Patient Stories
September 20, 2022
Say cheeseburger: Speech pathologist’s treat/reward for stroke patient puts a smile on his face
By In the Loop 
After 27-year-old Taylor Suhr had a stroke, he needed to relearn how to do many things he’d taken for granted, including talking and eating. Speech pathologist Jordan Alvarez helped him regain those abilities, and when it was safe to do so, rewarded him with the cheeseburger he’d been craving. Taylor Suhr thought he was dying. […]
September 9, 2022
Transplant patient says Arts at the Bedside ‘helped me have a reason not to give up’
By In the Loop
Katie White was hospitalized for more than three months while waiting for a heart transplant. She credits Mayo’s Arts at the Bedside — and her nurses — with helping her through the long wait. The art program even inspired a new career: Katie now sells the jewelry that she began making at Mayo Clinic. Katie […]
Tags: heart transplant, Mayo Clinic Dolores Jean Lavins Center for Humanities in Medicine
September 2, 2022
Patient’s wedding anniversary celebration made possible by nursing team
By In the Loop
Kevin Donnelly was in the hospital battling lung cancer and respiratory failure with his 43rd anniversary approaching. When nursing staff learned about the milestone, they decided to give the couple a celebration to remember. Kevin Donnelly and his wife, Eileen, hadn’t celebrated their wedding anniversary with a formal party for 42 years. But with Kevin […]
Tags: Dustin Schipper, Julie Sanger, Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, McKenzie Hemann, Shylah Cassidy
September 1, 2022
Therapy dog is best medicine for hospice patient
By In the Loop
The story of Lois and Lily is told by the son of a Mayo Clinic Hospice patient in Rochester. Lois Rink and her family wanted to share this story to honor her legacy and to show the power of pet therapy for those in hospice care. They also believe stories like these are a way […]
August 18, 2022
Photo finish: Patient and physician find each other during marathon, cross finish line together
By In the Loop
Julianne Vasichek met Doug Simonetto, M.D., after her liver transplant at Mayo Clinic. When she realized they’d both be running this year’s Grandma’s Marathon, she wanted to snap a photo to show her care team “their efforts do such good.” They missed each other at the starting line but found each other late in the […]
Tags: Dr. Douglas Simonetto, Primary sclerosing cholangitis, Transplant Center
August 1, 2022
Targeted immunotherapy helps Florida woman beat colon cancer caused by Lynch syndrome
By In the Loop
Each day this week is dedicated to help you connect your purpose with Mayo’s mission and elevate the Mayo Clinic experience. Today’s focus is on how staff connected across Mayo Clinic locations to care for a patient with advanced colon cancer. Cancer has always been a part of Katie Cunningham’s life. “We have an extensive […]
Tags: colon cancer, Dr. Amy Oxentenko, Dr. Dorin Colibaseanu, Dr. Kris Cromme, Immunotherapy, Lynch syndrome
July 14, 2022
Smudging ceremonies help Native American patients heal
By In the Loop
Mayo Clinic is committed to meeting patient needs, including their spiritual needs. For many Native American patients, that includes a healing ceremony called smudging. Valerie Guimaraes, a patient experience ambassador, helps coordinate smudgings and provides other support to Native American patients. Sylvia Winanz’s hospital room at Mayo Clinic was full of state-of-the-art medical equipment keeping […]
Tags: Art Owen Smudging Room, Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Valerie Guimaraes
June 30, 2022
Super Tom’s dads grateful for heart that saved their son – and the hearts that cared for him
By In the Loop
Soon after they welcomed their son to the world, Matti and Shlomi Kalman Hillel learned little Tom would need a heart transplant. Tom was airlifted to Mayo Clinic, where the family waited for the call that would save their son’s life. They credit Mayo Clinic staff for taking care of Tom – and them – […]
Tags: Dr. Elizabeth Stephens, Dr. Joseph Dearani, Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Pediatric Heart Transplant Program
June 7, 2022
Brothers mark 40th transplant anniversary, thank the staff who made it possible
By In the Loop
Forty years ago, Pete Suby learned he needed a kidney transplant. His younger brother, Tim, was a perfect match. The brothers recently returned to Mayo Clinic to mark the 40th anniversary of the transplant and thank the staff who made the milestone and others like it possible. Pete Suby thought he had the flu. He’d […]
Tags: Dr. Sylvester Sterioff, Kidney transplant, Mayo Clinic Transplant Center
June 1, 2022
By In the Loop
Wendy Zins writes a letter to her 19-year-old self on the anniversary of her bone marrow transplant each year. The letter is a reminder and acknowledgment of the key people and things that helped her survive. Wendy Zins was 18, had just graduated from high school, and was looking forward to the next chapter in […]
Tags: Bone Marrow Transplant, Dr. Louis Letendre, Dr. Morie Gertz