Patient Stories
January 17, 2019
Hospice Team Goes ‘Above and Beyond’ To Help Patient Attend Family Wedding
By In the Loop 
As Bonnie Zell sat next to her husband of more than 50 years and listened to his care team at Mayo Clinic delicately explain there was nothing medically left they could do to treat his progressive heart failure, she knew what was next. “I worked as a hospice nurse for Mayo Clinic for almost 10 […]
Tags: Emily Black, heart failure, Mayo Clinic Hospice Program, Mayo Clinic in Rochester
January 15, 2019
Beyond ‘In Sickness and Health,’ Woman Donates Kidney to Ex-Husband
By In the Loop
Although Bill Henrichs and Mary Ziegler divorced more than two decades ago, they’ve remained friends. So when Bill needed a kidney and Mary was a match, she didn’t think twice.
January 10, 2019
Rose Parade Float and Riders Showcase the Gift of Life
By In the Loop
This year’s Rose Parade was especially meaningful to lung transplant recipient Steve Shank, who rode on the Donate Life float while holding a photo of his donor, Tommy, along the route.
Tags: Donate Life, Lung Transplant, Mayo Clinic Transplant Center
January 8, 2019
Sister Gives Brother a Christmas Gift (of Life) To Remember
By In the Loop
Christmas came early for Kevin O’Connor, who has lived with polycystic kidney disease his entire life. He received a kidney from his sister on Christmas Eve.
Tags: Dr. Mikel Prieto, Kidney transplant, Mayo Clinic Hospital, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Polycystic Kidney Disease
January 3, 2019
After ‘Shallow Water Blackout,’ Therapeutic Hypothermia Brings Clay Meers Back
By In the Loop
Clay Meers was in Florida for flight training when he passed out underwater. After exhausting nearly every treatment available, his Mayo care team tried therapeutic hypothermia — and saved Clay’s life.
Tags: Dr. Beth Grieninger, Emergency Department, Mayo Clinic in Florida, therapeutic hypothermia
January 3, 2019
Beautiful Boxes for Courageous Kids with Cancer
By In the Loop
Joe and Karen Davis come to Mayo Clinic regularly for medical appointments, but they also take time for another important task: delivering the wooden boxes Joe makes for pediatric cancer patients.
Tags: Amy Petersen, Cancer, Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, pediatrics, Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia
December 27, 2018
By In the Loop
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 […]
December 20, 2018
Balloon Brigade Floats in to Spread Holiday Cheer to Pediatric Patients
By In the Loop
Thousands of colorful helium balloons descended on Mayo Clinic Children’s Center thanks to community members who donated the balloons to support pediatric patients.
Tags: Child Life Specialist, Marne Hoyer, Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, pediatrics
December 20, 2018
Blanket Drive is About More Than Keeping Patients Warm
By In the Loop
Seth Bayles set out to collect 100 blankets to give to patients going through dialysis. But when the word spread, donations started rolling in, and Seth and his family were able to donate nearly 500 blankets.
Tags: dialysis, Dr. Phil Fischer, kidney disease, kidney donation, Kidney transplant
December 18, 2018
Gone but Never Forgotten: Keeping a Child’s Memory Alive
By In the Loop
Tom and Liz Canan know the heartbreak of losing a child. Their son Will passed away more than six years ago at just 14 years old. Today, the Canan family keeps Will’s memory alive by reaching out to help others.
Tags: Children's Remembrance Ceremony, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Ronald McDonald House