When Laura from Grand Rapids learned she had a lemon-sized tumor in her brain, she wanted the best doctor in the Midwest to treat her. She launched an exhaustive search and one name kept coming up: Murali Guthikonda, M.D., at Harper University Hospital.

In October 2002, Laura went to her eye doctor in Grand Rapids for a routine exam and was surprised to learn she was slowly going blind. A few weeks later when an optic neurologist discovered the cause of the problem, she was even more surprised. A large tumor was growing in her brain.

“I said, ‘How can we get rid of it? Can I take a pill?’” Laura remembers. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be so easy. She needed brain surgery.