Life-saving surgery inspires man to become doctor

In 2018, Chidi Tagbo, had a massive tumor pressing against his skull that, if not removed, could cause blindness, brain damage and, ultimately, death. Tagbo couldn’t find a surgeon willing to touch him as the surgery was too risky. He got no after no from doctors in his home country of Nigeria, Germany, India, Dubai and Spain. But all it took was one “yes” via email from Dr. Kongkrit Chaiyasate, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Corewell Health, and a 5,500-mile trip to Michigan for Tagbo to get his life back. Fast forward to today: Tagbo just graduated from medical school at University of Nigeria at Ituku Ozalla and is now a physician. He said he was inspired by Dr. Chaiyasate to specialize in surgery.