I Will Always Be Grateful to Dr. Lin

On referral from another surgeon, I have recently had the honor and privilege of meeting Dr. Samuel Lin. Even though my surgery was already booked at a very prestigious hospital in Boston, I went to him for a second opinion. During my consultation, I was completely convinced I wanted him to perform my surgery. Having survived breast cancer twice in nine years, but unfortunately needing a mastectomy and reconstruction this time, I felt it was imperative to seek a second opinion. Having also worked in the medical field for twenty-five years, eleven of which was for three plastic surgeons, I was equipped with ample information about my condition and wanted not only an outstanding surgeon, but a surgeon with compassion and humility. I found all of these characteristics in Dr. Lin.
During my consultation with Dr. Lin, I noted he was double board-certified, extremely qualified in breast mound reconstruction, professional, knowledgeable with an incomparable level of expertise, an ability to comfort, reassure and support me with an inexplicable amount of compassion and kindness, which were the deciding factors in choosing him to do my surgery. Over the years I have met hundreds of surgeons, some surgeons having amazing talent, but not having a wonderful “bedside” manner, some who had an incredible bedside manner, but lacked in achieving the same surgical results, but I did not find this to be the case with Dr. Lin as he has it all.
At my initial consultation, I stated I wanted him to perform reconstruction, a DIEP flap, which is an extremely intricate, detail-oriented, microsurgical procedure that is practiced by only a few surgeons in Massachusetts and it is a 12-13 hour procedure. Unfortunately, as my breast cancer was now Grade III, time was of the essence and Dr. Lin was booked months in advance. However, this amazing man after learning of my plight, found a way for him and Dr. Staradub (the breast cancer surgeon) to coordinate their schedules to accommodate me and basically save my life. Dr. Lin’s level of expertise, professionalism, goal for perfection, incomparable skills as well as his sensitivity and compassion he displays to his patients is something that should not go unrecognized. BIDMC should be grateful to have Dr. Lin and his staff as well as Dr. Staradub and hers working at their institution as I know I am, and would not hesitate in referring anyone I know to both of them.
I cannot personally thank Dr. Lin enough, so I am writing this letter in hopes that BIDMC realizes the quality of surgeons it employs and that you are honored to have them and acknowledge them for their surgical skills as well as their genuine kindness and compassion. They are responsible for saving my life and that is the most priceless and valuable gift anyone could ever give to a human being. Not only did they save my life, Dr. Lin gave me an even greater gift, to continue to look and feel like a woman when my breast was ravaged by cancer, so that I could continue to maintain a sense of dignity and quality to my life.
Thank you for the care that I received at BIDMC and for the excellent surgeons for whom I had the privilege of being a patient.