Kona, HI – A Kona woman is sharing her story of gratitude for a local physician whose skill and compassion transformed a frightening cancer diagnosis into a “patchwork of hope.” Susan Peters credits Dr. Parwathi Panicker, recently retired from Kaiser Permanente’s Kona Medical Offices, with not only expertly treating her skin cancer but also providing extraordinary care that went “way out of her way” to ease her anxieties.
Peters frist noticed a sore on her lip that wouldn’t heal and repeatedly bled. Initially, she delayed seeking medical attention due to the challenges of securing appointments during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the sore grew to the size of her thumb, she finally saw Dr. Panicker.
“The cancer was larger than it appeared on the surface, which happens quiet a bit,” Dr. Panicker explained. Peters underwent a lengthy procedure and subsequent revisions, maintaining “so much courage and fortitude” throughout, according to Dr. Panicker.
facing the possibility of significant disfigurement, Peters was relieved when Dr. Panicker proposed a reconstructive technique. “She said, ‘oh this is textbook. We have a trick that we can like, take, go from here all the way down to here, move your whole cheek over and cover that up,'” Peters recalled. The closure required over three hours of meticulous stitching, resulting in a scar far less noticeable than anticipated.
Over time, additional patches of skin cancer appeared. Peters consistently turned to Dr. Panicker, who prioritized her care, working her into the schedule and offering reassurance. ”She just bent over backwards to make me feel that whatever I came in there with, she was gonna be able to handle it, and it wasn’t gonna be a big deal,” Peters said.
Peters expressed profound thankfulness for Dr. Panicker’s professionalism, graciousness, and caring demeanor. ”I didn’t realize until she retired that it was like, ‘oh my goodness,’ because this kind of service is not something that we expect out here in Kona,” she stated.
Now focused on diligent skin care,Peters hopes to avoid future surgeries,adding,”Dr. Panicker is the only surgeon who’s ever cut on my face. I don’t wanna go to anybody else.” Hawaii News Now celebrates Dr. Parwathi Panicker as a Hawaii Healthcare Hero for her dedication to patients and her remarkable skill in turning a challenging diagnosis into a testament to hope and healing.
