Dr. Raquel Dureza-Muneses, MD

Dr. Dureza saved my life and I am forever grateful for her. I had 17 sequestered disc fragments protruding into my spinal cord from a car accident years earlier that were never diagnosed. I spent years in debilitating pain while still working and raising a family. My arms went numb daily to the point of paralysis starting, and the shooting pains I endured every day and night for years became so agonizing I'd pray for God to take me. Every other doctor told me there was nothing wrong with me! I was 25 years old living in the Bay Area and felt hopeless. After spending a week in the hospital, I was transported for an MRI and upon return, Dr. Raquel Dureza was waiting for me to take me into surgery for a C 6-7/7-8 fusion. Dr. Dureza gave me my life back. How do you thank someone for that? It's been 25 years since she did my surgery and I've never had a problem with my neck since. I do have partial paralysis in 3 fingers, but that was because I spent years living with a broken neck that caused irreversible damage. But to this day, I talk about Dr. Dureza and the gift of quality of life she gave to me. Respect and Appreciation Always, Thank you, Amber M. Stafura (maiden name in 1999 at time of surgery: Amber M. Wienke ) ??