, because she's such a fighter, and she's so strong. I knew she'd be OK." For three months, Aubrey underwent intensive chemotherapy, an aggressive treatment that included injections into the spinal cord, which caused her to have mouth sores and lose all of her hair. "She had mouth sores so bad that she couldn't open her mouth because they were around her mouth, throughout her mouth, and down her esophagus," Barnett explained. "It was hard for her to eat, it was hard for her to talk, it was hard for her to do anything." Despite the difficult treatment, Aubrey never gave up, and her fellow classmates even voted her to be their homecoming queen while she was in the hospital. California teen tearfully rings bell after finishing cancer treatment Aubrey is now in remission and plans on attending Emmanuel University in the fall, where she will continue running cross country and track. She said she plans to major in exercise science to become a pediatric physical therapist. Chancey Barnett said her daughter's cancer fight has changed everything for her and her family, but it's also proof of Aubrey's unshakeable will and strength. "It was just a never-ending up-and-down battle. But she made it through all of it," the mom of three said. "When she says she's going to do something, she does it." For Aubrey, her message to anyone facing a challenge is to look for the positive whenever possible. "Whatever you're going through, you can get through it if your mindset is right," she said. "I feel like that's the biggest thing is to have a good mindset, because if you just think about all the negatives, you're never going to be able to get through it. So you just need to think about the positives and that everything happens for a reason." 17-year-old graduates high school after beating cancer originally appeared on
