A Second Chance to Thrive: One Patient's Life After Brain Tumor Surgery

At 25 years old, Ida Partee received news that would change the course of her life: she had been diagnosed with a brain tumor and Chiari malformation. More than a decade later, at 36, she looks back on that experience from a very different place. She has built a career helping others through some of life's most difficult moments, and she credits her experience as a young patient with shaping the person and professional she became.

Finding Confidence in a Frightening Moment

When Ida first met Semmes Murphey neurosurgeon Dr. Kenan Arnautovic, fear was understandably part of the experience. She remembers, however, that something else quickly became just as important: trust.

According to Ida, “From the very beginning, Dr. Arnautovic gave me something that was just as powerful as his medical expertise: confidence and reassurance. His confidence in his knowledge and in my ability to get through this journey gave my entire family a sense of peace during one of the most frightening times of our lives as a family.”

Life Beyond Surgery

Her relationship with Dr. Arnautovic did not end with surgery. She remembers his continued encouragement to move forward and live fully.
“Even after my surgery, he continued to encourage me to live my life to the fullest. What he probably never realized was just how deeply his words and examples impacted me. He inspired me to pursue my master's degree in medical social work.”

Today, Ida is a forensic therapist and has worked in the mental health field for nearly 10 years. Much like the support she remembers receiving during an extraordinarily difficult period in her own life, her career now allows her to help others navigate difficult moments of theirs.

More Than a Decade Later

Today, at 36, Ida is thriving and has found purpose in using her experience to help others. Her connection to Dr. Arnautovic’s work has continued as well. Throughout the years, Dr. Arnautovic has been invited to teach and share his expertise at neurosurgical meetings around the world, helping advance the knowledge and techniques used to care for patients with complex brain conditions. Ida recently watched one of his presentations with pride.

“I was so interested in the work and research he is doing. It was so impressive to see. The research is something I care about.”

Her mother, Carolyn Partee, watched the presentation as well. For her, learning more about Dr. Arnautovic’s work brought her back to what his expertise has meant to their family. Carolyn wrote in a letter to Dr. Arnautovic, “While your credentials and accomplishments are extraordinary, what means the most to us is that you used those gifts to save our daughter’s life.”

That connection between advancing medicine and caring for the individual patient is at the heart of Semmes Murphey’s mission. Our physicians continue to research, teach, and share their knowledge so that patients facing complex neurological conditions can benefit from the best care possible. For Ida and her family, that mission has a deeply personal meaning. “I can do this work because he saved my life in more ways than one. He didn't just treat my illness. He gave me the courage to believe that my life could continue beyond it. He gave me a second chance, a second chance not simply to survive, but to thrive, find my purpose, and use my own experiences to help others. I will forever be grateful that our paths crossed. I hope he knows that the impact he made on my life extends far beyond the operating room. He gave me a second chance at life, and I will carry that gift with me forever.”