Our Favorite Stories of 2018
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Each year, In the Loop, like many of the world's great news organizations, looks back and shares some favorite stories of the year gone by. It's an edifying exercise, and it gives us a story to publish around the holidays that doesn't feel like work. (Especially when we use the same clever packaging every year.)
Since we're not a particularly scientific lot, we simply pick our own favorites from the past year. Then we whittle our list down to a reasonable number that happens to line up with the year in question. So, without further ado, here are 18 of our favorite Mayo tales from 2018:
Pharmacy Tech and Young Cancer Patient Bond Over Bad Jokes
Nine-year-old Gabe Carranza and Mayo pharmacy tech Adam Savage don't quite remember how it all began, but swapping one-liners when they see one another now never gets old.
Three-Year-Old Patient Takes Break From Proton Therapy to Talk Trash
At just 3 years old, Reid Gleeson has a unique passion. He loves all things garbage. Mayo staff recently pulled some strings so Reid could get an insider's look at the world of trash.
Chris Norton Defies the Odds and Walks With His Bride Down the Aisle
After Chris Norton was injured during a college football game in 2010, doctors gave him just a 3 percent chance of regaining any movement below his neck. In the years since, he's devoted himself to that 3 percent. This year, he got married — and walked his bride, Emily Summers, down the aisle after saying "I do."
Emergency Medicine Physician Back to Work After Accident That Left Him Paralyzed
After Daniel Grossman, M.D., was paralyzed in a biking accident, he needed to learn how to do everything — including care for patients — in a new way.
'It Belongs With Him' — Mayo Surgeon Gives Patient Signed Football
It's not every day that Steelers fans Patrick Quandt and Dr. John Stulak meet an even bigger fan in the middle of Vikings country. So when they met young Seth Bayles, the connection was immediate.
Handoff Redux — Memorable Moment Magnified for Young Patient
Seth Bayles was overwhelmed when new acquaintance and fellow Steelers fan Dr. John Stulak gifted him with a football signed by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. But that was just the beginning of their story.
The Residents Are Alright — Orthopedic Physicians See Music as Medicine
For Elvis Francois, M.D., singing is as natural as breathing. One recent video of him singing has gone viral, earning Dr. Francois a new nickname — and a lot of new fans.
Dad Couldn't Make It to Graduation, so Mayo's IT Team Brought Graduation to Him
Dan Anderson had planned to make it to his son Knowlton's graduation ceremony despite a recent surgery. When complications arose, a Mayo staffer stepped in to give Dan the next best thing.
Glads to Go — Hope and Healing Bloom in the Fields of John and Barb Meyer
In just over 10 years, John and Barb Meyer have gone from a few gladiola bulbs to a few acres of gladiolas, which they gladly give away to hospital patients and nursing home residents each week.
At 101, Regina Gurland Could Write the Book on Healthy Aging
Regina Gurland may have passed the century mark, but she's not slowing down. She drives, socializes, walks her dog … and faithfully reads Mayo Clinic Health Letter.
Doctor Heeds the Call, Ensures Ed Sheeran Fan Can Hear Concert
Kate Fossum and her mom had traveled far to hear Ed Sheeran in concert, only to realize they forgot the supplies for Kate's cochlear implants. A late-night call to Mayo turned their luck around.
103-year-old Methodist-Kahler Nursing Graduate Shares Mayo Memories, and Advice
Eighty years ago, Rose Bayuk earned a nursing diploma, signed and presented to her by the Mayo brothers. She recently shared a lifetime of memories during a visit to Rochester.
We Shared a Name and So Much More — A Remembrance of Sister Antoine Murphy
Public Affairs' John Murphy shares his memories of Sister Antoine Murphy, the last living Sister to have worked with Mayo founders Drs. Will and Charlie Mayo.
Mourning Young Cancer Patients Both a Heartbreak and a Privilege
Mayo Clinic Child Life Specialist Randy Mc Keeman was moved to find out he was recently acknowledged in the obituary of 5-year-old cancer patient Garrett Matthias.
Nurses Rally Around Colleague Diagnosed With Cancer
Greg Redmond and his family faced a number of uncertainties after he was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. But one thing was clear: His colleagues wouldn't let the Redmonds go through it alone.
Lung Transplant Recipient's First Breath Goes Viral
When Rob Ronnenberg captured the moment his fiancée took her first breath with new lungs, he did so only to preserve the powerful moment. But since he posted it to YouTube, it's been seen around the world.
'Is There a Doctor Onboard?' — Mayo Physician-In-Training Responds to Frightening In-Flight Medical Emergency
Aditya Shah, M.D., a fellow in infectious diseases at Mayo Clinic, was on a return flight to Minneapolis when his medical training was called into action.
Celebrating Retirement by Literally Riding off Into the Sunset
A lot of people may talk about riding off into the sunset into retirement, but Mayo Clinic rheumatologist Eric Matteson, M.D., actually did it.
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