OXIESEC PANEL

Name	Size	Modified	Perms
📁 ..	-	05/19/2025 10:07:13 AM	rwxrwxr-x
📄 00075c93132acf7a6e46e48d2291ce41.spc	5.69 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0102169e52b6a27a410e7b237202fe84.spc	140.81 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 027d4dde1e82475da3d9afe4844afb1d.spc	2.63 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 03036edfece701eaa1537fea4014dd44.spc	56.35 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0446f65691fba260d3eabbd1377240f8.spc	5.75 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 04d0c6cc2bf146b1318b78f84416b912.spc	124.45 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0582678c8cfff117f770f9368b70c2b5.spc	19.33 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0601d608f5e2ea8e198130b17fe6ef01.spc	157 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 061ad7f2b0116c570fdc35c36824c7c6.spc	42.24 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 06e0c598a46c483b6b9d775e1ba1ecd4.spc	124.09 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0802b12194f292de0e9d9617ac014785.spc	290.02 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 083aed319a0b5c8691e31d9150d8005e.spc	19.84 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0a3bf48c84477cd58dbc2036a0331134.spc	70.63 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0b5e5f226006af7e46d02ba8ce216a45.spc	54.71 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0b73d04c6bba0acaf2f9a569f388313a.spc	33.59 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0b8a46fca237497cfc90498f9eb909ab.spc	686.66 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0ce2bdd7061489c6136e7614d421b874.spc	47.7 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0de8a2204854bb5dd311607494c671e4.spc	828.58 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:22 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0e15494dca4aeb24ea769582482c5162.spc	150.58 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0eaec40cfb584fcb55fcdfb5d76684b9.spc	16.95 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0ed254d4d9db6e3afe193b00bc6471bb.spc	89.85 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0f079d9bb09fef940c38ee73b52b91d4.spc	34.42 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0f5e21d9d8354d10ea23d99101259ba2.spc	42.06 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 0ffc1fa29a6bad7fb49e55940c374610.spc	75.61 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1071b4a15b6c2fe6f7a96f194d0ba524.spc	196 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 10ae571a6266a8e21b0fbb15f552a1cb.spc	13.15 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 118c129ff99a905e4e9325e388b841fe.spc	45.34 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 131a4ad07dda46888cbbc1cb4c710a91.spc	59.6 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 132dee0a955be7733cc009e546de18da.spc	100.76 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 142d8795402a4e8a520be8ebea6f54f3.spc	22.7 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1469d584e9747d132077c9df3cda6c97.spc	121.15 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1479626ef8ef423638ca62f43b3e0f8d.spc	95.45 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 16e016e3ca27d793aa9172c1913c3f23.spc	26.74 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 19f3a21c36072f501f634db8e658bc9f.spc	16.6 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1b8954ae7aab6fd9784cbcc827133f80.spc	186 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1c0bbac8beea30e555f26fd02994e7a5.spc	19.96 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1c1a63fc25720b7c22c9c28fa2aa9379.spc	236.54 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1f1672e0ecc5e7a6d278c930015520ab.spc	166 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1f4cf3ae9ba91935f556711c1cfc34d4.spc	88.33 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 1f5e96e3f1a01f95ab611ec1458fe470.spc	169.16 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:23 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 20a75b688975a2d5d342eae9f4c33411.spc	1.22 MB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 225d97aca36305a8b407ea6d8d5b187e.spc	55.08 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 242d3dabf79d13154fcc384ff8b2d25e.spc	113.19 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 25512b0d18ae6e4d20d027abbc467365.spc	31.2 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 25948504a82cd8da1985fddd4500c1c7.spc	153.7 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 26e0c631724f3653c10c3123546ab5e2.spc	110.09 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2704664dff0e40e19de087fe00892bc2.spc	24.51 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 274ae07ff50cfde2bda57a71703b62f4.spc	2.54 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2799184659106c88b5072a3e3f763a4d.spc	2.54 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2801f3bdd649962fa663f608c2383280.spc	154.53 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 28099e26c5c9a06acb85a41ccd789efc.spc	500.36 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2aabe0323264e3f60916621039be0e76.spc	42.37 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2abcd685295b4a261ad2e866188e5e11.spc	125.3 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2aed529f6407470bef913050a1d118ef.spc	151 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2b2654a64e8b0f5d9cf497e0883b2042.spc	96.1 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2dae1abba28ecd05f3e1e91f308cf8c4.spc	87.25 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2db16a36af8daf383cb739dd57a44d90.spc	147.19 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2de250597c053bd81359233c14c51db4.spc	286.38 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 2fb670ecdcda7db936aa7d2f018a79e4.spc	23.75 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 30d5af6cd4c10ea02520bcaba31f3d1c.spc	141.02 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:24 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 31591159e55bceb27be71ce43cd1517e.spc	443.64 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 31f817c15425941589a9819216265501.spc	68.33 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 34661b0e5b23f423b303c946172b39f8.spc	20.99 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 3567037b5acd1842946ba40397edead4.spc	84.5 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 37cf2adae9335c54f1dbc436922e6cfc.spc	181 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 389ae768f4ecb350b56b92da3b04c1ac.spc	180.5 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 3bcfb7838de30c68c7acc437c16935cc.spc	142.35 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 3ca755a78dd04c91695e5fcee845991f.spc	42.02 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 3d135369c757ae57c3c873e6070d5ac6.spc	46.18 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 3e4e8d898fc42bca52bf888c3a33ef23.spc	614.85 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 3e804b49f84699d48348b3bee312090d.spc	25.24 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 3f92b590befbddc6f7237f2ff7a2ca21.spc	407.55 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 3f93802ae5a285cffaf04f22ceb596fb.spc	307.02 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 419e5468f73de12da7ac55b064ff6e04.spc	19.87 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 43cdef0c688f38c395285fd09bd1d8b6.spc	163 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 445a8424173fb9de0f08493a09557c92.spc	39.14 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 447b88825763019604aca4e363415120.spc	3.18 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 44a6e222af7ac1e000190688f3824d27.spc	103.66 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 45ec354e05ea3a553e89c9f9d1ee7a6f.spc	67.86 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 48926180fcc9ab4ab897cfbc5279409e.spc	170 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 4904c558085c30a9ca52969c7f875cf8.spc	155 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:25 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 490fd4abfc32189cff5d5f38ddaaff5b.spc	22.31 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 491e4a0adc576f7c32fdb7ee38bb0997.spc	88.77 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 492e918dde587df3095914b1f67cd6ee.spc	31.56 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 4b6d0ec22ab2dc33cffefef17cf9a288.spc	87.42 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 4b6fa8105439c52ea4f2c1f18e0957e2.spc	181 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 4c3facd12e8f40cab8114677f681ebaf.spc	134 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 4ca537d8aa4727a23841361c475118e1.spc	42.22 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 4d1bb795413f82f68c666caa0c0c27bb.spc	148.14 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 4e8baeaef3679f9460ffdecddbb1f6a7.spc	35.08 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 5064bfc366d30fb3250bafeacadc83db.spc	22.11 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 50ba71d2f35fb5e96b224d907d33d263.spc	720.35 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 51447ae67b6d856982df0ea0496cf24b.spc	18.89 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 522fe4b133aa24cb42c79b24ecb5c838.spc	134.37 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 5432740bf8126b80fd18515165c5cf20.spc	22.07 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 55fad6ae8bfedfb81fafc8bd5112a79f.spc	31.16 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 577d0589862161e3aaa25ed8758b2765.spc	29.23 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 57e4b3f5cadf2d33fa630cb96499349a.spc	154 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 588359e68ff59d4ef53aaf3edb6a44cf.spc	6.77 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 5a06bba505584742f9e590f2f81e0ff3.spc	128 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 5c6d487a1fbb288f7f0f73b55f6b2df1.spc	41.86 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 5c744a4198beb7326dcf101f961486b4.spc	56.94 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 5ef8b2cef4776b3e3f9f79092ce932ca.spc	124.66 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:26 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 5fc9bcdda34ec7e72510b177a0164b7b.spc	602.71 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 60bc545cda9dafe75484b88be1dd4ae9.spc	67.49 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 60fe2edd86b212feb0f71552066ef55d.spc	186.19 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 6270f865db79068a5dedb78ba877e7a0.spc	100.02 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 6370a4a7eb9be29e32a96811bc0dd7b6.spc	19.59 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 63f55618eba7b0585577fb08ea8818dc.spc	41.42 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 651d4f6bf953adef7c5b8f05f01e1151.spc	32.47 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 66267a4d6dba7887fc7d4a1aa2da9b75.spc	123.73 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 663e01e065755a523f15f61782ef2fd0.spc	28.3 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 66506bf5272cefcb56085b4b77463bd8.spc	280.88 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 669fa07a0da20a5d0da35d972d5fcac5.spc	99.77 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 679d4423c6016aeb24557d767a509bbb.spc	46.29 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 69185497e5f13fd4744a2c39d76fb812.spc	32.55 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 69b3abe3aa88d144d3591d56873de72b.spc	150 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 6a0ab3ec7216c8caa50e266f3ff16993.spc	22.35 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 6c7544e2246a222bbde6ad7d0406c8db.spc	200.49 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 6c7c31384f1626a700bc8fbd2f584add.spc	57.94 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 6cf9d92f08956fa74016014a99dc793e.spc	28.51 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 6ee565104f90a8212dd7e14133d6e4ae.spc	193 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 6eede30400457c4277e91f133b7a27a6.spc	60.73 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:27 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 71f0008f42879a3e550851568b3494d0.spc	1.8 MB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 72ff111641b87f5d234c3ded91959234.spc	136.69 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7400954e05f62bf45dcf5c1087223df4.spc	2.63 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7463e454c4ab831179d37c4e86643dc2.spc	266.75 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 74a014a9f44690e4a045b1753c1ef5c9.spc	159 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 76c5af11f8b8bd34c58097da8689d2a2.spc	185.34 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 76e6555adc909bfac627ceaba91df128.spc	167.17 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7ab2d04babf16e9d06f787e38f186748.spc	89.36 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7b9723cc6339397505e29dbe8497b10a.spc	150 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7beeb799568e0584e407e788f7ec973d.spc	56.61 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7c6fcaa553a1353d8fcc5535064f4008.spc	50.63 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7d1ab5c52f2c3ab33c409e73bedecc5e.spc	3.92 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7dc75885832733a5ea185d98887b82df.spc	33.47 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 7e7185a8ee7828937f2a05f0aa956f10.spc	162 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 80d5eace46cca553f0c7e7a631ed6703.spc	123.39 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 828f89042b67ae6fca8657110997c302.spc	3.94 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8341235cab83dcb126f0ad2b5812b63d.spc	88.67 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8353d08af859970965abdbc71f5bf9a3.spc	37.15 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 83efe9d0463ea50fa82517c4a92ed589.spc	158 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8409cc881139fa5d466af5d757f19609.spc	48.09 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 84ed1e5a5cc7fb7930a3132f1dd7ae0a.spc	112.98 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 850a6a7f962502618892db457e231fe7.spc	131.61 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 852c8f9b4effcea04904f4e1e55da3f4.spc	459.08 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 874091b93fb13db66a5fdbe72fbb8d6b.spc	1.59 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8b768f4e406ced9a4cba62897a7bc651.spc	97.91 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8bbfe139e67e5f738b9ffcb18a7c5b86.spc	47.7 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8d0823d0a4bd13241dc275b14e801667.spc	183.86 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8d3db038a087fbdc54054a9282afa2c6.spc	164 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:28 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8d64115de2ca5294e771c8614663c953.spc	162 bytes	11/09/2024 12:47:29 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 8e24588eb23460ceefe5195686c2a6db.spc	101.38 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:29 PM	rw-rw-r--
📄 906b5d59de170e528244744b925a8af5.spc	97.16 KB	11/09/2024 12:47:29 PM	rw-rw-r--
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/BrainSurgeryBerg_16-x-9.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="575" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/BrainSurgeryBerg_16-x-9-1024x575.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-50817" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/BrainSurgeryBerg_16-x-9-1024x575.jpg 1024w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/BrainSurgeryBerg_16-x-9-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/BrainSurgeryBerg_16-x-9-768x432.jpg 768w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/BrainSurgeryBerg_16-x-9.jpg 1121w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>

Julie Berg's life revolves around three things: family, friends and faith. The 79-year-old has a large extended family that enjoys celebrating large and small milestones together, and she has a wide network of close-knit friends across two states. Through it all, her strong Catholic faith has been the foundation of her life. When Julie's health was tested, she leaned on her family, friends and faith for support.

For 10 years, Julie and her husband, Jim Berg, spent winters in Arlington, Texas, and summers in their motor home on a lake with extended family in Le Center, Minnesota. Her days were spent with her friends from church and entertaining loved ones from near and far, including the couple's two sons and five grandchildren.

<h4>Troubling symptoms</h4>

In September 2020, the couple was enjoying the waning summer days in Minnesota when Julie was surprised to discover that she was having trouble speaking and slurring her words after returning from a walk.

Jim was concerned, so he drove her to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/emergency-medicine">Emergency Department</a>&nbsp;at Mayo Clinic Health System in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/new-prague">New Prague</a>, Minnesota. The care team ordered an MRI, which revealed a spot on her brain. Julie was quickly transferred to Mayo Clinic Health System in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/mankato">Mankato</a>, Minnesota.

"She had a very ill-defined looking mass on her brain," says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/manish-sharma-mbbs">Manish Sharma, M.B.B.S.</a>, the Mayo Clinic Health System&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/neurosurgery">neurosurgeon</a>&nbsp;who evaluated Julie. "At this point, we didn't even know whether it was from a stroke or if it was a tumor."

<h4>Surprise diagnosis</h4>

Julie's symptoms improved, and she was able to return home to recover before follow-up appointments with her doctors. Three days later, Julie's son, Jason Berg, arrived from Texas for a visit.

"She seemed OK at first, but the next morning she started talking gibberish. We immediately set out for the ER," says Jason.

On the way, Julie's condition worsened, and she began to have seizures. Julie was admitted to the hospital and had a second MRI of her brain. The previously identified small spot on her brain had grown over five or six times in size.

"At this point, Julie had a rapidly increasing brain mass, which was likely to be a&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/glioblastoma/cdc-20350148" target="_blank">glioblastoma multiforme</a>&nbsp;— the kind that Sen. John McCain had," says Dr. Sharma, referencing the late U.S. senator from Arizona. "It was located in the area of the brain responsible for dominant hand function and understanding speech."

Glioblastoma multiforme is a highly aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord. It can occur at any age, but it tends to occur more often in older adults. This type of cancer accounts for over half of all primary brain tumors and can be difficult to treat. A cure often is not possible, but treatments can slow cancer progression, and reduce signs and symptoms.

Dr. Sharma outlined the choices for Julie and her family: Biopsy the tumor, undergo surgery to remove the tumor or leave it and let nature take its course. Every choice was hard. The family weighed the options.

"My mom has always been a very positive person," says Jason. "She wanted to try to fight it, but mentally and emotionally, she was good with whatever was going to happen."

<h4>COVID-19 setback</h4>

The family decided to move forward with surgery to remove the mass. As a precaution, all patients undergoing surgery were tested for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/covid19">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;three days before their surgery date. The Bergs were surprised to discover that Julie had tested positive for the virus, which meant her surgery would be postponed.

"During surgery, patients are intubated which can cause tiny particles called aerosols to carry the virus into the air," says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/eric-gomez-md">Eric Gomez-Urena, M.D.</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/infectious-diseases">Infectious Diseases</a>&nbsp;physician. "As a precaution, surgery was postponed to lower the risk of virus transition and protect the safety of our staff."

A few days later, Julie began to experience symptoms of COVID-19, and she was admitted for pneumonia to the hospital at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato.

<h4>Complex surgery</h4>

While in the hospital, Julie had additional CT scans that showed two additional complications: She had developed blood clots in her lungs from COVID-19, which required blood thinners. But this caused her brain tumor to bleed.

"Whenever a patient develops blood clots in the lung, we want to delay surgery because we need to stop the blood thinners in order to operate," says Dr. Sharma. "The blood thinners protect the patient from developing more potentially fatal lung clots, but these (blood thinners) can cause a hemorrhage at the operating site."

Dr. Sharma brought together a team to discuss Julie's complex case, including experts from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/hematology">Hematology</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/infectious-diseases">Infectious Diseases</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/hospital-medicine">Hospital Medicine</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/radiology-and-imaging">Interventional Radiology</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/palliative-care">Palliative Care</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/vascular-medicine">Vascular Medicine</a>. They needed to determine the best way to stop her tumor from bleeding without causing additional lung clots to form.

"It was a very dangerous situation. Not only were we dealing with a brain tumor that had grown five to six times in size and had started bleeding, Julie also had COVID pneumonia and blood clots from this in her lungs," says Dr. Sharma. "It was a very stressful time for her and the family. We wanted to delay surgery to let her recover from the pneumonia and lung clots but not waste too much time either. So decisions needed to be made quickly with all the empathy and compassion possible."

"We have all these specialties and expertise under one roof, and can leverage the resources of Mayo Clinic to provide the highest-quality care close to home," says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/alla-byakova-md">Alla Byakova, M.D.</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/palliative-care">palliative medicine</a>&nbsp;physician. "In situations like this, we can rapidly collaborate to address the complex physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients who are facing serious illnesses."

After careful planning and assessing the safety measures in place, the care team determined that surgery was possible if Julie and her family wanted to move forward. The family ecstatically agreed on one condition: Jim could visit Julie in the hospital even though visitors were restricted at that time due to the pandemic. The team granted the exception and took the first step by placing a filter in Julie's inferior vena cava (IVC) vein to catch blood clots.

IVC filters help reduce the risk of pulmonary embolism by trapping large clots before they can reach the heart, lungs or brain. In Julie's case, this was critical because she could not be given conventional medication therapy to reduce her blood clot risk due to her pending surgery.

Two days later, Julie and the surgical team prepped to remove the tumor in her brain.

"It was an extremely stressful day," recalls Jason. "We were looking at odds and, even if she survived, our fears were that she would lose her speech or cognitive ability because of where the tumor was located."

Julie's prayer circle friends and family across Minnesota and Texas anxiously awaited news. In Mankato, Dr. Sharma and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/gwen-krogwold-pac">Gwen Krogwold</a>, a Mayo Clinic Health System physician assistant, carefully removed a 5 by 6 centimeter horseshoe-shaped tumor from Julie's brain. Julie awoke after surgery with her intellect preserved and speech slighted affected but improving.

"Dr. Sharma did a miracle that day," says Jason. "The operating room team sent us text messages on how it was going and to let us know that it went very well. I told mom that she basically cashed in all of her prayers that day."

<h4>Recovery with family</h4>

After two weeks recovering at Mayo Clinic Health System in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/le-sueur">Le Sueur</a>, Minnesota, Jason and his brother, Jae Berg, drove from Texas to Minnesota to pick up their mother and return her to Texas for recovery. Just like other activities, this close-knit family wanted to be together as she started the next phase of her treatment.

Julie's medical care was transferred to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, where she required a second brain surgery in January to remove a mass that had returned. In March, Julie completed chemotherapy and radiation treatments while experiencing little or no side effects.

Nine months after the start of her journey, Julie is living each moment fully and she is able to participate in many family activities, including baking Christmas cookies during the holidays. The family says they are grateful for the medical expertise and care in Minnesota.

"We can't say enough about the Mankato staff. Dr. Sharma and his team were amazing," says Jason. "We couldn't have done this without them. I've never met a neurosurgeon who is as humble as he is."

True to this assessment, Dr. Sharma deflects any praise.

"This isn't about me or about neurosurgery per se, but about the whole team coming together," he says. "It's a story about Julie's determination, her family's devotion and the collaboration of a multidisciplinary team of Mayo Clinic medical experts in a time of extraordinary difficulty. All are testaments to the human spirit."

<h4>Learn more about neurosurgery:</h4>

<ul><li><a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/6-most-common-types-of-chronic-pain-treated-by-neurosurgeons">6 most common types of chronic pain treated by neurosurgeons</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories/bride-walks-down-the-aisle-after-brain-surgery">Bride walks down the aisle after brain surgery</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories/spinal-fusion-surgery-relieves-debilitating-neck-pain">Spinal fusion surgery relieves debilitating neck pain</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/team-approach-to-treating-traumatic-brain-injuries">Team approach to treating traumatic brain injuries</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories/there-is-a-purpose-for-me-reflects-patient-with-brain-tumor">‘There is a purpose for me’ reflects patient with brain tumor</a></li></ul>

This story also appears on the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic Health System Hometown Health blog</a>. You can find it there and share it with others https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories
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When Sara Hutchins noticed an indent in her daughter Scarlett’s chest, she immediately recognized the cause: <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pectus-excavatum/symptoms-causes/syc-20355483">pectus excavatum</a>, a condition that causes the breast bone to sink into the chest. A family member had the same condition, Sara says. “He’d had surgery to correct it but was never satisfied with his results.”

Sara wanted to ensure that if Scarlett had surgery, she’d like what she saw in the mirror afterward. “I did a lot of research,” Sara says. That research led her to Mayo Clinic, where a team of surgeons typically treats more than 1,000 adults and children with pectus excavatum each year.

“We have extensive experience with minimally invasive pectus excavatum repair, which we began offering in the 1990s,” <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/potter-d-dean-jr-m-d/bio-20154706">Dean Potter Jr., M.D.</a>, a pediatric surgeon, says. Mayo surgeons have received training on that repair, called the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pectus-excavatum/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355488#:~:text=The%20Nuss%20procedure%20inserts%20a,than%20one%20bar%20is%20used">Nuss procedure</a>, from the physician who developed it. “We have a special relationship with Dr. Nuss as he is a Mayo surgical fellowship graduate,” Dr. Potter says.

In January 2017, Sara and Scarlett traveled from their home in South Carolina to <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/pediatrics">Mayo Clinic Children’s Center in Rochester, Minn.</a> to meet with Dr. Potter. He examined Scarlett, then 9, and learned that as the depression in her chest had deepened over the years, it was becoming harder for her to breathe when she ran. That’s a common symptom in patients with severe pectus excavatum, as the condition can compress the heart and lungs.

Dr. Potter determined Scarlett was a good candidate for the Nuss procedure. But he recommended she wait until she was a bit older — ideally between 12 and 14, after much of her growth had occurred — to have surgery. That would ensure that the curved metal bar inserted into the chest to raise the breastbone would not need to be upsized if she had a major growth spurt.

The visit confirmed for Sara that when the time came for Scarlett to have surgery, Mayo was the right place for the procedure.

“Our experience was stellar from the second we checked in,” Sara says. “I was really stunned by the level of care available.”

For the next three years, Dr. Potter monitored Scarlett’s condition remotely through X-rays and other information submitted to Mayo’s <a href="https://onlineservices.mayoclinic.org/content/staticpatient/showpage/patientonline">patient portal</a>. “Any questions we’d have we’d submit to the portal and hear back within hours,” Sara says.

<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/telehealth/art-20044878">Technology</a> like the patient portal and video appointments have made it easier for people anywhere to access Mayo Clinic.&nbsp;

“If a family needs advice, education, or even a second opinion from a children’s surgery expert, Mayo Clinic is closer than they think,” Dr. Potter says.

In 2020, Dr. Potter determined that Scarlett was ready for surgery. Sara and Scarlett returned to Mayo Clinic Children’s Center in December and learned more about the procedure and recovery — including a new technique, nerve cryoablation, being used to manage patients’ post-operative pain. Scarlett would be the fifth patient at Mayo Clinic to benefit from the treatment.

“Since starting cryoablation, we have started to see patients comfortable enough to leave the hospital the day after surgery,” Dr. Potter says. “Also, the amount of narcotic use has dramatically decreased. Some patients have not used any narcotics.”

That includes Scarlett, who took nothing stronger than ibuprofen and acetaminophen after surgery.

“She was up walking the same day,” Sara says. “It was incredible.”

Also incredible? The results after the procedure.

“The day after surgery, Scarlett was ready to look at her chest,” Sara says. “When she looked in the mirror, she got a big smile on her face. We saw huge results.”

Nearly six months after surgery, Scarlett is easing back into the activities she loves, including gymnastics, running, and pole vaulting. Dr. Potter continues to monitor he condition through <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/questions-about-telemedicine/art-20485831">video appointments</a>, saving the family additional trips to Minnesota.

“While traveling for surgery is inconvenient, making one trip to have access to centers with excellent outcomes is a dramatic advantage to kids and their families,” Dr. Potter says.

The Hutchinses agree. They say they’d gladly travel again to receive the level of care they did at Mayo Clinic.

“Before surgery, all the different doctors came in and talked to me and explained what they were going to do,” Scarlett says. “They even let me take my stuffed animal into surgery with me and put a wrist band on it.”

That helped ease her nerves in the operating room, as did the kindness of a nurse who held her hand until she was under anesthesia.

It’s that kind of care that assured Sara she’d brought her daughter to the right place.

“I had a lot of fear as a parent, but Mayo took it all away,” Sara says. “When Scarlett was wheeled back to surgery, I knew she was in the best hands possible. I’d picked the best.”

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Written by Susan Fox
I’m a 68-year-old woman in Wisconsin and have been a patient with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/">Mayo Clinic</a> for many years.
Despite extreme caution, my husband and I both contracted <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19">COVID-19</a> last November. We both recovered slowly, and when our opportunity to get the vaccine came up, we enthusiastically participated. I continued to have limited taste and smell and lingering symptoms. By the end of May, I was not well at all and had all sorts of strange aches and pains. I was becoming convinced that I had long-haul COVID-19 or maybe even an adult version of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome affecting children.
Then I would start to feel OK and began wondering if I was imagining things. Maybe I was a rare, breakthrough case who became reinfected? Although, I didn’t see how that was possible. I took the symptom check online and the advice was to call the COVID-19 line, which I could see was a Minnesota number.
Nurse Kimberly Ewing patiently listened to me and was so kind and caring. She asked more questions and commented that when someone calls at 7 a.m., there’s usually something going on. She not only arranged for my COVID-19 test, but she also advised me to see a health care provider. She got me in to my own clinic the same day and stayed on the phone to personally connect me with someone there. After she took care of everything, she entered thorough notes in my patient account.
The diagnosis took another visit and some blood work, but I had <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lyme-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20374651">Lyme disease</a>! That wasn’t even on my radar. The extremely competent nurse practitioner, <a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers?searchTerm=burgmeier">Carol Burgmeier</a>, started me on the correct antibiotics immediately, and I feel the best I’ve felt in a very long time. Nurse Kimberly went above and beyond her COVID-19 help, which resulted in my receiving the right care. This could have easily gone very differently without her professionalism and care for my well-being. She has no idea what happened after that phone call, but I am so very grateful to have spoken with her that awful morning.";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:36:"http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/";a:1:{s:10:"commentRss";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:90:"https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2021/07/16/caring-covid-line-nurse-changed-everything/feed/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:38:"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/";a:1:{s:8:"comments";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:1:"0";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:21:"http://mayoclinic.org";a:2:{s:5:"mctag";a:7:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:15:"Carol Burgmeier";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:8:"COVID-19";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:14:"Kimberly Ewing";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:12:"Lyme Disease";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:38:"Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:15:"Patient Stories";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:9:"Susan Fox";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"mcthumb";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:97:"https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/07/Susan-Fox-featured-150x150.jpg";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}}}i:3;a:6:{s:4:"data";s:88:"

Jennifer Summers, 35, is an optimistic, articulate woman. She enjoys crafting, spending time with her close-knit family, and leading small groups and organizing volunteers at her church. And she is excited that she can carry a 32-ounce water bottle. This may not feel like an important feat to some people, but it's momentous for Jennifer and others diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy.

<h4>Official diagnosis</h4>

As a child, Jennifer seemed to struggle with movement.

"I started having trouble when I was about 9," she says. "I was very clumsy, and had trouble running or climbing stairs. I also had a lot of pain, like growing pains, except I didn't grow that much."

For years, Jennifer had unanswered questions, inaccurate and nonspecific diagnoses. When she was 14, she and her family moved to Holmen, Wisconsin, and Jennifer was evaluated at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. After several appointments and tests, the family found out what was causing her pain, troubles with movement and loss of function. At 16, Jennifer was diagnosed with type III spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy is a disease that damages nerve cells in the spinal cord called motor neurons. This damage gets worse, and muscles lose strength over time. The disease can affect actions like sitting, walking, swallowing and breathing. It is passed on to children by parents through abnormal genes. About 1 in 50 people are genetic carriers, and about 1 in 10,000 babies in the U.S. is born with spinal muscular atrophy.

People with type III spinal muscular atrophy have normal life spans, but they typically require a wheelchair due to progressive weakness and breathing support later in life. Jennifer and her family found hope in having a diagnosis, but they could do little to stop her muscle and nerve damage progression.

"At that time, there were no treatments available," says Jennifer. "We focused on managing the complications of nerves and muscles dying and getting adaptive equipment."

<h4>New treatment option</h4>

Over the next 18 years, Jennifer's muscles continually got weaker and she required an electric wheelchair to move around. In 2016, a new treatment for spinal muscular atrophy was approved by the FDA. This treatment involves injecting a medication called&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/nusinersen-intrathecal-route/description/drg-20405995" target="_blank">nusinersen (Spinraza)</a>, directly into the spinal fluid of patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

"This treatment alters the way that proteins are made in the body," says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/daniel-anderson-do">Daniel Anderson, D.O.</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/neurology">neurologist</a>&nbsp;and neuromuscular specialist at Mayo Clinic Health System in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/la-crosse">La Crosse</a>. "In this disease, there is an absence of a specific protein. The treatment alters the way that a specific protein is made and takes a bad protein and changes it into a functional protein."

In 2019, Jennifer met Dr. Anderson and his team for the first time. She was surprised to learn that he had completed advanced training during his fellowship in the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy with nusinersen (Spinraza) injections.

"Before I got into his office, he was ordering tests to see if I could handle the Spinraza treatments," says Jennifer, "At our first meeting, he was like 'So do you want to get treatment for your SMA (spinal muscular atrophy).' I was surprised. I told him 'Yeah, I would really like that.'"

"This type of rare disease wouldn't be traditionally taken care of in community settings, especially with complicated treatment regimens," says Dr. Anderson. "At Mayo Clinic Health System, we have subspecialists who are familiar with rare genetic diseases, and that, along with our connection to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, gives us the opportunity to care for patients with complicated needs and treatment regimens closer to their homes."

After six months of additional tests and waiting for insurance approval, Jennifer received her first nusinersen injection in December 2019. The medication was injected into her spinal fluid, similar to an epidural placement during labor or surgery. Each treatment takes about one to two hours and occurs every four months.

<h4>Improved strength</h4>

After her first couple of treatments, Jennifer noticed changes in her upper body strength and motion. One tangible way she gauged improvement was by the amount of weight she could hold away from her body and support, measured by water bottle size. She had been using a 12-ounce bottle, but she was able to progress to a 16-ounce bottle after her treatments started.

"I was able to hold it away from my body while filling it up and hold it all day," says Jennifer. "This spring, my aunt bought me a new 32-ounce bottle for Easter. It's a bit out of my range, but I can hold it on a lanyard when I'm filling it up."

For Jennifer, these incremental gains are important for her independence. She also has noticed that she is able to open packaging easier and work on craft projects for longer periods of time without requiring rest.

"Before treatments, I could help to a point, but I would get very tired and my arm would be sore. I would have consequences like extra fatigue the next day," says Jennifer. "Now I can continue and then just go to bed. The next day, I could do whatever I wanted because I am not sore or tired."

<h4>Complex care in community setting</h4>

Jennifer's care team is thrilled with her progress and how offering complex medical treatments in La Crosse can improve the options for patients with other diseases.

"There are a lot of diseases, like Alzheimer's disease, that may have complicated treatments like this in the near future," says Dr. Anderson. "Providing Spinraza treatments in La Crosse laid the foundation and demonstrates how we can tackle a difficult medicine that needs special monitoring and administration in a small community. So when complicated treatments are developed for other diseases, we know we can do that right here."

<h4>Oral treatment</h4>

In February 2021, Jennifer was able to switch to a newly approved daily oral medication called&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/risdiplam-oral-route/description/drg-20492099" target="_blank">risdiplam (Evrysdi)</a>.

"Some patients with spinal muscular atrophy have difficult spines because of muscle weakness, and, so, it can be tough to perform a lumbar puncture over time," says Dr. Anderson. "That's the advantage of the oral medication that's now available."

Jennifer appreciates the ease of the new treatment.

"I take it after dinner each night. Dr. Anderson said that it might not taste very good, but I told him it would taste better than a lumbar puncture," she says with a laugh.

<h4>Looking forward</h4>

While Dr. Anderson describes Jennifer as an optimistic and appreciative person who celebrates every improvement, she explains that she wasn't always that way and struggled with mental health in her younger years. Her outlook changed after rededicating her life to her Christian faith seven years ago. Now she is celebrating every day that she keeps her moving forward.

"At my last exam, there wasn't much chartable difference, except in my hand," says Jennifer. "Dr. Anderson said he wasn't sure if I would consider that good news or not. With this disease, every day there isn't a loss is a good day. Every day you don't lose, you are winning."

The famed Arizona Trail is 800 miles of desert, canyons, valleys and vistas that dissects the state north and south. It is a test of true grit. For his journey on the demanding trail, a Mayo Clinic patient who was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment discovered that positive attitude was his best compass.

<a href="https://youtu.be/CqSrk4inPNo">Watch: Despite memory concerns, hiker reaches new heights on the Arizona Trail.</a>

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:50) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cdn.prod-carehubs.net/n1/802899ec472ea3d8/uploads/2021/02/Burke-Script.pdf" target="_blank">script</a>.

Burke, a 71-year-old man from Arizona, was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, which is often a precursor to <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank">Alzheimer’s disease</a>. Like many people in his situation, uncertainty grows as his memory becomes a concern.

"I cannot tell you when it began to happen because, you know, it just happened slowly," Burke explains.

But as a lifelong lover of the outdoors, Burke wasn't going to let his condition slow him down. He decided he would literally take a different path.

"It's something I've always wanted to do," says Burke. "I love living in Arizona. It's where I became a Christian. It's where I fell in love, got married, and all my kids have been born here. So I said, ’Sure, I'll do the Arizona Trail.’"

The Arizona Trail is a popular and rigorous trail that links Mexico with Utah, covering 800 miles of Arizona deserts, mountains, canyons and forests. It's a challenge for even seasoned hikers.

"’Why don't we all go hike the Arizona Trail?’ He makes it sound so easy, right, 800 miles," says Burke's neurologist, <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/caselli-richard-j-m-d/bio-20054340?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank">Dr. Richard Caselli</a>.

Dr. Caselli is a specialist at Mayo Clinic in the study and treatment of neurologic conditions that lead to memory loss, including Alzheimer's disease. While every patient is different, he says their journey with these conditions often is influenced by their outlook.

"When you're confronting something that could be an early stage of Alzheimer's, of course there's worry," says Dr. Caselli. "Until that glorious day when we have a cure or something we can meaningfully do to prevent it from getting worse, the best we can do is to try to encourage people that their life is not yet over."

"This is my new life," says Burke. "I can't change it, so I said: ‘You know what, I’m going to be good with it. I’m going to have a positive attitude, and if I forget things every once in a while, so what?’ You try to do better the next time and you just keep going."

"To me, he is really the epitome of the encouragement that I try to give my patients of not giving up on life, continuing to live," says Dr. Caselli. "From a number of health studies — in general, not limited to dementia or Alzheimer's disease — people with positive attitudes tend to have better outcomes."

____________________________________

For everyone's safety, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place.&nbsp;Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

<h2>Custom Fields</h2>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/karen-detweiler-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="768" height="1024" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/karen-detweiler-1-768x1024.jpg" alt="Karen Detweiler, a Florida patient diagnosed with a rare neurologic disorder, is now living independently again." class="wp-image-50777" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/karen-detweiler-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/karen-detweiler-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/karen-detweiler-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/06/karen-detweiler-1.jpg 1512w" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" /></a></figure>

In February 2020, as COVID-19 began its spread across the world, Karen Detweiler of DeLand, Florida, and her two adult children, Jonathan Detweiler and Susan Reeve, were facing their own crisis: Karen Detweiler's pending passing from an incurable neurologic disorder.

A retired community college professor and English teacher, Karen started having seizures in the summer of 2019 and quickly deteriorated. During phone calls with Susan, she would talk about her day and describe activities that couldn't possibly have happened, Susan says. Then she started losing her mobility and ability to communicate. By February 2020, she was in a nursing home, receiving hospice care, bound to a wheelchair and speaking only in single syllables.

Doctors had diagnosed Karen with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/creutzfeldt-jakob-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20371226">Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease</a>, a rare, incurable neurologic disorder that causes rapidly progressive dementia and has a median survival of less than a year.

"During Christmas, we had had our children down to visit and say goodbye to mom," Jonathan says. "Then, in February, her neurologist wanted to see her. We took her to his office, and he told us she had an abnormal amount of LGI 1 antibody. We asked, 'What does that mean,' and the doctor explained it meant that mom might have a different disease — not Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. At that point, Susan decided to call Mayo Clinic."

Susan quickly made contact with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/day-gregory-gregg-s-m-d/bio-20478797">Gregory Day, M.D.</a>, a Mayo Clinic neurologist. Dr. Day leads a program that focuses specifically on caring for patients like Karen, who have rapidly progressive dementias. After learning more about her condition, he wanted to see her immediately.

"I wanted to see her as an outpatient, but COVID had struck, and we had to make the tough decision to hospitalize her," Dr. Day says. "I saw her as soon as she entered our Emergency Department, and she had a type of seizure that is a characteristic symptom of <a href="https://www.mayo.edu/research/centers-programs/center-multiple-sclerosis-autoimmune-neurology/research/autoimmune-encephalitis">LGI 1-antibody encephalitis</a>. I had almost a joyful feeling because I knew Karen had a condition that we could at least try to treat."

LGI 1 is a protein that sits on the surface of neurons, including brain cells, and supports the function of potassium channels. "In patients with LGI 1-antibody encephalitis, antibodies form that remove the protein or impair its functioning, which disrupts signaling processes in the brain," explains Dr. Day. "The triggers are unknown but the disruption causes, seizures, memory loss, psychoses and other symptoms."

He adds that LGI 1-antibody encephalitis is still fairly new as it was recognized as a distinct disease condition in 2004.

After a blood test confirmed that Karen had the disease, Dr. Day and his neurology colleagues developed a treatment plan to include high doses of steroids and plasma exchange.

"She improved dramatically just during that hospital stay," Susan says. "It was like she finally woke up and could remember."

A growing need

Stories like Karen's are rare, but not unheard of, says Dr. Day. Recent research shows that about 7% of patients who were initially diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ― just like Karen ― actually had a different form of dementia that was treatable. And the numbers increase when other forms of rapidly progressive dementia are included.

<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/expert-answers/alzheimers/faq-20058510">Rapidly progressive dementias</a> (RPD) are forms of dementia that result in complete impairment within two years of the first appearance of symptoms. Alzheimer's and other related ― and incurable ― dementias can sometimes progress that quickly in patients, but studies show that as many as 20% of patients with RPD may have conditions that are potentially treatable and reversible.

Those findings illustrate the need for the Rapidly Progressive Dementias Clinic ― and the value of the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida/campus-buildings-maps/mangurian-building">Dorothy J. and Harry T. Mangurian Building</a> at Mayo Clinic in Florida, which provided 50% more space for <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/neurology/sections/overview/ovc-20117067">Neurology</a> and <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/neurosurgery/home/orc-20117096">Neurosurgery</a> in Florida, making it possible to recruit experts like Dr. Day and his colleagues in the Rapidly Progressive Dementias Clinic.  In addition to Dr. Day, the clinic includes <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/lopez-chiriboga-alfonso-sebastian-s-m-d/bio-20467235">Sebastian Lopez Chiriboga, M.D.</a>, a neurologist who specializes in the treatment of immune disorders that affect the brain, and <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/feyissa-anteneh-m-m-d/bio-20357379">Anteneh Feyissa, M.D.</a>, a neurologist who is a seizure specialist. The team also includes nurses who have special expertise caring for patients with these conditions and experts from Mayo Clinic's Neuroimmunology Laboratory, which is based at <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721">Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota</a>.

The benefits of the clinic are its speed and ability to focus on the unique needs of these patients, Dr. Day says.

"Because of the rapid pace of disease progression, it's important to make a diagnosis quickly," Dr. Day says. "That gives an answer to the patient and their loved ones. And if the disease is treatable, it gives us a better chance of delivering a better outcome for the patient."

Better than ever

Karen barely has any recollection of the most severe points of her illness, but she does recall moments from her time at the hospital. "I just remember waking up and feeling like I'd had a good sleep," she says.

Though Karen also received two courses of rituximab, which is an immunotherapy, she is now only taking aspirin and an iron supplement. And, she has left her wheelchair behind. She graduated to a walker and now uses only a cane. She's also back to living on her own in an apartment that is part of an assisted living community. And she's playing shuffleboard and bingo and having lively political discussions ― one of her hallmarks before her disease struck ― with her friends.

“It’s truly amazing,” Susan says. “Mom and I recently went shopping in downtown DeLand — something we thought we’d never do again. She was so close to dying and now she’s doing better than before she got sick.”

Karen says her short-term memory is impaired, but she uses a whiteboard with notes to help her overcome that. Most importantly, she is looking forward to the future. "We have a good history of longevity in my family," she notes. "I've just turned 78, and I feel like I have 20 good years to go."

“Our family has strong faith,” Jonathan adds. “We believe without God’s timely intervention, much prayer and Mayo Clinic, our mom would not be with us today. We are so grateful and have much hope for the future.”
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://cdn.prod-carehubs.net/n1/802899ec472ea3d8/uploads/2021/06/Steve-Teeples-wearing-a-mask-kneels-down-on-the-floor-to-hug-and-kiss-his-son-Easton.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.prod-carehubs.net/n1/802899ec472ea3d8/uploads/2021/06/Steve-Teeples-wearing-a-mask-kneels-down-on-the-floor-to-hug-and-kiss-his-son-Easton-1024x581.jpg" alt="Steve Teeples, wearing a mask, kneels down on the floor to hug and kiss his son Easton" class="wp-image-309876" /></a></figure>

Father's Day will be extra-special this year for the Teeples family in La Crosse, Wisconsin. After spending much of his two years in a hospital bed with a rare <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank">kidney disease</a>, toddler Easton Teeples has returned home from Mayo Clinic after a lifesaving transplant from dear old dad.

It's a special bond between father and son. For Steve Teeples and his first child, Easton, it's extraordinary.

Easton was diagnosed as a newborn with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nephrotic-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20375608?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">congenital nephrotic syndrome</a>, a rare, genetic kidney disease.

"They told us upfront, transplant is going to happen at some point. We just didn't know when or how we were going to get to that," says Steve.

By the time Easton was 1, doctors at Mayo Clinic told Steve and his wife, Marcie Teeples, that Easton was big enough to receive a new kidney. And dad would be the donor.

"I remember the day I got the call," says Steve. "I was pretty excited. I'm sorry if I get emotional, but they said, 'You're a match.'"

The first hurdle was transplanting an adult-sized kidney into a young child's body.

"I mean, if you look at Easton's little tummy, how can that fit in there?" asks Steve.

<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/prieto-mikel-m-d/bio-20053923?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Mikel Prieto</a> is surgical director of the pediatric <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/kidney-transplant/home/orc-20203197?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">kidney transplant program</a> at Mayo Clinic, and he would perform the transplant.

"It's part of the challenge. And sometimes the kidney essentially takes up about half of the space in the belly," says Dr. Prieto. "Putting a large adult kidney in a small child is like putting a Ferrari engine into a small car. It really has a fantastic function. It's really the best option for these small kids to get a healthy, large adult kidney."

But the biggest challenge of them all would be how to connect Steve's kidney to Easton's small veins. And because of the damage from his disease, Easton's main blood source to the kidney ― the vena cava ― had essentially disappeared.

"There was only one small part of the cava that was open because the main cava is missing. It's all clotted off.&nbsp;So the only option was to remove Easton's kidney, and to connect the new one right in that spot," says Dr. Prieto.

It would be a first for Dr. Prieto and Mayo's transplant team.

"I mean, the option was to say, 'Sorry, we can't do this because this is too difficult.' Or, 'Let's try the only option that we have, which is to go way up there in a very difficult spot and connect the kidney,'" says Dr. Prieto.

It was a waiting game as the transplant team performed surgery on Easton first to determine if Dr. Prieto could make the transplant work.

"I made the final decision to say: 'OK, this vein looks good enough. I think we can connect a new kidney to this spot. So let's go for it,'" says Dr. Prieto.

"And I was laying in the bed, and 45 minutes or a half-hour rolled around, and in come the doctors and nurses. And they said, 'Well, are you ready to go?' And then, you know, celebration, flood of emotions. I started crying," says Steve.

"And we were able to put it perfectly well just in the same spot as his own kidney used to be," says Dr. Prieto. "Despite this huge surgery for a little boy like this, he had a very nice recovery and you can see a few weeks later how happy he is and how well he's doing — a big change for his life."

A little more than a month after transplant surgery and now past his second birthday, Easton is a ball of energy and a chip off the old block.

"He's got a part of me in him," says Steve. "He's my hero. He's a warrior. And I don't know what parent wouldn't want to do something like that for their own kid. It takes everybody. It's a team effort. And the least I could do to help him and give him a better life is give up my kidney for him. I'm happy and I'm proud to do it."

____________________________________________

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a nonpatient care area or where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

This story also appears on the <a href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hope-arrives-at-mayo-clinic-locations-as-covid-19-vaccinations-begin/">Mayo Clinic News Network</a>. You can find it there and share it with others
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/kim-harter-and-family.16-x9jpg.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="660" height="370" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/kim-harter-and-family.16-x9jpg.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-40458" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/kim-harter-and-family.16-x9jpg.jpg 660w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/kim-harter-and-family.16-x9jpg-300x168.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px" /></a></figure>

Last September, Kim and Lloyd Harter of Fairchild, Wisconsin, along with their daughter Eleanor Jacobo, tested positive for COVID-19. While they recovered, they also waited for a special new addition to their family: Kim was eight months pregnant.

With pregnancy being a risk factor for complications due to COVID-19, a member of the COVID-19 Front-Line Care Team at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, called Kim to discuss her risks, as well as provide information about COVID-19, how to isolate, how close contacts should quarantine, what symptoms to monitor and when to seek care for worsening symptoms.

She also met with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/anthony-furlano-do">Anthony Furlano, D.O.</a>, her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/family-medicine">Family Medicine</a>&nbsp;physician at Mayo Clinic Health System in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/eau-claire">Eau Claire</a>, Wisconsin, through a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/6-tips-for-making-the-most-of-your-video-appointment">video visit</a>. He reiterated the same messages, which reassured Kim that her care was in good hands.

<h4>COVID-19 recovery</h4>

Kim, then 31, experienced sneezing, body aches and extreme fatigue. "It came in waves. I'd feel good one day, then try to do a few things. Then it would hit me twice as hard the next day."

Eleanor was sick for just one day and was quickly back to being an active 4-year-old, which made it challenging at times for her parents. "My husband and I basically took turns feeling sick as we took care of her and recovered," says Kim.

Kim started to feel better after about seven days, although her sense of taste and smell took about a month to come back.

<h4>Care team includes resident physician</h4>

Throughout her pregnancy, Kim was able to receive prenatal care with a care team, including two physicians. In addition to seeing family medicine patients, Dr. Furlano is part of the faculty for the&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://college.mayo.edu/academics/residencies-and-fellowships/family-medicine-residency-eau-claire-wisconsin/" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic Family Medicine Residency program</a>&nbsp;in Eau Claire. There, resident physicians interested in caring for prenatal patients also can be part of care teams, supporting pregnant women and their families.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/mollie-meagher-do">Mollie Meagher, D.O.</a>, a second-year resident physician, also was involved with Kim's care from early on.

"Often my prenatal appointments started off with Dr. Meagher and ended with Dr. Furlano coming in to summarize the visit," explains Kim. "I enjoyed being part of a learning process. Dr. Meagher was confident, and at times, I forgot she was a resident."

"It was special to see the resident's point of view. Seeing her excitement was very exciting for me, as well," says Kim.

For Kim, another benefit to having care through the residency program was to have both physicians with her during delivery. She had a difficult first pregnancy. "This time, with more attention, I felt safer. They were laughing with me and very supportive. They were a good cheer team."

"During delivery, I had a post-traumatic stress disorder attack, and they, along with my husband, calmed me down," said Kim. "Things (delivery) then progressed after that. They made me feel I had all the control."

<h4>Care for the whole family</h4>

Now Drs. Furlano and Meagher care for everyone in the Harter family. "I think it's good that they know all of us and our personalities. It is more personal," adds Kim. "Having knowledgeable, compassionate and caring doctors puts me at ease. It is nice having that trust in my doctors."

<h4>Read more about pregnancy, COVID-19 and newborns:</h4>

<ul><li>Learn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/caring-for-newborns-during-the-covid-19-pandemic">how to keep your newborn healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic</a>.</li><li>Get&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/covid-19-and-pregnancy-q-and-a">answers to your questions about COVID-19 and pregnancy</a>.</li><li>Learn&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/what-pregnant-and-breastfeeding-women-should-know-about-the-covid-19-vaccine">what pregnant and breastfeeding women should know about the COVID-19 vaccine</a>.</li><li>Find out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/featured-topic/what-studies-show-about-pregnancy-covid-19-vaccines">what studies show about pregnancy and COVID-19 vaccines</a>.</li></ul>

This story also appears on the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories" target="_blank">Mayo Clinic Health System Hometown Health blog</a>. You can find it there and share it with others.
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";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:6:{s:0:"";a:7:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:90:"Going the extra mile makes vaccination experience special for young man with Down syndrome";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:133:"https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2021/06/03/going-the-extra-mile-makes-vaccination-experience-special-for-young-man-with-down-syndrome/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:8:"comments";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:141:"https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2021/06/03/going-the-extra-mile-makes-vaccination-experience-special-for-young-man-with-down-syndrome/#respond";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 03 Jun 2021 17:23:35 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:8:"category";a:6:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:9:"Community";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:10:"Compassion";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:8:"COVID-19";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:20:"COVID-19 vaccination";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Down syndrome";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:11:"Tyler White";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:39:"https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/?p=43584";s:7:"attribs";a:1:{s:0:"";a:1:{s:11:"isPermaLink";s:5:"false";}}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:355:"The parents of a young Florida patient were so grateful for the caring approach offered to their son during his COVID-19 vaccine appointment that they called back to express their appreciation and share their story. When the father of a 19-year-old patient with Down syndrome brought his son, Tyler White, for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, [&#8230;]";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Cynthia Weiss";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:40:"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:6762:"
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<h5>The parents of a young Florida patient were so grateful for the caring approach offered to their son during his COVID-19 vaccine appointment that they called back to express their appreciation and share their story.</h5>

When the father of a 19-year-old patient with Down syndrome brought his son, Tyler White, for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, he was blown away by the "care, compassion and love" displayed by the team at Mayo Clinic in Florida.

Tyler’s parents were moved by the experience and relieved that Tyler left his appointment feeling happy instead of stressed.

Days before the appointment, Tyler’s mom, Teresa White, wrote a note in the Patient Online Services portal asking for assistance. She explained that Tyler suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, has a fear of crowds, and gets "nervous around needles."

The team in the COVID-19 Vaccination Center in Florida took the request to heart. And they made special arrangements to administer Tyler's vaccination in a calm, quiet environment.

<h3>Personal care from the first moment</h3>

Shortly after Tyler and his dad arrived at the vaccination center, they were warmly greeted by a staff member who asked, "Are you Tyler?"

Tyler and his dad were escorted to a private vaccination room. Although anxious at first, Tyler quickly warmed up as he encountered more clinic staff. Each one made him feel "welcomed and important by being upbeat, smiling and asking about things he liked," his parents report.

It didn’t take long for Tyler to feel comfortable, especially after meeting <a href="https://quarterly.mayo.edu/directory/person/person.htm?per_id=11499273">Michele Jordan</a>, a nurse working in the vaccination unit. "Tyler, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you all morning," Jordan said when they met. She and Tyler became instant friends.

Positive vaccination experience makes big difference for young man with Down syndrome | News Center

The conversation was so effortless, Kevin White said, that his son was a "whole different person than he usually is when we go to doctor appointments."

The staff at Mayo Clinic were "so genuine and truly wanted the experience to be welcoming and relaxing for Tyler," Kevin says, and they "spoke to Tyler as if they had known him for years."

The difference that made was palpable.

Positive vaccination experience makes big difference for young man with Down syndrome | News Center

“So many people talk just to parents and never ask little questions to the patient with special needs to learn more about them and make them feel comfortable," Kevin says. "The little things make a huge difference. That's why Mayo is Mayo."

Tyler's vaccination appointment was an uplifting, meaningful and transformative event for the entire family. "You have no idea what this means," Kevin says.

"The experience showed that in the right environment, with small attempts to increase the flow, reduce waiting and getting to know the patient with simple questions, Tyler's behavior is not only appropriate, it is delightful," Kevin says. "After the vaccine, Tyler was in such a great mood."

<h3>All according to plan</h3>

<a href="https://quarterly.mayo.edu/directory/person/person.htm?per_id=15759628&amp;displaymode=&amp;search_criteria_display=%27smith%27+%27+windell%27+">Windell Smith</a>, operations administrator for COVID-19 Vaccination Center, says the team was prepared and happy to make things work for their patient. "Several team members were involved and on the lookout for Tyler’s arrival," Smith says. "Our plan for his vaccination was executed to perfection."

After the appointment, Kevin says he took Tyler shopping for a birthday cake for his mother, and the two of them had a great afternoon.

And there was more icing.

"If that wasn’t enough, Windell called mom before the second vaccine to set up a special accommodation, knowing hundreds of patients were coming in the same day," Kevin says. "Tyler has immune deficiency and heart problems, so it was important for him to get both vaccines."

Kevin can't say enough about the team going the extra mile and putting a vulnerable patient at ease to administer an important vaccine. It's a testament to compassion, focusing on the needs of the patient first, and living the deep-rooted values of Mayo Clinic, even in a pandemic.

For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
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Ilah Breen was visiting her daughter in early April this year when she realized something was amiss. "I was knitting, and everything was fine. The next thing I knew, my knitting made no sense. The needles didn't completely disappear, but they got blurry. And I couldn't figure out what the yarn was," recalls the 72-year-old retired teacher from Orange Park, Florida.

Ilah called to her husband of 49 years, Bill Breen, a former police officer, who was sitting nearby. Or rather, she thought she did.

"I heard her make a funny sound, and when I asked if she was OK, her speech was garbled," says Bill. "Having been a police officer in a small town in California, I knew all the various symptoms that people might have with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stroke</a>. I immediately called 911."

On average, someone in the U.S. has a&nbsp;stroke&nbsp;every 40 seconds. A&nbsp;stroke&nbsp;occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted.

More than&nbsp;795,000&nbsp;people in the U.S. have a stroke each year, according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/stroke/facts.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention</a>. Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and a major cause of serious disability for adults.

Because a stroke limits brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die in minutes. Prompt treatment is crucial.&nbsp;

Within minutes of Bill's call, paramedics were transporting Ilah to the <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida">Comprehensive Stroke Center at Mayo Clinic in Florida</a>, where a team of cerebrovascular specialists was standing by to assess her and expedite treatment.

"I've never been so terrified in my life," says Ilah. "It was so scary that I wasn't able to communicate. But at the hospital I remember a voice telling me, 'Don't worry, you're safe.'"

In less than an hour from the time her symptoms began, Ilah was in surgery, where doctors used a catheter-based technique called thrombectomy to remove a large blood clot from a blood vessel in her brain. Her voice returned almost immediately.

Today, the grandmother of six has no deficiencies. She has spoken to different groups about her experience and has become an advocate for knowing the signs of stroke.

"I always tell people to make sure you and everybody who loves you know the signs of a stroke. And if you start experiencing the&nbsp;signs that something may be wrong, no matter how inconsequential they may seem, call 911."

The most common <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20350113">symptoms of stroke</a> include difficulty talking, walking or thinking; sudden vision changes, including blurred or blackening vision; sudden, severe headache; or numbness or paralysis, especially on one side of the body.
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Before Kael Jaeger was born, his 20-week ultrasound revealed to his parents, Jacy and Jesse Jaeger, that he had a cleft lip and palate. As the couple adjusted to this new reality, his care team stepped up and created a plan for repairing this common birth defect.

A cleft lip and palate are openings or splits in the upper lip and roof of the mouth that don't close as an unborn baby develops. While usually isolated abnormalities, they can be associated with many inherited genetic conditions or syndromes. In addition to appearance, they also affect how a baby eats and swallows.

"Once they discovered the cleft lip and palate, his care team began checking him for other conditions. It turned out to be a very busy pregnancy," Jacy says. "We were thankful we knew ahead of his birth so it wasn't a shock, and when he was born, we could just focus on him."

The first concern when Kael was born was feeding. As Jacy says, he was a determined eater and took easily to a special bottle that is squeezed and doesn't require the baby to suck. Next up was plastic surgery to repair the split in his lip.

Then at about 10 months, Kael had the first surgery to create a palate using a flap of his own skin. At first, it looked like it was healing well, but about a week later, Jacy noticed some holes developing, and the repair appeared to be pulling apart rather than growing together. She took photos and sent them to&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/cofer-shelagh-a-m-d/bio-20055176" target="_blank">Shelagh Cofer, M.D.</a>, Kael's surgeon and&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/pediatric-ent/sections/conditions-treated/orc-20466861" target="_blank">otolaryngologist</a>&nbsp;at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Dr. Cofer suggested they try&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories/hyperbaric-oxygen-therapy-restores-hearing">hyperbaric oxygen treatment</a>. During this therapy, the patient breathes 100% oxygen at twice the atmospheric pressure. Under these conditions, their lungs gather additional oxygen, which helps fight bacteria and stimulates the release of substances that promote healing. It's been used to treat conditions including serious infections, carbon monoxide poisoning, sudden-onset hearing loss, radiation or diabetic wounds and decompression sickness due to scuba diving.

Because Kael was so young, he and Jacy would be in the hyperbaric chamber together. Their initial treatments were at Mayo Clinic under the care of&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/toups-gary-n-m-d/bio-20207878" target="_blank">Gary Toups, M.D.</a>, head of Mayo's Environmental Hyperbaric Medicine. Then, because it was closer to their home in Hollandale, Minnesota, the Jaegers transferred to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/albert-lea">Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea</a>, Minnesota, where&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/michael-ulrich-md">Michael Ulrich, M.D.</a>, site director for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/hyperbaric-medicine">Hyperbaric Medicine</a>, supervised Kael's remaining treatments.

The hyperbaric chamber at Albert Lea can accommodate one person, or in this case, mother and baby. The patients lie on a table that slides into the clear plastic chamber. Then the oxygen and pressure are adjusted to simulate being 33 feet deep in saltwater. Each treatment is about 90 minutes. For five minutes at the halfway point, the pressurized oxygen is exchanged for regular room air to prevent oxygen toxicity. Altogether, Kael and Jacy had 10 treatments, which stretched over two weeks.

To prepare for the treatment, mother and son underwent a general health check to make sure they didn't have any underlying conditions. Both also washed all over as no makeup, lotions, deodorant or hair products were allowed. Jacy wore a gown, and Kael was in a diaper.

So how did they spend the time? Jacy brought DVDs, such as "Finding Nemo," to watch through the plastic tube. Since no toys were allowed, Kael was given a cup with a snap-on lid to keep him occupied. But mostly, they just hung out together.

"It was so worth it in the end. We didn't want Kael to have to go through another surgery to repair the hole. While we know he'll have more surgeries as he gets older, we're done for now," Jacy says. "In a way, I miss our time together in the hyperbaric chamber. We were literally trapped in a tube, so I had 90 minutes of distraction-free, one-on-one time with Kael. With work, family, caring for our 3-year-old daughter and other activities, that doesn't usually happen."

";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";s:5:"child";a:6:{s:0:"";a:7:{s:5:"title";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:67:"Medication, surgery help Lloyd Heubner quickly recover after stroke";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"link";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:109:"https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2021/05/20/medication-surgery-help-lloyd-heubner-quickly-recover-after-stroke/";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:8:"comments";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:117:"https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2021/05/20/medication-surgery-help-lloyd-heubner-quickly-recover-after-stroke/#respond";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:7:"pubDate";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:31:"Thu, 20 May 2021 20:01:31 +0000";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:8:"category";a:8:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:25:"Mayo Clinic Health System";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:1;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:24:"Neurology & Neurosurgery";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:2;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:16:"Angela Oldenberg";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:3;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:16:"Dr. Samuel Evers";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:4;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:13:"Lloyd Heubner";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:5;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:39:"Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:6;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:6:"stroke";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}i:7;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:10:"Telestroke";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:4:"guid";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:39:"https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/?p=43553";s:7:"attribs";a:1:{s:0:"";a:1:{s:11:"isPermaLink";s:5:"false";}}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}s:11:"description";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:363:"Lloyd Huebner of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, believes in giving back to the community. For 17 years, he has been involved with Little League Baseball, ranging from coaching to building fields at local schools. He also builds temporary wheelchair ramps for families in need as part of Interfaith Caregivers in Burnett County, Wisconsin. "Over my lifetime, [&#8230;]";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:32:"http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/";a:1:{s:7:"creator";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:17:"SharingMayoClinic";s:7:"attribs";a:0:{}s:8:"xml_base";s:0:"";s:17:"xml_base_explicit";b:0;s:8:"xml_lang";s:0:"";}}}s:40:"http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/";a:1:{s:7:"encoded";a:1:{i:0;a:5:{s:4:"data";s:6538:"
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/lloyd-huebner.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="660" height="370" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/lloyd-huebner.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43554" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/lloyd-huebner.jpg 660w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/lloyd-huebner-300x168.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px" /></a></figure>

Lloyd Huebner of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, believes in giving back to the community. For 17 years, he has been involved with Little League Baseball, ranging from coaching to building fields at local schools. He also builds temporary wheelchair ramps for families in need as part of Interfaith Caregivers in Burnett County, Wisconsin.

"Over my lifetime, I've built 107 ramps," says the 81-year-old former lumber salesman. "As long as I can, I want to keep doing it."

In February, Lloyd had a health scare that may have put his dedication to community service into jeopardy. While driving, he suddenly lost sight in one eye. He was able to safely arrive home, but his wife of 62 years, Jane Huebner, was concerned.

"I had retina surgery two weeks before," says Lloyd. "I assumed it was related to that."

When he started slurring his words and had muscle weakness, Jane quickly called 911. Lloyd was transferred by ambulance to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/eau-claire">Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire</a>, a certified primary stroke center. Hospitals with this certification have proven that they can treat acute stroke patients according to established guidelines.

In the Emergency Department, Lloyd was evaluated by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/emergency-medicine">emergency medicine</a>&nbsp;physician&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/samuel-evers-md">Samuel Evers, M.D.</a>

"Mr. Huebner presented with classic symptoms of a stroke, including weakness on one side of his body, visual defects and slurred speech," says Dr. Evers. "It's critical to seek emergency medical care at the first signs of stroke to minimize the potential for permanent disability. Transport by EMS (emergency medical services) is also very important because they can notify the hospital staff before you arrive so we can have our stroke team ready to meet you at the door."

While in the Emergency Department, a CT scan revealed that Lloyd was experiencing a stroke due to a blood clot in his right carotid artery in his neck. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is interrupted or reduced, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients. In this situation, brain cells begin to die in minutes.

"Lloyd's loss of vision was caused by a temporary interruption of blood flow to his eye, called amaurosis fugax," says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/angela-oldenberg-np">Angela Oldenberg</a>, a Mayo Clinic Health System&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/neurology">Neurology</a>&nbsp;nurse practitioner. "That's usually indicative of something going on with the carotid artery on the same side. So that was the visual symptom he had while he was driving and later developed the weakness that kind of showed that there was something more than just that going on."

Dr. Evers and his team activated&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/topics/telemedicine">telestroke</a>&nbsp;technology, which virtually connected Lloyd to vascular neurology experts at Mayo Clinic.

Within 54 minutes of his arrival, Lloyd was given a clot-busting medication called tenecteplase. He was the first patient to receive this medication for acute stroke in Eau Claire. Tenecteplase has been used for years to treat patients experiencing a heart attack, and it is now available to treat strokes because it can be administered more quickly while producing good clinical results. After getting the medication, Lloyd was prepped for helicopter transport to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

At Mayo Clinic, Lloyd had surgery to place a stent in his right carotid artery and remove the clot lodged in the blood vessel. It took less than two hours from the time he arrived in Eau Claire until he reached the operating room in Rochester.

Lloyd was walking the hospital halls the next day, and he was able to return home the day after.

"The extra training that staff had made the difference for me," says Lloyd. "They did everything right and fortunately everything came out right."

A few weeks later, he returned to the clinic for a follow-up appointment with only lingering weakness in his arm.

"He was doing very well. To go from dense weakness and a serious ischemic stroke to walking out the hospital two days later is amazing," says Angela. "Because of the quick medical attention and the ability to retrieve blood clots, he is home and active again with very few impacts."

Lloyd is working on improving his strength and range of motion in his arm in occupational therapy This is his priority for two reasons: He wants to resume building or repairing ramps again, and he was invited to throw out the ceremonial first pitch for Mayo Clinic Health System's "Strike Out Stroke" event at the May 31 Eau Claire Express baseball game.

Lloyd says he welcomed the chance to bring awareness about stroke symptoms and appreciated the opportunity to step back onto the mound.

"I'll need to get my arm back into shape," he says with a laugh.

A team of scientists from Mayo Clinic and two other institutions published a <a href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scientists-discover-autoimmune-disease-associated-with-testicular-cancer/?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/scientists-discover-autoimmune-disease-associated-with-testicular-cancer/?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> in 2019 that showed the existence of an autoimmune disorder that affects men. The disorder causes the immune system to attack the brain, causing severe neurologic symptoms.

That's what happened to a Florida man, and his search for answers led him to experts at Mayo Clinic.

Reporter Jason Howland has his story.

It started with some lightheadedness, loss of balance, vision changes and abnormal eye movements.

"I could be looking at somebody and my eyes are going all over the place," says Gregor Heinrich of Boca Raton, Florida. "It's kind of like you're getting off a merry-go-round, and things are moving all the time."

The 59-year-old knew something wasn't right, so he saw his local doctor.

"And he said, 'I think it's <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350269?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20350269?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MS</a>, but if it's not MS, we'll probably treat it as MS.' So I wasn't satisfied with that answer," Gregor says.

For more than six months, he searched for second opinions and still no answers.

"I thought maybe it was an ear crystal. I went to a physical therapist. I went to a heart doctor, probably four or five other doctors, and nobody could figure out what was going on," Gregor says.

Eventually, his bloodwork was sent to a special specialized neuroimmunology laboratory at <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota</a>, for analysis. He then was referred to <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/lopez-chiriboga-alfonso-sebastian-s-m-d/bio-20467235?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/lopez-chiriboga-alfonso-sebastian-s-m-d/bio-20467235?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Sebastian Lopez</a>, a neurologist at <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mayo Clinic in Florida</a>.

"When I first met Dr. Lopez, I remember him coming in the room and said, 'Well, we know what you have,'" Gregor says.

Surprisingly, it was <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/testicular-cancer-care/symptoms-causes/syc-20352986?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/testicular-cancer-care/symptoms-causes/syc-20352986?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">testicular cancer</a>.

"It's probably the last thing you would ever expect to hear," Gregor says.

"When a patient comes in to see a neurologist, they don't expect to be diagnosed with malignancies. But the clinical presentation, the inflammatory findings in the spinal fluid, in addition to the biomarker, the <a href="https://www.mayo.edu/research/forefront/scientists-find-autoimmune-disease-related-testicular-cancer?_ga=2.199965927.831181754.1616072699-918413954.1616072699?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayo.edu/research/forefront/scientists-find-autoimmune-disease-related-testicular-cancer?_ga=2.199965927.831181754.1616072699-918413954.1616072699?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kelch-11 antibody</a>, was all very helpful to help us narrow down to diagnosis," says Dr. Lopez.

"It was malignant seminoma testicular cancer," Gregor says.

A cancerous tumor near Gregor's spine was creating an abnormal immune response in his nervous system, known as <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/paraneoplastic-syndromes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355687?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/paraneoplastic-syndromes/symptoms-causes/syc-20355687?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">paraneoplastic encephalitis</a>.

"In these rare paraneoplastic disorders, the immune system causes an inflammatory process that leads to neurologic dysfunction," says Dr. Lopez.

"Had it not been for these neurological issues, I would have never known that I had cancer," Gregor says.

The tumor, roughly the size of an egg, was removed on Dec. 12, 2019, at Dr. Lopez's recommendation even though two previous biopsies indicated that the tumor appeared to be benign.

"Fortunately, it was extremely close, by millimeters. It wasn't touching any other organs, and they were able to extract it," Gregor says.

Once a biopsy was conducted on the removed tumor, it reflected that it was actually malignant. Tests were done to locate the cancer source, and surgery to remove the cancer-causing testicle was conducted on Jan. 06, 2020.

Gregor started cancer treatment on Jan. 20, 2020.

"Had this gone untreated for some amount of time, additional, it would have easily spread and caused, certainly, issues that could have resulted in death or much worse conditions," Gregor says.

Today, Gregor is on the road to recovery. Those symptoms that provided the initial clues to his cancer still linger, but they have improved.

"It's a blessing in a way. It is blessing that I've had these neurological symptoms that led me to this," he says.

____________________________________

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This story also appears on the&nbsp;<a href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hope-arrives-at-mayo-clinic-locations-as-covid-19-vaccinations-begin/">Mayo Clinic News Network</a>. You can find it there and share it with others
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/morgan_FB_1200x630.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="538" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/morgan_FB_1200x630-1024x538.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-43466" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/morgan_FB_1200x630-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/morgan_FB_1200x630-300x158.jpg 300w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/morgan_FB_1200x630-768x403.jpg 768w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/05/morgan_FB_1200x630.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>

Aggie Morgan has always been adventurous. She's been skydiving, scuba diving and enjoyed vacations with her husband, John Morgan, in the jungles of Central America.

Entering her 70s, there was one adventure she looked forward to but hadn't taken: a hot air balloon ride. She and her friends attempted to take a balloon ride on several occasions, but due to one roadblock or another, the flight never happened.

It seemed like the adventure was one that had slipped out of reach.

Now 74, Aggie is in the final stages of multiple myeloma, a diagnosis she received 10 years ago. On the verge of entering&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/hospice">hospice care</a>, she was about to give up on the hot air balloon ride.

That's where Kerry Olson, an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/oncology">Oncology</a>&nbsp;nurse at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/locations/mankato">Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato</a>, stepped in.

Olson says she and Aggie have become close over the past decade of Aggie's care. And she wasn't going to let Aggie miss the experience of a hot air balloon ride on her watch. She had a plan.

On Aggie's final visit to the Andreas Cancer Center in Mankato before entering hospice, Kerry and her daughter, Klaire, brought in Klaire's virtual reality equipment and set it up in a conference room. They had loaded the equipment with a hot air balloon simulation.

The simulator would bring Aggie on a balloon ride over the Rio Grande river.

Kerry and her daughter put the headset on Aggie. They watched and listened as Aggie described rising above the Earth and seeing the tops of palm trees below her. Some of the gathered onlookers may have gotten a bit choked up as Aggie described her amazement.

Aggie shed tears of gratitude over the relationships she's developed with staff at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato and the special treatment she has received from Kerry and other staff at Mayo. The two grasped each other's hands and paused when thinking about whether they would see each other again moving forward.

Kerry says if they don't have the chance to meet again, she's grateful for this final wonderful memory and for their decade of friendship.

"More like family," Aggie says.

<ul><li></li></ul>
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When drummer Patrick Bautz is performing, he’s in the zone.&nbsp; He says he doesn’t even think about what he’s doing, it’s just natural. It’s what he calls “the nothingness of drumming.” But not that long-ago, Pat started getting distracted. Physical symptoms were turning that nothingness into something. And it was something that worried him enough to seek help at Mayo Clinic.

Music runs in Patrick Bautz' family. His two older brothers were drummers, which inspired him, he says. "I started playing drums at age 3," says Bautz, now 60. "I was going to play. I dreamed about it since I was a little kid."

To say that Pat Bautz has lived that dream would be an understatement.

Bautz has played the drums for such superstars as Mickey Gilley, Freddy Fender, Dave Mason and Jeffrey Osborne. For the last 30 years, he been on the road with the band <a href="https://www.threedognight.com/">Three Dog Night</a>.

"When you travel that much with the same group of guys, everybody knows what joke I'm going to say. I know what joke everybody's going to say. I know what they're going to &nbsp;laugh about."

But the unexplained symptoms that Pat started to experience about seven years ago were no laughing matter.

"I first noticed that my right arm was kind of like a little shake sometimes. It had some pain. not terrible pain, but enough that I noticed it."

There was also stiffness in his arm and foot. It was affecting his playing.

"I noticed it immediately. I couldn't get this hand to hit at the same time as this hand. So I was constantly behind."

After seeing several doctors, Pat was finally diagnosed with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/parkinsons-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20376055?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parkinson’s disease</a>. Medications helped for a while.

"It worsened over time, to the point where I went from a single pill every four hours to four pills every four hours."

That’s when Pat went to Mayo Clinic to meet with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/uitti-ryan-j-m-d/bio-20054177?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/uitti-ryan-j-m-d/bio-20054177?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dr. Ryan Uitti</a> to talk about deep brain stimulation, or D-B-S.

"<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/deep-brain-stimulation/about/pac-20384562?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" data-type="URL" data-id="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/deep-brain-stimulation/about/pac-20384562?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;invsrc=other&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Deep brain stimulation</a> is all about improving a patient's quality of life. And just like medications may dial in and help certain symptoms, deep brain stimulation can be a targeted electrical prescription for patients."

During surgery, Dr. Uitti and his team place electrodes into the brain. The electrodes are connected to an implantable battery. When the power is turned on, the electrical current stimulates the brain circuits, improving symptoms.

"When we first started doing these operations in 1995, we did the same operation every time. Today, we never do that. We individualize the operation for each patient. And that has led us to using different targets. And sometimes we'll place one, two, three or even four electrodes in one person."

The catch… Pat had to be awake during the surgery. That way he could provide immediate feedback to make sure the leads were in the most advantageous spot. In this case, that feedback came from Pat’s drumsticks.

Less than three months after the surgery, Pat was back on stage with the band.

"I'm not expert enough to even know that he was having trouble as a musician, but I'm sure it makes a big difference for him and the rest of the people in the band. And you know, this is part of his life, not to mention all the other people that enjoy listening to the music. So if we can be a part of something like that, it's really a rewarding day."

"I'm better than I was. And I will continue to get better. It does take a little getting used to. All of a sudden, now I'm starting to forget I even have it. And that I know is a really good thing."

____________________________________________

For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask in the video was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.

This story also appears on the&nbsp;<a href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/hope-arrives-at-mayo-clinic-locations-as-covid-19-vaccinations-begin/">Mayo Clinic News Network</a>. You can find it there and share it with others
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Ellen Teske isn't one to sit still for too long. In the winter, you can find her on the ski slopes with her siblings or with her feet in snowshoes. During the summer, she is in her flower garden, at the local farmers market, biking or on her paddleboard. And there was no slowing down for her in retirement either. The day after she retired from North High School, she hit the open road for a monthlong motorcycling adventure with her brother.

During her many adventures, she started to notice that her night vision wasn't quite what it used to be.

"When I was driving toward lighted cars, I would see rays of light. I just thought that was how it was for everyone," says the 65-year-old Eau Claire, Wisconsin, resident. "It seemed like my eyelashes were in the way."

Ellen decided to make an appointment with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/marianne-komro-od">Marianne Komro, O.D.</a>, a Mayo Clinic Health System&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/optometry">optometrist</a>, and Ellen had an odd request.

"I asked her if I could cut my eyelashes so I could see better at night," says Ellen with a laugh. "She told me 'no' and recommended that I take a vision field test."

A person's visual field is the full extent of what can be seen to the sides without moving the eyes, explains Dr. Komro.

"A visual field test, also known as a perimetry, determines whether a person is having difficulty seeing in any areas of the overall field of vision," says Dr. Komro. "I was concerned that Ellen may have a vision field defect based on the concerns she shared, and the shape and position of her eyelids."

During the automated perimetry test, Ellen looked at a screen with blinking lights and was directed to press a button each time she saw them blink.

"It was the first test I have ever failed in my life," says Ellen. "I only saw 16 of 64 flashing lights."

Based on her results, Dr. Komro referred Ellen to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/yvonne-pierpont-md">Yvonne Pierpont, M.D.</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/services-and-treatments/plastic-and-reconstructive-surgery">plastic and reconstructive surgeon</a>&nbsp;at Mayo Clinic Health System. During the consultation, Dr. Pierpont examined and measured Ellen's face, and recommended an upper lid blepharoplasty and brow lift for the best results to improve her field of vision.

An upper lid blepharoplasty, also known an eyelid lift, is the No. 1 plastic surgery procedure performed, explains Dr. Pierpont. It is a type of surgery that repairs droopy eyelids by removing excess skin, and sometimes muscle and fat.

"Over time, the skin of the eyes is the thinnest skin in the body and with time, it loses elasticity. This leaves excess and baggy skin that can interfere with your vision and make you look tired," says Dr. Pierpont.

Eyelid lifts can be combined with an eyebrow lift. During a brow lift, the surgeon uses different incisions to raise the soft tissue and skin of the forehead and brow.

"Often patients think that their eyelids are the only issue. They do not know that the skin below their brows is different than eyelids and also can be a contributing factor," says Dr. Pierpont. "About half of patients may benefit from the addition of a brow lift or eyelid muscle tightening in addition to the eyelid lift. And oftentimes, these are considered medically necessary to improve the visual field and therefore a covered insurance benefit."

At first, Ellen was concerned when she heard Dr. Pierpont's recommendations.

"I went into panic. My first thought was all the movie stars and how awful they look after plastic surgery," says Ellen. "I told Dr. Pierpont that I didn't want to come out looking like a 35-year-old. I want to look age-appropriate."

Dr. Pierpont assured Ellen that they had the same goals: to improve her field of vision while preserving her natural appearance.

Dr. Pierpont explained that the incision for the eyelid lift is hidden in the eyelid's natural crease and the brow lid incisions are hidden in her hairline so she would have little to no visual scars. In addition, Ellen's procedures could be covered by her insurance because of her documented visual field defects. And the procedure would be performed as a same-day surgery, which meant that she could recover comfortably at home.

After discussing these options with family, Ellen decided to move forward with the procedures. She says she felt calm on the day of her surgery, and Dr. Pierpont met with her prior to surgery to discuss the plan, and mark incision locations on her face and hairline.

"I looked a bit like Frankenstein, but she was very precise and marked around my hair follicles," Ellen recalls.

After surgery, Ellen was bruised but felt great. "Dr. Pierpont was very honest with me and said that it would like I got beat up," she says. "She was right, but it didn't actually hurt. I was pretty much pain-free."

Every day, Ellen's bruising improved. "I'm a bit nerdy with the science so it was interesting to see my bruises progress. I knew I was healing," she says. "I iced my eyelids and slept in my recliner for a few weeks but was amazed at how quickly I felt great again."

Ellen was able to return to her active life three weeks later and noticed significant improvements in her vision.

"Every morning, I take my dog for a 3-mile hike. Now I can see out of the side of my eye. I hadn't realized how much I was missing before," she says. "This is like surround sound of vision, and the world opened up for me."

Dr. Pierpont explains that Ellen's experience is common for patients who have had these surgical procedures.

"I often hear from patients how much brighter everything appears or how much more they can see especially above and to the sides," she says "This are gratifying procedures for patients and myself, as they notice significant improved in what they can see and how they look."

Others noticed, as well. "It seems that people notice you look different but can't pinpoint why. I went back to sub at the school and got comments like 'Retirement has done you well' and 'You look so well-rested,'" says Ellen. "When I texted a photo of myself all sweaty after a long hike to my siblings, their only comments were how great my eyes looked."

Overall, Ellen is very pleased with the results of her surgery and how it has affected her quality of her life.

"It's opened my eyes to a new world," she says. "I still look like me and it didn't change my overall look, but it made living so much better and brighter."

This story also appears on the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mayo Clinic Health System Hometown Health blog</a>. You can find it there and share it with others https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/patient-stories
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/a-black-and-white-image-of-Destiny-outside-by-a-fence-holding-her-guitar-16x9-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="797" height="449" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/a-black-and-white-image-of-Destiny-outside-by-a-fence-holding-her-guitar-16x9-1.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-39380" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/a-black-and-white-image-of-Destiny-outside-by-a-fence-holding-her-guitar-16x9-1.jpg 797w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/a-black-and-white-image-of-Destiny-outside-by-a-fence-holding-her-guitar-16x9-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/04/a-black-and-white-image-of-Destiny-outside-by-a-fence-holding-her-guitar-16x9-1-768x433.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 797px) 100vw, 797px" /></a></figure>

Destiny Rhodes finds solace in music.

Diagnosed with temporal-lobe epilepsy when she was 17 months old, Destiny says when she started playing guitar as a teenager, it became a constant source of comfort during her uncertain health. Despite medication, Destiny’s seizures continued for more than 20 years, often occurring several times a week. The medication also plagued her with a plethora of discouraging side effects that Destiny describes as "lots of bad feelings."

"I had dizziness, drowsiness, depression, anger, tiredness, weird taste, gum pain, shaking problems, feeling off balance, feelings of deja vu, and I would get strong headaches," Destiny says. "I felt stressed and worried. I couldn’t tolerate loud sounds. I would get eye strain and be sensitive to strong light."

‘Mayo Clinic changed her life’

The symptoms were unbearable, prompting Destiny’s parents to travel from their home in Dublin, Georgia, to find a treatment that would give their daughter a better life.

"We went to a lot of places — Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah," recalls her mother, Rosa Rhodes, "But it was Mayo Clinic that changed her life."

Destiny arrived at <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida">Mayo Clinic Florida</a> on Oct. 23, 2018, for the first of more than 60 appointments. After her initial visit, Destiny underwent a comprehensive presurgical evaluation, including magnetic resonance imaging that revealed scarring in her left and right temporal lobes. A positron emission topography scan also showed an abnormality in these areas. An electroencephalogram recorded multiple habitual seizures.

Once testing was completed, a team that included epilepsy doctors and nurses, brain surgeons, radiologists and psychologists reviewed her case. The team recommended a brain electrical stimulation therapy with an approach known as a <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/neurology-neurosurgery/news/new-technology-for-the-treatment-of-pediatric-epilepsy/mac-20509645">responsive neurostimulation system.</a> This approach involves placing permanent electrodes in the brain.

About three months after her initial visit, two electrodes were implanted in her brain where she had scars, and from where the seizures were coming. Brain electrical stimulation therapy titration was performed during subsequent visits that led to a significant reduction in seizures. By October 2019, Destiny was free from clinical seizures.

'I feel like a new me'

Since her surgery, Destiny has celebrated milestones that once seemed impossible.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She participated in the virtual 2020 iHeartRadio Music Festival, accompanying one of her idols on guitar.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In March, she passed her driver’s license test at age 27.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Most importantly, April 4 marked 18 months without a seizure.

"When I initially met Destiny, she was a timid young woman who did not talk much," says her neurologist, <a href="https://quarterly.mayo.edu/directory/person/person.htm?per_id=15936325&amp;displaymode=&amp;search_criteria_display=%27Feyissa%27+">Anteneh Feyissa, M.D</a>. "Since the seizure freedom, she has become more extroverted, expressive and joyful. She also reported improvement in her memory since the implantation of her device. This was confirmed objectively when she underwent follow-up neuropsychological testing. During her last follow-up visit, she told me that she is now enjoying life with a big smile."

Destiny agrees enthusiastically.

"Oh my gosh, I feel like a new me," she says. "I never feel side effects anymore or any of the bad feelings I had in the past. I’ve grown in every way. After surgery, my device helped me grow with intelligence, personality and even talent. I felt so happy and even shocked. What a difference to have no bad feelings anymore."

Destiny’s follow-up visits have been so positive, Dr. Feyissa says her anti-seizure medication is adjusted to a lower dose.

"We’ve made a lot of trips to Jacksonville, and we always look forward to our visits with Dr. Feyissa," Rosa says. "We enjoy him so much. He and Destiny are like two peas in a pod."

Dr. Feyissa says Destiny's case highlights the importance of drug-resistant epilepsy patients receiving an evaluation at a <a href="https://www.naec-epilepsy.org/about-epilepsy-centers/what-is-an-epilepsy-center/">Level 4 epilepsy center</a>, such as the Mayo Clinic, that provides more intensive neurodiagnostic monitoring.

"Destiny's seizure-freedom outcome is very pleasing to the Mayo Clinic Florida multidisciplinary epilepsy team, which continues to work diligently to help those with drug-resistant epilepsy," Dr. Feyissa says. "Patients with drug-resistant epilepsy need to be evaluated in a timely manner and offered treatment options beyond anti-seizure medication due to the increased morbidity and mortality — such as Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, or SUDEP — associated with this condition. Besides, reducing the seizure burden or stopping seizures will undoubtedly improve their quality of life."

Jamming with Keith Urban

Last summer, Destiny read a Facebook post by country singer Keith Urban, inviting musicians to audition to accompany him during his set at the iHeartRadio Music Festival on Sept.19, 2020. Urban, who enjoys watching musicians cover his music online, wanted fans to submit videos playing his song "Superman." While he performed on stage, the selected musicians would accompany him virtually, visible on screens behind Urban.

For Destiny, there was no question that she would submit an audition tape.

"I would not perform today if it weren’t for Keith Urban," Destiny says. "I remember watching him and thinking I want to play like that someday."

Destiny, whose other musical influences include Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton, vividly remembers the phone call from an iHeartRadio representative.

"'We thought you sounded great. We want you to be a part of this,' he told me. I was so happy and ecstatic that I got on my knees. This was a big dream coming true for me," Destiny says.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kelsey.d.rhodes/videos/10217484969059226">Watch Destiny's audition video</a>.

Also, watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShBSG7Al33g">Urban's performance of "Superman" with Destiny and other musicians prominent in the background</a>.

Her mother marvels at the serendipity of Destiny’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to accompany her favorite musician. "Keith Urban was her musical influence," Rosa says. "Then she gets chosen to play with him. He has no idea what an influence he has had on her."

Paying forward the blessing

Destiny, who also plays piano and drums, says her love of the guitar started in childhood when she listened to praise bands during church.

"When I was little, I remember watching the guitar player up on stage in church thinking, 'I want to do that.' I loved the sound. I love how they played it."

Mostly self-taught, Destiny took up guitar when she was 13 with the encouragement of a neighbor who taught her chords and songs. Destiny’s musical tastes are eclectic. She enjoys 1980s rock 'n' roll bands like Def Leppard. She also listens to Christian artists such as the band Skillet and the trio of Phillips, Craig and Dean.

Today, Destiny plays local gigs at restaurants, child care centers, hospitals, churches and charitable events.&nbsp;

"I love sharing my talent with everybody," Destiny says. "I want my music to bless them like it has blessed me."

HELPFUL LINKS

<ul><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">epilepsy</a> and <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/deep-brain-stimulation/home/ovc-20156088?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717"><a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/neurology-neurosurgery/news/new-technology-for-the-treatment-of-pediatric-epilepsy/mac-20509645">responsive neurostimulation system</a></a>.</li><li>Read about the Departments of <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/neurology/home/orc-20117057?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Neurology</a> and <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/neurosurgery/home/orc-20117096?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Neurosurgery</a> at Mayo Clinic.</li><li>Connect with others talking about seizures, epilepsy and advanced therapies on <a href="https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/brain-and-nerve-diseases/">Mayo Clinic Connect</a>.</li><li>Explore Mayo Clinic’s <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/florida?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Florida campus</a>.</li><li>Request an <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=appointmentbutton&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100718">appointment</a>.</li></ul>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/03/holmquist_TWAMC_1080x608.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/03/holmquist_TWAMC_1080x608-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-39359" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/03/holmquist_TWAMC_1080x608-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/03/holmquist_TWAMC_1080x608-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/03/holmquist_TWAMC_1080x608-768x432.jpg 768w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/03/holmquist_TWAMC_1080x608.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>

<h4>When a head injury landed young Andrew Holmquist in the Emergency Department, a blanket made by a hospital volunteer provided comfort through exams, scans, a ride in an air ambulance, and throughout his recovery.</h4>

A blanket is just a piece of cloth stitched together, but it can be so much more. Especially when it's given to someone during an emergency, and provides warmth and comfort to get through a difficult time.

Andrew Holmquist, 3, and his family in Glenwood City, Wisconsin, have firsthand experience in this.

"He's all boy and busy. Just go, go, go," says Andrew's grandmother, Judi Holmquist. "He likes 'Paw Patrol,' dinosaurs, trucks and helping papa (grandpa) outside."

Andrew, who lives with his grandparents, was doing just that after a snowfall in January.

"He really wanted to go out, so we put him in his snowsuit and his mom, Abby (Holmquist), got him strapped into the skid-steer with papa," says Judi.

After they were done plowing the driveway, Andrew's grandpa, Paul Holmquist, lifted him out of the skid-steer cab and set him on the ground. In an instant, Andrew slipped on ice and hit his head on the machine's metal bucket.

Paul scooped up the boy and brought him into the house to be cleaned up and comforted by Judi and Abby.

<h3>'I knew something wasn't right'</h3>

"His nose was bleeding pretty badly, and then he said, 'I'm sleepy,'" Judi says. "I'm a former paramedic, so when he said that, I looked at his pupils, and I knew something wasn't right."

Quickly, the family decided to drive him to the hospital. On the way, Judi called 911 while Abby tried to keep Andrew calm and awake in the back seat. About 15 minutes into the drive, he briefly lost consciousness. The Holmquists were met en route by an ambulance, and Andrew was transported to Mayo Clinic Health System in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

When Andrew arrived, he was evaluated by <a href="https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/providers/brent-bjorklund-md/">Brent Bjorklund, M.D.</a>, an emergency medicine physician.

"Andrew had dried blood in his nose and was initially vomiting blood, as well ― likely from swallowing it," says Dr. Bjorklund. "He was awake and talking to us on arrival. Then we performed a trauma evaluation."

During Andrew's exam and tests, the staff picked out a special blanket covered with trucks just for Andrew.

"He was starting to get cold and the blanket was so warm," says Judi. "It was like God was giving him a hug and protecting him."

<h3>'A way to provide comfort, warmth'</h3>

Emergency Department staff give blankets to pediatric patients who need comfort or don't have their own blanket. The blankets are handmade by Mayo Clinic Health System volunteers as part of a service project started about five years ago.

"We make about 50 blankets each year," says Karen Elwood, volunteer manager. "It is a way to provide comfort, warmth and a sense of home for our youngest patients during a scary time in their lives."

The special blanket was a great comfort to Andrew and his family when they learned that his CT scan showed fractures through the front of his skull. His fractures were linear and the bones of his skull were not displaced, but he would need additional care and monitoring.

Dr. Bjorklund consulted with Mayo Clinic Pediatric Trauma Service, which recommended Andrew be transported to the Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

"As the region's only pediatric trauma center, we offer comprehensive care for infants and children who suffer from injuries. The telemedicine program allows us to connect with the local facilities, and we are able to prepare for the patient's needs upon arrival," says <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/klinkner-denise-b-m-d-m-ed/bio-20153231">Denise Klinkner, M.D.</a>, medical director of the Pediatric Trauma Center. "For patients with head injuries, our Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation team assesses patients during their stay and provides follow-up care to ensure full return to normal developmental goals."

Weather issues that day prevented helicopter transport, so Andrew, Judi and his special blanket were brought by ambulance to the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. There they met a Mayo Clinic Ambulance Service fixed-wing air ambulance airplane.

"Everyone was so kind and respectful. They made us feel very comfortable," says Judi. "The flight was uneventful, and when we landed, one of the pilots came around, and put his hand on my shoulder and wished us well. That meant a lot."

<h3>Admitted and observed, with one complication</h3>

In Rochester, Andrew, with blanket in tow, was evaluated by <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/mannenbach-mark-s-m-d/bio-20053732">Mark Mannenbach, M.D.</a>, a pediatric emergency physician.

"When Andrew arrived, he looked very well. He was calm, alert and cooperative, allowing us to complete a thorough examination," says Dr. Mannenbach. "The skull fractures involved the base of his skull and put him at risk for complications, especially the development of a leak of his cerebrospinal fluid. His skull fractures would be classified as complex but not requiring any intervention."

Andrew's injuries did not require surgery, but Dr. Mannenbach and the Pediatric Trauma Service Team admitted him into the hospital, where he could be safely observed on the general pediatric floor.

During his admission, the family got another surprise: Andrew tested positive for COVID-19. While in the hospital, he received anti-seizure medication and was closely monitored by the care team. After two days, he was able to leave the hospital, but the family decided to stay a few extra days in a local hotel before making the return two-hour drive home to Glenwood City.

Andrew's blanket was with him the entire way.

<h3>A reminder of the warmth he felt</h3>

With help from his family, Andrew sent a thank-you letter to the Menomonie staff after he got home.

"The blanket followed me and kept me warm every step. I had to have many IVs and shots, and the blanket was my constant friend," Andrew's letter to his medical team read. "Thank you so very much from me and my whole family for this blanket. Maybe when I am bigger, I can make blankets for kids like me."

The Menomonie staff and volunteers were touched by the family's gratitude and appreciate that this small gift made a difference.

"It is very touching to see how the blanket had an impact on him. He is a brave little boy with a beautiful heart," says Debra, the volunteer who made Andrew's blanket. "Even though he is young, he shared an important lesson for us all: We can find joy and appreciation in the small and unexpected comforts in our lives. We are touched and changed forever when we are kind to each other."

After a thorough washing, Andrew's blanket remains on his bed at home. Judi says it is a constant reminder of the warmth he felt when he was scared. A few weeks after his accident, Andrew is now doing much better.

"He has had nothing less than a remarkable recovery. After his COVID-19 quarantine, he was able to go back to 3K school and loves it," says Judi. "This has been a roller coaster ride with a few bumps, but the world is really full of good people. Thankfully, we are on the good side of this now."

Andrew's physicians are pleased with his recovery as well, and they stress the importance of safety around large equipment, especially in winter conditions.

"Young children are at high risk for head injuries. They are curious and explore their surroundings wherever they may be. The family farm and worksites create even higher risks for children to be injured," says Dr. Mannenbach. "Certainly, children need to learn by exploring and learning from others as they work, but someone who is not doing any work should be on hand to make sure they are safe as they learn."

"Farm-related injuries always catch my attention, since I grew up on one in southern Minnesota," says Dr. Klinkner. "Prevention is best, as injuries can be severe in rural or remote areas that have fewer resources. We are always pleased with a positive outcome."

HELPFUL LINKS

<ul><li>Learn more about <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/childrens-center?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Mayo Clinic Children's Center</a>.</li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/childrens-center/pediatric-cardiology/overview?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717"><a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=intheloop&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100719">Mayo Clinic</a></a>.</li><li>Request an <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=appointmentbutton&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100718">appointment</a>.</li></ul>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/PorterMitchell.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/PorterMitchell-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-39332" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/PorterMitchell-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/PorterMitchell-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/PorterMitchell-768x432.jpg 768w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/PorterMitchell.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>

<h4>Amy and Josh Porter were looking for the best pediatric heart surgery program to give their son the best chance at a regular childhood. Then they learned that two of them were working together in a new collaboration.</h4>

When Mitchell Porter was born, he was diagnosed with heart defects that typically require multiple surgeries over time to fix. His parents, Amy and Josh Porter of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, wanted nothing more than a normal childhood for their son, so they embarked on a journey to get Mitchell the care he needed.

Mitchell needed a complex operation to repair one of his heart valves. It would be his second surgery. The goal was to repair rather than replace the valve. &nbsp;

"It was very important to us that Mitchell could play like other boys his age," says Amy. "As an active family, we didn't want Mitchell to miss out on anything."

Repairing the valve would allow Mitchell to be an active kid — kicking soccer balls and shooting hoops like others his age. Without the operation, Mitchell's heart would continue to enlarge, eventually leading to heart failure.

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">"Our goal has always been for our two programs to collaborate in order to solve complex heart problems in children. Mitchell's heart problem was just that — complex — and the perfect solution was for the two of us to work together to fix it. And we did."<cite>Joseph Dearani</cite></blockquote>

Surgery was planned for April, but then influenza and COVID-19 caused delays. Although the delay was a disappointment to Mitchell's parents, it gave them time to research and find the best pediatric heart surgery programs for Mitchell's condition.

That research led the Porters to recognize that Minnesota has several of the best pediatric heart surgery teams in the nation, with significant experience in performing many of these heart defect surgeries, along with excellent outcomes. Their options included Mayo Clinic Children's Center and Children's Minnesota.

Then Amy and Josh received unexpected news. They learned that the two hospitals had established a collaboration allowing the two heart programs to work together to share expertise and resources, providing an integrated team approach to pediatric congenital heart care.&nbsp;<a href="https://quarterly.mayo.edu/directory/person/person.htm?per_id=11226374">Dr. Joseph Dearani</a>, director of congenital heart surgery at Mayo Clinic Children's Center, and Dr. David Overman, chief of cardiovascular surgery at Children's Minnesota, would operate on Mitchell together as part of the Mayo Clinic — Children's Minnesota Cardiovascular Collaboration.

The Porters were thrilled. Having Mitchell's surgery performed by two leading heart surgeons with combined expertise of more than 60 years suggested that the repair, rather than a replacement with a mechanical valve, could potentially happen.

"I cried when I heard the news," Amy says. "Josh and I had hoped that Mitchell could avoid having a mechanical valve, which requires lifelong blood thinners, and wouldn't allow Mitchell the option to participate in sports."

"Dr. Overman and I have been professional colleagues for 20 years," says Dr. Dearani. "Our goal has always been for our two programs to collaborate in order to solve complex heart problems in children. Mitchell's heart problem was just that — complex — and the perfect solution was for the two of us to work together to fix it. And we did."

Twelve weeks after his surgery, Mitchell was back on the soccer field and scored the first goal of the game. Amy and Josh looked on with smiles, happy to see their kid being just that — a kid.

HELPFUL LINKS

<ul><li>Learn more about <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/childrens-center?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Mayo Clinic Children's Center</a>.</li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/childrens-center/pediatric-cardiology/overview?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Pediatric Cardiology</a> at Mayo Clinic.</li><li>Request an <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=appointmentbutton&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100718">appointment</a>.</li></ul>
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<h4>When she learned that a liver transplant could save her mom's life, April Wilson didn't hesitate to stop smoking and say yes to being a living donor.</h4>

April Wilson smoked for 25 years and tried many times to quit, but nothing seemed to work.

"I tried everything," April says. "I used every replacement therapy, Chantix, Wellbutrin, patches, gum, cold turkey, hypnosis, inhaler."

It wasn't until her mom, Mary Lou Walker, was battling liver disease and needed a transplant that April was able to succeed in her goal.

Suddenly the motivation was not just for her own health. She needed to quit to become a living donor for her mom.

After learning that her sister wasn't a match to donate for their mom, April was tested for compatibility. She had to quit smoking for a month before she could be tested.

So she quit, stuck with it, got tested and was found to be a match to be a living donor.

"My liver was a blessing in disguise, as she is now smoke-free," says Mary Lou.

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">My liver was a blessing in disguise, as she is now smoke-free.<cite>Mary Lou Walker</cite></blockquote>

After the diagnosis, a home-town physician in Iowa arranged for Mary Lou to be seen at Mayo Clinic for a second opinion and treatment, which was good, since she had already decided that was her choice, too.

When asked if she had any concerns about donating, April replies, "I did a lot of praying prior to the actual donation surgery, and that, along with the expertise of the transplant team, made getting up on the operating table so easy.&nbsp;Plus, I love my mom immensely, so knowing that she would be around longer was the biggest benefit."

The transplant surgery happened at Mayo Clinic in October 2019, and Mary Lou has moved forward on the road to recovery and a healthier life.

"Outside of the fact that my biliary tract wouldn't stay open, and I needed stents inserted and removed every three months after the transplant, I feel healthier," Mary Lou says. "My energy level has risen. I don't fall asleep in the middle of conversations. And I am looking forward to many more years with my loved ones."

April says her liver has regenerated, and her lungs are healing after quitting smoking.

April encourages anyone considering being a living donor to look into it.

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">After seeing the potential complications and how rare the more serious ones were, to me, it was a no-brainer to donate.<cite>April Wilson</cite></blockquote>

"Research, research, research.&nbsp;After seeing the potential complications and how rare the more serious ones were, to me, it was a no-brainer to donate," she says.&nbsp;"Ask questions, get into a group of others who have donated, and get teamed up with a mentor."

Mary Lou supports that completely and is doing her part to encourage others to do just that.

"I love to talk about the need for living donors," she says. "I am living proof of what a donor can do for a person in need."

Helpful links

<ul><li>Read more about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/transplant-center/home/orc-20203891">Mayo Clinic's Transplant Center</a>.</li><li>Explore <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/arizona?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Mayo Clinic</a>.</li><li>Request an <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=appointmentbutton&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100718">appointment</a>.</li></ul>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/CaceresGeorgeCookMJ.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/CaceresGeorgeCookMJ-1024x576.jpg" alt="George Caceres and MJ Cook" class="wp-image-39319" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/CaceresGeorgeCookMJ-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/CaceresGeorgeCookMJ-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/CaceresGeorgeCookMJ-768x432.jpg 768w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/02/CaceresGeorgeCookMJ.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a><figcaption>George Caceres and Maria Cook</figcaption></figure>

<h4>George Caceres came to Mayo Clinic with advanced liver disease and stayed for more than five months, much of it during COVID-19 restrictions. His care team made him feel safe and cared for.</h4>

George Caceres' smile is contagious. Just ask his Mayo Clinic care team, who came to know him well during his 165-day stay after a liver transplant.

"He was so pleasant to visit," says Lyda Velez, his case manager. "Even on days when he didn't feel well and didn't take off his [sleep] mask, he would give us little fist bumps."

George arrived at Mayo Clinic in Arizona on Dec. 8, 2019, for preliminary appointments for liver disease. He never imagined he wouldn't return to his home in Portland, Oregon, until halfway through 2020.

"George was one of the sickest patients we have seen," says <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/aqel-bashar-a-m-d/bio-20055093">Bashar Aqel</a><a href="https://quarterly.mayo.edu/directory/person/person.htm?per_id=13070525&amp;displaymode=&amp;search_criteria_display=%27Aqel%27+">, M.D.,</a> a transplant hepatologist who oversaw George's care.

George was fortunate to be in the right place at a difficult time.

<h3>Advanced disease, and complications</h3>

In hindsight, George says he underestimated how ill he was. Before his transplant, he endured a nearly three-hour morning routine getting ready for work because he would become fatigued and need to rest among the tasks of showering, getting dressed, eating breakfast and letting his dog outside.

"Basically my organs weren't getting sufficient oxygen," Caceres says. "I was consistently short of breath. I could barely walk a block without feeling like I was going to pass out. Doctors asked me, 'How can you function on 40% oxygen?' I didn't realize how bad off I was."

George was diagnosed with severe <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hepatopulmonary-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20373350">hepatopulmonary syndrome</a>, a rare complication for someone with advanced liver disease, according to Dr. Aqel. "Sixty-two percent of the blood was bypassing the lungs," he says.

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">Other places wouldn't have taken his case. We had the team and the resources to make him well.<cite>Bashar Aqel, M.D.</cite></blockquote>

George was placed on the transplant waiting list on Dec. 24, 2019, and underwent a liver transplant on Dec. 31.

"We got lucky because he qualified for extra <a href="https://connect.mayoclinic.org/page/transplant/newsfeed-post/the-meld-score-definitions-and-frequently-asked-questions/">MELD (Model for End-Stage Liver Disease) score</a> points," Dr. Aqel says.

But the short turnaround for surgery belied what was in store.

"Hepatopulmonary syndrome doesn't reverse itself immediately," Dr. Aqel says. "That was the reason he was in the hospital for the first few weeks. He was slowly getting better."

But as George was recovering, he started to complain of headaches with increasing frequency. This triggered a CT scan of his head that confirmed a pituitary tumor. George was rushed to surgery to remove the tumor, which was benign but was causing serious compression on vital structures in the brain.

After surgery to remove the tumor, George's oxygen levels improved slowly, Dr. Aqel says. It became a matter of time to get him stronger.

Then coronavirus struck.

<h3>Mayo staff became adopted family</h3>

Close friends from Portland had traveled to be George's caregivers, helping with meals, administering his medications, filling his oxygen tanks, accompanying him to medical appointments and providing companionship. But when COVID-19 visitor restrictions were enacted in March, George was alone in Arizona, with his friends, family and support network 1,300 miles away in Portland.

George says he came to appreciate the safety protocols imposed by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, however.

"I realized I'm in such a fragile state," he recalls. "I'm one of the most vulnerable people here, but I'm in the safest place I can be."

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">I realized I'm in such a fragile state. I'm one of the most vulnerable people here, but I'm in the safest place I can be.<cite>George Caceres</cite></blockquote>

George says he didn't feel alone because the Mayo staff on his floor became his adopted family. He went as far calling Maria (MJ) Cook, a transplant/medical-surgical nurse, his second mother when he nominated her for a <a href="https://mchsintranet.mayo.edu/nwwi/forms-content-pages/daisy-nurse-leader-award-nomination-form">Daisy Award</a> for outstanding nursing care.

"I honestly feel that her continuous care helped me get through this," George wrote in the nomination. "My mother passed away 3.5 years ago, and I truly believe M.J. was placed in my life as a second mother. Thank you, M.J., from the bottom of my heart."

Cook was one of his first nurses when George transferred from intensive care, and she cared for him after transferring from different hospital floors during his lengthy stay. Fittingly, she was the nurse who discharged George on his last day at Mayo.

"I was his mama bear," Cook says about caring for Caceres for nearly six months.

<h3>Resiliency aids long-term recovery</h3>

Dr. Aqel says George's resiliency despite the numerous setbacks during his recovery was inspiring.

"Even when he was extremely ill, the team always heard appreciation from George. It just made my day," Dr. Aqel says. "He always had a smile on his face. You enjoyed going to his room and seeing his positivity."

Dr. Aqel says the seriousness of George's illness cannot be overstated.

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">We were his only chance. He was willing to be on this journey.<cite>Bashar Aqel, M.D.</cite></blockquote>

"Other places wouldn't have taken his case," Dr. Aqel says. "We had the team and the resources to make him well. Mayo Clinic is one of the few places where this can happen. Other places would say he's too ill, we can't do it."

George's determination to get well can't be overstated either.

"We were his only chance. He was willing to be on this journey," Dr. Aqel says. "Even with his complications, his resiliency made his case a success."

<h3>'The party room'</h3>

George's room number was West 5E86, but to everyone who worked there, it was better known as "the party room." It was festively decorated for Easter and later, Cinco de Mayo, since the staff wanted Caceres to feel at home as much as possible.

Velez remembers George "was such a foodie. He loved everything. He would order from restaurants ― Vietnamese, Thai, Salvadoran, Filipino, food from all over the world," adding that she would bring him Colombian cuisine to sample.

Cook says every turning point was celebrated. "I remember the little milestones, like putting his compression socks on by himself and the first time he could walk one whole lap around the unit," she says.

But the best party was saved for his final day, on June 13. The staff ordered a cake and presented George with gifts of clothes, a duffel bag and a memory book.

<blockquote class="wp-block-quote">We all want the best for our patients. It was so touching to see everyone come together medically, emotionally and in every other way.<cite>Lyda Velez</cite></blockquote>

"It's important to know that the whole team came together to support him," Velez says. "We all want the best for our patients. It was so touching to see everyone come together medically, emotionally and in every other way."

As George left his room for the last time, staff lined up on both sides of the hall, clapping and cheering as Cook escorted him out in his wheelchair.

You can watch the staff's farewell <a href="https://videoexchange.mayo.edu/media/Farewell_George/1_90sagog4">in this video</a>.

"It was such a surprise," George says. "I wasn't expecting it at all. I started to cry. I'm starting to cry right now, thinking about it again."

<h3>'I feel like a new person'</h3>

George, who worked for a social services program at an elementary school until he became ill, has returned to college for a degree in elementary education. He's also considering pursuing a graduate degree in education leadership.

Known as "the Godfather of Salsa" in Portland, where he's taught dance for 20 years, including 10 years as artistic director of Sabor Latino, George hasn't returned to dance instruction yet. But he's undergoing physical therapy, and he recently was able to stop using supplemental oxygen.

"I'm taking it one day at time, but I feel like a new person," he says.

Daughter quits smoking to donate liver to her mom | Sharing Mayo Clinic

"I love to talk about the need for living donors," she says. "I am living proof of what a donor can do for a person in need."

Helpful links

<ul><li>Read more about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/transplant-center/home/orc-20203891">Mayo Clinic's Transplant Center</a>.</li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/liver-transplant/about/pac-20384842">liver transplants</a> at Mayo Clinic.</li><li>Request an <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=appointmentbutton&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100718">appointment</a>.</li></ul>

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<h4>When Eric Berg's seizures increased to the point they took over his life despite medications to control them, he sought help from Mayo Clinic. A new treatment gave him hope and a chance to live his life again.</h4>

Since he was a child, Eric Berg, has had seizures due to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/symptoms-causes/syc-20350093">epilepsy</a>. This past year, his seizures increased in frequency, affecting his day-to-day life and his ability to work.

With encouragement from his fiancee, Eric sought treatment at Mayo Clinic.

"There was a point that I told Tina, 'I think I've had more seizures in the last couple weeks than I've had my whole life.' It was getting to the point where I was like: 'OK, this is my brain. Something's wrong,'" Eric says.

When Eric came to Mayo, he thought he was experiencing 50 to 60 seizures each day. He soon learned that number was more like 200 seizures a day.

"It was very clear that he was having very frequent seizures, about 12 an hour," says <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/britton-jeffrey-w-m-d/bio-20053196">Jeffrey Britton, M.D.</a>, chair of the Division of Epilepsy at Mayo Clinic.

<h3>Surgery not an option</h3>

"Eric was found to have a growth in the back left part of his brain, which is a fairly common cause of medically intractable focal onset epilepsy," Dr. Britton says.

Surgery wasn't a good option for Eric, Dr. Britton says, and medications to stop the seizures weren't working. But at Mayo Clinic, experts are using a new way to treat some seizure disorders:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/multimedia/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/img-20006838">repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation</a>, or rTMS.

This treatment&nbsp;uses a magnetic field to stimulate certain areas of the brain. While often used to treat depression, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation also is showing promise in treating seizures.

<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/lundstrom-brian-n-m-d-ph-d/bio-20420547">Brian Lundstrom, M.D., Ph.D.</a>, a neurologist and key figure in developing these treatments in patients with epilepsy, was brought in to see if Eric would be a good candidate for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.

He would be a first at Mayo Clinic.

"We have used rTMS for other purposes ― for depression, for mapping of epilepsy patients ― but he was the first patient where we used rTMS as a treatment for his epilepsy," says Dr. Lundstrom.

Eric received his first repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatments in June 2020.

"It might have scared me a little bit more to know that I'm the first one to try something, but now looking back, I mean, it was the best thing that's probably ever happened in my life, aside from meeting Tina," Eric says.

"There was a noticeable reduction in seizures that occurred even in the initial few days of the treatment, and then they stopped," says Dr. Britton.

"June 24 was the last seizure that, you know, I can recall ― the last seizure activity that I had," says Eric.

<h3>Getting back to his life</h3>

Eric returns to Mayo Clinic in Rochester every few months for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation treatments.

"The real benefit of something like rTMS, and noninvasive brain stimulation, is just that it is such a low-risk approach," explains Dr. Lundstrom. "Even if it only helps a minority of patients, we think that it may be a reasonable option for many patients."

For Eric, it feels like he has his life back, and he is looking forward to all the new opportunities this treatment has given him.

"Every day that goes by that he doesn't have a seizure is a victory," Tina, his fiancee, says.

Watch: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&amp;v=Yd-3D3mhjLo&amp;feature=emb_logo">Innovative treatment brings relief to man who experienced hundreds of seizures daily</a>.

HELPFUL LINKS

<ul><li>Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/epilepsy/home/ovc-20117206?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">epilepsy</a>.</li><li>Read about Mayo Clinic’s <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/neurology/home/orc-20117057">Department of Neurology</a>.</li><li>Explore Mayo Clinic’s <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/minnesota?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Rochester campus</a>.</li><li>Request an <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=appointmentbutton&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100718">appointment</a>.</li></ul>

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<h4>Amy Infanger had a rare kidney disease and a difficult path to transplant. A transplant chain involving 16 people across the country got her the match she needed and the chance to grow old with her family.</h4>

Nearly 100,000 Americans are on a waiting list to receive a&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/kidney-transplant/about/pac-20384777?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank">kidney transplant</a>.

For one Minnesota woman, finding a match appeared to be hopeless. She had a 1 in 3,000 chance of finding a kidney that her body would accept. Waiting on the deceased donor list could have been a death sentence, but thanks to a&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/living-donor-transplant/multimedia/img-20203723?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank">living donor transplant chain</a>&nbsp;that spanned across the country, she has a new kidney and a new lease on life.

<h3>Family history, rare disease</h3>

Amy Infanger is a 44-year-old math teacher and high school tennis coach in Osakis, Minnesota. She and her husband, Bill Infanger, have two sons in college. She also comes from a large extended family ― one that has been greatly affected by a rare, genetic kidney disease.

"My mom has eight siblings in her family. And of the eight, six of them have needed a transplant or two. So I knew that it was very likely I was going to end up with the same condition," says Amy.

She was diagnosed with the disease a few years ago.

"The patients develop cysts in their kidneys and sometimes other organs. And eventually — typically in their 40s or 50s — they develop end-stage&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-kidney-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20354521?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank">kidney disease</a>. That means their kidneys no longer work," says&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/prieto-mikel-m-d/bio-20053923?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank">Mikel Prieto, M.D.</a>, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon.

She would need a transplant.

"We found out in our initial screening at Mayo that Amy was highly sensitized. And it was just going to be really hard to find a match," says Bill. "And I had been screened to see if I could be a donor for Amy. They said, 'No, you can't.' But then they introduced us to the paired donor program."

<h3>The start of a chain</h3>

Meanwhile, across the country in Arizona, Eric Cunningham was hoping to help a friend of a friend by donating his kidney.

"I was unable to be a direct donor for her. But I really felt the need to continue on since I had already been approved to donate and was healthy enough to donate," Eric says.

Eric joined the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kidneyregistry.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">National Kidney Registry</a>, offering his kidney for paired donation with a stranger.

"And I was told that, 'Hey, we've got a match.' And it was mentioned that there was the possibility of being the first part in a large chain," he says.

A kidney transplant chain set into motion by Eric involved 16 people from coast to coast, including the Infangers in Minnesota and the top&nbsp;<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/transplant-center/home/orc-20203891?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=newsnetwork&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100721" target="_blank">transplant centers</a>&nbsp;across the country, including Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota.

<h3>A new lease</h3>

"Getting a living donor was huge," says Amy.

As part of the chain, she received a kidney from someone in Boston. Her husband was the last link when he donated his kidney to a person in New York City.

"I think it is a game-changer. And I think it is the way we are going to be doing transplants in the future," says Dr. Prieto. "We were able to find the needle in the haystack: the kidney that was a match for her."

It was a match that may have saved Amy's life.

"By this person doing this for me, maybe I never have to have another one," she says.

"She will have a very good quality of life. Her life expectancy should be essentially normal like everybody else. I expect her to grow to a very old age," says Dr. Prieto.

"This person that you care about so much, their health is fading. And to have that behind us and to have that not be a part of our life anymore — hopefully if this continues to go well — is such a relief. And it's the best thing we could ever see," says Bill.

<h3>Why not share?</h3>

"To know that was kind of the beginning domino to start this whole thing, it's a really cool thing to think of the lives that are impacted and changed," says Eric. "I've got two good kidneys. Why not? Why not share one?"

<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://youtu.be/_B1tYzhzrSM" target="_blank">Watch: Chain of transplants gives gift of life to Minnesota teacher.</a>

Helpful links

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<h4>Sara Groves was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident that changed her life. Among other things, the accident left her with paralysis in her right arm. She credits her medical team at Mayo Clinic in Arizona for helping her move forward and for&nbsp;the courage to pick up her guitar again.</h4>

Arizona resident Sara Groves leads a purpose-driven life. From running a service whose goal is to prevent drinking and driving to serving as the co-chair of the Phoenix Police LGBTQ Advisory Board, she looks for ways to change her community for the better.

Before 2015, Sara's life was headed in a different direction. A musician and hairstylist, she expressed herself through art. But that came to a screeching halt in May 2015 when, while riding her motorcycle, she was seriously injured in a hit-and-run accident that ultimately changed her world.&nbsp;

Sara was on her way to visit her mom, who was in the hospital at the time, when she caught sight of a speeding vehicle. That car knocked her and her motorcycle over the median into oncoming traffic. An approaching car could not stop in time and ran her over. Despite wearing her helmet and protective jacket, Sara’s injuries were grave.

"The last thing I remember was that I saw the car come all the way up to my thigh," Sara recalls. "And then I was out."

The driver of the car that accidentally ran over Sara stayed on the scene and called paramedics. The driver of the vehicle that caused her to be projected over the median never stopped. To this day, that driver has not been apprehended.&nbsp;

The accident left Sara's right arm shattered, with 20 fractures, a <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brachial-plexus-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20350235">brachial plexus injury</a>, and serious nerve damage, complications that changed her life. The crash also shattered Sara's clavicle, and she suffered fractures at the base of her skull, entire vertebrae, ribs, legs and scapula. She admits that she doesn’t remember the exact number of fractures she sustained. The crash also left her with <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061">neuropathy.</a>

Sara recalls that when she regained consciousness while in the hospital, her first instinct was to try to move her right arm.

"I’m a guitarist, so being a musician, it's just natural to check to make sure you can do what you do," she says. Her fear about her right arm was confirmed. It was paralyzed.

"It wasn’t just losing arm function," Sara says.&nbsp;"It was my life. I was a guitarist. I was a hairdresser. I was a doer. It was very traumatic."

<h3>Meeting her Mayo Clinic team</h3>

After being treated at other Phoenix-area hospitals, where she underwent surgeries to restore function and sensation of her triceps (the muscles responsible for the extens<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/noland-shelley-s-m-d/bio-20155635">Shelley Noland, M.D.</a>, Plastic and Hand Surgery, who performed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brachial-plexus-injury/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350241#:~:text=Surgery%20to%20repair%20brachial%20plexus%20nerves%20should%20generally,years%20to%20know%20the%20full%20benefit%20of%20surgery.">brachial plexus surgery</a>&nbsp;for Sara. "It was like a rock star was coming into my room," she says.

The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that sends a signal from the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm and hand. With the goal of getting bicep function, Dr. Noland performed surgery that removed Sara's&nbsp;<a href="https://mayoclinic.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/free-functioning-gracilis-muscle-transfer-with-and-without-simult">gracilis muscle</a>&nbsp;from her inner thigh and connected it to her collarbone and tendons of the bicep.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sara’s injury to her arm greatly affected her lifestyle, including her love of playing the guitar and working as a hairdresser. She doesn’t let it discourage her. She manages to cut her own hair.

<h3>Getting creative about everyday challenges</h3>

"I have this best friend I call Duct Tape. Duct tape is my right hand," Sara quips. "In the morning when I get up, I have taped my bathroom counter with all the utensils I might need for cleaning or clipping my nails, or doing my hair."

Some chores, though, are harder than others. Eating is a particular challenge. A usually simple task like opening a packaged burrito, for example, becomes a challenge tackled with only one arm and often her teeth to help with the task.&nbsp;

Unable to enjoy her hobbies or work as a hairdresser, Sara had to consider where she would go from there. A recovering alcoholic, and believing that the person who hit her was drunk, Sara decided to dedicate herself to encouraging people not to drink and drive.&nbsp;

She also bought an old bread truck, decked it out with vivid artwork and laser lights, added upbeat music and a dance floor, and created the "Jam Tram." Her plan was to attract young people in the downtown Phoenix entertainment area — with the goal to have them ride safely on the Jam Tram if they had been drinking. She would only ask for a small, optional donation.

"I knew I was giving back to the community. It made me happy to know that they weren't on the street," she says. "My hope was that people were safer."

<h3>A new purpose, a sense of community</h3>

Sara is passionate about her volunteer work in the community to encourage safe driving. She maintains two forums on Facebook, one focused on overcoming adversity, and the other a brachial plexus injuries support group, where members discuss tips for completing everyday tasks.&nbsp;

She still gets upset when reflecting on the accident and knowing the driver who was the cause is still somewhere out there, perhaps not even knowing what happened.

"I don't know if that person was impaired. I have no idea what was going on in that person's life at the time," Sara says. "Coping can be&nbsp;difficult at times, but for the most part, I try to do things that help me move forward.&nbsp;Being that I was not born disabled, it is hurdle after hurdle. ... But I stay focused on the positive. I keep myself challenged, trying to be a role model, and I put a lot of effort into social impact."

As the years since her accident go by, Sara says her perspective on the life-changing crash is evolving and growing better by the day. Her dedication to working with people who cope with alcoholism gives her a purpose.&nbsp;

<h3>A dream of playing the guitar again</h3>

"I love Mayo Clinic," says Sara. "Before coming to Mayo, I saw some doctors elsewhere who wouldn't even say their names."

She credits her Mayo physicians, Dr. Noland,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/rebecca-alanna-m-m-d/bio-20054687">Alanna Rebecca, M.D.</a>, in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/kouloumberis-pelagia-e-m-d/bio-20338599?_ga=2.192000106.157901802.1541112447-1825316570.1496857204">Pelagia Kouloumberis, M.D.</a>, in Neurology, along with her physical therapists for moving her life toward acceptance — and continuing to gain strength.

"They have been fantastic," says Sara. "They go way beyond to try to do something I want, rather than something they want."&nbsp;

Sara was a bit reluctant to ask, but she told her physicians that her dream is to play the guitar again.&nbsp;"That's my request, and the doctors have tried to help me with that, so that's awesome," she says.

"It seems like I have grown fonder of my life now, and in weird ways I am grateful for my life being altered," Sara says. "It has sent me in a better direction. Every step is a step forward."

Given Sara's dedication to working with her physical therapists at Mayo, she is more able to build some muscle strength and to flex her arm.&nbsp;On the night of Oct. 28, 2020, an elated Sara sent a Facebook message to legions of her friends. Thanks to a robotic brace that is helping her restore some function in her arm, she wowed herself by cautiously strumming the strings of her guitar.&nbsp;

She plans to fine-tune that effort, and promises, "One day I will sing a song to the people I love."

<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/11-25-treatment-strikes-a-chord-with-patient-after-life-altering-accident/Sara%20Groves%20talks%20about%20her%20journey%20of%20healing%20at%20Mayo%20Clinic." target="_blank">Watch: Sara Groves talks about her journey of healing at Mayo Clinic.</a>

Helpful links

<ul><li>Read more about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/plastic-reconstructive-surgery-mayo-clinic/sections/overview/ovc-20473067">Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery</a>.</li><li>Explore <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/arizona?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Mayo Clinic’s Arizona campus</a>.</li><li>Request an <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=appointmentbutton&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100718">appointment</a>.</li></ul>

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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/01/WilkersonGayle1080.jpg"><img loading="lazy" width="1024" height="576" src="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/01/WilkersonGayle1080-1024x576.jpg" alt="Gayle Wilkerson" class="wp-image-39298" srcset="https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/01/WilkersonGayle1080-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/01/WilkersonGayle1080-300x169.jpg 300w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/01/WilkersonGayle1080-768x432.jpg 768w, https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/n1/78321b977baebf65/uploads/2021/01/WilkersonGayle1080.jpg 1080w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>

<h4>Gayle Wilkerson has lived for 10 years with a left ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that helps a damaged heart pump blood. The milestone is one not many patients reach.</h4>

Gayle Wilkerson doesn't accept hero status.&nbsp;Her care team at Mayo Clinic disagrees. At age 84, Gayle, holds the honor of living on a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/left-ventricular-assist-device/vid-20168845">left ventricular assist device</a>&nbsp;for 10 years. Those odds don't always work that kind of wonder for many. Only a few patients in the U.S. have achieved that milestone.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/scott-robert-l-m-d-ph-d/bio-20054681" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Robert Scott, M.D.</a>, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, says the device allows a person to have severe advanced heart failure and still have a reasonable quality of life.

Gayle walks, lifts weights at a cardiac rehabilitation center twice a week and proudly carries her device in a black shoulder bag, as if it were a fashion statement.

Heart problems began for Gayle in 2005 while living in her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when she experienced trouble breathing. She was outfitted with a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/pacemaker/about/pac-20384689">pacemaker</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=defibrillator+Mayo+Clinic&amp;src=IE-TopResult&amp;FORM=IETR02&amp;conversationid=">defibrillator</a>, which alarmed her family in Arizona. She agreed to move to Arizona and live under the watchful eye of her son.&nbsp;

It was a fortuitous decision. Although Gayle enjoyed good health for more than three years, heart issues reappeared in 2010, and she was diagnosed with <a href="https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/Users/LCC06/Desktop/Heart%20failure%20-%20Symptoms%20and%20causes%20-%20Mayo%20Clinic">congestive heart failure</a>.

She was referred to Mayo Clinic in Arizona for a consult. While in the waiting room, Gayle passed out, requiring a speedy trip to Mayo's emergency department. "That's when my doctors told me and my family that I was eligible for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/ventricular-assist-device/multimedia/left-ventricular-assist-device/img-20006714" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">LVAD</a>," recalls Gayle. "They explained that I would have to undergo a surgery to have the device put in my chest."

That surgery took place on Feb. 1, 2010, and Gayle spent a month at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Arizona. "I'm not allowed to take this device off of my body," Gayle explains. "I'm on batteries with a controller during the day and at night I am connected to electric power."

She admits to getting a few inquiries from people who spot her device and battery case.&nbsp;On a trip back to Pittsburgh in 2011 to reunite with friends, Gayle was about to board the plane with her device. She struck up a conversation with a woman in the waiting area and explained about her device.

"The lady was amazed," Gayle says. Astounded by Gayle's story, the stranger went up to the gate and arranged for Gayle to fly first class. "I was overwhelmed by this kind act," Gayle says. "And when we landed, she bent down and gave me a hug. God bless her, wherever she is."

Today, Gayle relishes her freedom to move around, leave the house and get back to normalcy.

"I feel so blessed to be here, alive and enjoying my life and my wonderful family," she says. She praises her team at Mayo Clinic for their care, concern and professionalism.

<a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://youtu.be/2cI_vHSM7Uwe" target="_blank">Watch: 84-year old Mayo Clinic patient reaches milestone.</a>

Helpful links

<ul><li>Read more about <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/cardiovascular-medicine/home/orc-20121930">Cardiovascular Medicine</a>.</li><li>Explore <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/patient-visitor-guide/arizona?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=content&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100717">Mayo Clinic’s Arizona campus</a>.</li><li>Request an <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/appointments?mc_id=us&amp;utm_source=sharingmayoclinic&amp;utm_medium=l&amp;utm_content=appointmentbutton&amp;utm_campaign=mayoclinic&amp;geo=national&amp;placementsite=enterprise&amp;cauid=100718">appointment</a>.</li></ul>
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