On a cold December night more than a decade ago, a snowmobile crash on a rural Iowa road left Chad Rockow with a shattered lower leg — and months of surgeries, setbacks and pain so severe he considered amputation.

Nearly 13 years later, he learned the accident had set something else in motion: a Mayo Clinic discovery of a hidden, inherited disease affecting his entire family.

"At the time, the accident felt like the worst thing that could happen," Chad says. "My career, my life, everything turned upside down. But now I see it as the best thing because it may have saved my life, my sister's life, my brother's life and my dad's."

Watch: Chad's story | Videography by Kevin Sullivan, Mayo Clinic

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (3:37) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

The reason for the phone call traces back to Chad's recovery. When his leg failed to heal properly, Chad came to Mayo Clinic for specialized care. During treatment, he enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Biobank, donating a blood sample and joining tens of thousands of volunteers helping researchers unlock the genetic roots of disease.

His leg eventually healed, and Chad returned to life on his Iowa farm, rarely thinking about the blood sample he had left behind.

A life-changing phone call

Nearly 13 years later, his phone rang.

On the line was a Mayo Clinic genetic counselor. Researchers had identified a rare inherited mutation in a gene called SDHD. The mutation is linked to paraganglioma-pheochromocytoma syndrome, a condition that can cause tumors to form, often without symptoms.

Some remain slow-growing for years. Others can become life-threatening if not caught early.

"I remember thinking, 'This can't be me,'" Chad says. "I had zero symptoms."

But as the counselor explained how the mutation is passed down, pieces of his family's history began falling into place.

Years earlier, his father had undergone surgery to remove tumors from his neck. Other relatives had faced similar diagnoses. One had suffered a devastating stroke after a tumor wrapped around a carotid artery.

Chad added his father to the call and gave permission to review decades-old medical records. There it was, buried in surgical notes: paraganglioma tumors.

"That's when the hair stood up on the back of my neck," Chad says. "Everything connected."

Follow-up clinical genetic testing confirmed the mutation across the family. His father tested positive first. Then Chad. Then his brother and sister — none of whom had any symptoms.

Targeted imaging revealed that the mutation had already left its mark on all four of them. Chad had three tumors in his neck, including one wrapped around a carotid artery.

His father's tumors have returned decades after his original surgeries. His sister has two tumors in her neck. His brother faces the most advanced disease, with multiple tumors, including a cancerous tumor near the skull and spine.

Chad and his brother have since undergone surgery at Mayo Clinic, with additional surgery planned for his brother. His father continues treatment there, and all four family members remain under specialized surveillance.

From biospecimens to breakthroughs

When the Mayo Clinic Biobank began enrolling volunteers in 2009, the sequencing technologies that would one day reveal Chad's mutation didn't yet exist.

"We never would have dreamed this was possible at that time to do the kind of research that we can do now," says Dr. Janet Olson, an epidemiologist who helped build the Mayo Clinic Biobank and now serves as its principal investigator.

"It took years to recruit the patients, collect the samples, extract the DNA and build the infrastructure," Dr. Olson says. Now we're getting back those gold nuggets, and Chad's story is a great example of one of those gold nuggets.”

What started as a research resource — linking blood samples, DNA and health data from thousands of volunteers — has become a powerful engine for discovery, supporting more than 500 studies.

Each sample contains layers of information such as DNA, serum, plasma and white blood cells, offering different windows into human health. Over time, when linked with medical records, these samples evolve into a powerful resource, enabling deeper understanding of disease, identifying risk and accelerating discovery.

One of the Biobank's most ambitious efforts focused on the DNA contained within those samples. Mayo Clinic Biobank Project Generation analyzed genetic data from more than 52,000 participants, searching for variants tied to 78 medically actionable conditions, including cancers and cardiovascular diseases where early detection can change outcomes.

The project ultimately identified Chad's mutation and has offered results to nearly 1,000 participants whose findings could directly affect their health.

A gold mine of discovery

Dr. Olson describes the Biobank as a "gold mine" built through years of scientific investment — and patient trust.

"It took years to recruit the patients, collect the samples, extract the DNA and build the infrastructure," Dr. Olson says. "Now we're getting back those gold nuggets, and Chad's story is a great example of one of those gold nuggets.”

Chad's story illustrates the vision behind Precure Research, Mayo Clinic's initiative to identify disease before symptoms appear and intervene earlier, when treatment has the greatest chance to change outcomes.

For Chad, the mutation may always be part of his family's story, but he hopes it will no longer define their future. For the first time in generations, his family can see it coming.

The post A shattered leg, a blood sample and a discovery that may have saved a family (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

When part of the liver is removed to treat cancer or other conditions, the remaining tissue must regenerate to restore liver function.  

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Patrick Starlinger, a hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeon at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses research to help the liver regenerate after surgery. 

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:07) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

How does the liver regenerate after surgery?

"The liver can regenerate quite dramatically, probably the most potential to regenerate in the entire human body, and we leverage this in liver surgery," says Dr. Starlinger.  

Before surgery, the team measures liver volume and assesses liver function to determine how much can be safely removed to take out the tumor while leaving enough healthy liver to regenerate.  

But in some patients, that regeneration does not happen, which can lead to liver failure and limit which tumors can be removed.  

"Our area of research is so important to understand the mechanism of liver regeneration in humans, particularly because as we understand the mechanism, we can move forward with interventions to promote regeneration in these patients," says Dr. Starlinger.  

What role does blood clotting play in liver regeneration?

Mayo Clinic researchers have analyzed liver samples from patients with healthy livers and those with underlying liver conditions to better understand what drives regeneration.   

"We were able to discover that the blood coagulation system is crucially important to allow these mechanisms of liver regeneration to actually occur," says Dr. Starlinger.     

More research is needed, but researchers hope these findings could eventually lead to treatments that promote liver regeneration and expand the limits of liver surgery.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Unlocking how the liver regenerates after surgery (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

For more than five years, Maricela Olivas had been living with worsening liver disease. By the time she came to Mayo Clinic in Arizona from her home in New Mexico, her condition had become life-threatening. 

Still, she saw an opportunity. 

"I see a door. I see a big door. I said, 'This is my opportunity,” she says. 

Watch: A new door opens: How teamwork and a transplant gave a New Mexico mom a second chance.

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:36) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Maricela needed a liver transplant. She also developed hepatopulmonary syndrome, a rare complication of liver disease that affected her body's ability to get enough oxygen. 

"I been suffering all these years, and my kids are suffering, my husband is suffering," she says. 

Dr. Bashar Aqel, chair of the Transplant Center at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and a member of Maricela's care team, says her condition was dire when she arrived at Mayo Clinic. 

"In her case, because of her liver disease, the blood was shunted away from her lungs, so she was not able to maintain the oxygenation of her body," he says. 

Without timely treatment, Maricela's prognosis was poor. 

"Most likely, we're talking about only a few months of survival with her liver, if her liver disease and her hepatopulmonary syndrome were not addressed in a timely manner," Dr. Aqel adds. 

Maricela had been turned away by other transplant centers because of the complexity of her condition. At Mayo Clinic, that complexity brought specialists from across disciplines together to determine how they could help. 

"We have gathered a team of experts across multiple disciplines — surgeons, medical providers, nurses, nutritionists, social workers, and many, many others — they work together in harmony," Dr. Aqel says. 

An important part of Maricela's care was extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which is an advanced form of life support for patients.  

"It's a support system that will help to complement the work of the heart and the lungs when somebody is extremely sick," Dr. Aqel explains. 

Maricela received a liver transplant in April 2026. 

Her recovery took time. She spent more than 100 days in the hospital before being discharged in early August. As she walked out of the hospital, staff lined the hallway, cheering and applauding.

"At the end of the line, I was jumping like crazy. I don't know how I get energy to jump, and I was happy," Maricela recalls. 

Maricela came to the Mayo Clinic hoping for a chance and was determined to get better. Months later, she walked out of the hospital and headed toward a new chapter. 

The post A new door opens: How teamwork and a transplant gave a New Mexico mom a second chance (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

This aggressive brain cancer can extend beyond what's visible on a standard MRI, making it difficult to precisely target treatment. Just 5% to 7% of patients survive five years after diagnosis. 

Mayo Clinic researchers are studying advanced imaging techniques designed to bring more of the tumor into view and potentially give care teams a better-defined target. 

"We're trying to develop and improve treatments that will help extend the length of time patients live, as well as their quality of life and function while they're alive," says Dr. William Breen, a radiation oncologist at Mayo Clinic. "From a radiation perspective, we need to be able to accurately see the tumor to accurately target it and treat it as well as possible." 

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:04) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Seeing tumors more clearly 

A standard MRI with contrast shows doctors where glioblastoma appears to be, but tumor cells can extend into the surrounding brain beyond what is clearly visible. 

"In over half of patients, we find a tumor more than a centimeter beyond the standard MRI-defined tumor, and in 20% of patients, we find a tumor more than 2 centimeters beyond the standard MRI-identified tumor," Dr. Breen says. 

To see more, Mayo Clinic investigators are combining advanced MRI techniques with research PET scans. The scans provide different clues, such as areas where cells are especially dense, where blood flow is increased or where there may be more aggressive tumor activity. 

Together, they can give doctors a more detailed picture of the tumor and where it may extend. 

Treating tumors more precisely and effectively 

Because glioblastoma can extend beyond what doctors see on a traditional MRI, radiation treatment generally includes an extra margin around the visible tumor to help cover cancer cells that may be hidden. 

Advanced imaging could help doctors more accurately identify those areas and tailor radiation accordingly. For some patients, that could mean treating a smaller area of the brain and reducing radiation exposure to healthy tissue. 

"By using advanced imaging, we're able to treat a smaller area in many patients and reduce the amount of normal brain receiving radiation, which may make for a safer and better treatment," Dr. Breen says. 

Researchers also are studying whether they can direct more intensive treatment toward areas that advanced imaging identifies as particularly concerning. 

Greater precision may make it possible to give a higher dose of radiation at each treatment and finish therapy sooner. Dr. Breen says treatment has been shortened from three to six weeks to one to two weeks for some patients, meaning fewer trips to the hospital and more time at home. 

Bringing specialties together 

The research brings together experts across Mayo Clinic, including neurosurgeons, radiation oncologists, neuro-oncologists, neuroradiologists and nuclear medicine specialists. 

"I think our strength at Mayo Clinic for treating glioblastoma is the multidisciplinary team," Dr. Breen says. 

While glioblastoma remains challenging to treat, advances in imaging, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and other therapies are helping researchers continue to improve care. 

"We know there's still much progress to be made," Dr. Breen says, "but we have seen progress over the years to improve both quality of life and quantity of life for our patients with glioblastomas."

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Seeing glioblastoma more clearly could improve how it’s treated appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

After unexplained pain, stiffness and abnormal movements led to dystonia diagnoses, Mayo Clinic specialists tailored deep brain stimulation and ongoing care to Emma and Lauren Fink's individual symptoms and goals. 

In September 2024, 14-year-old Emma Fink reached for a volleyball during gym class when something suddenly went wrong. 

"I went to bump the ball, and my shoulder blade popped out of place," Emma says.  

Her right shoulder blade shifted sharply upward and remained fixed in place. She describes the pain as feeling like "someone was punching me over and over." 

At the emergency department, imaging showed that Emma's shoulder was not dislocated. The cause of her shoulder blade's fixed position remained unclear, and muscle relaxants provided no relief. 

Watch: Deep brain stimulation helps sisters with dystonia return to the activities they love

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (4:49) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

When Emma's symptoms pointed to a movement disorder 

For months, Emma could not raise her arm, sleep comfortably, write with her dominant hand or wash her hair. Emma, a normally laid-back teenager who loved drawing, archery and spending time with friends, had to relearn everyday tasks with her left hand while living with constant pain. 

Emma was initially treated for a suspected sports injury. When her shoulder did not improve with treatment, Mayo Clinic sports medicine specialists in Rochester, Minnesota, contacted Dr. Amy Rabatin, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Mayo Clinic. 

Before seeing Emma in person, Dr. Rabatin was brainstorming with the sports medicine team, reviewing photographs, considering ways to control Emma's pain and asking another question: Who else needed to be involved? 

Suspecting a neurologic cause, Dr. Rabatin helped connect Emma with Dr. Keith A. Coffman, a Mayo Clinic neurologist who specializes in pediatric-onset movement disorders. 

Dystonia diagnosis brings answers 

When Dr. Coffman evaluated Emma, he recognized signs of dystonia, a movement disorder that can cause involuntary muscle contractions and painful, sustained tightening. He compares the sensation to a charley horse that does not release. 

Dystonia can affect any voluntary muscle and can look very different from one person to the next. Emma's presentation was especially unusual, Dr. Coffman says, because her arm had remained locked in position for months. 

The diagnosis brought clarity but not a quick fix. Drs. Rabatin and Coffman continued coordinating Emma's medication management, rehabilitation and evaluation of additional treatment options to address her pain, movement and function. 

Considering deep brain stimulation for dystonia 

When medications did not adequately control Emma’s worsening symptoms, Dr. Coffman recommended deep brain stimulation (DBS). 

DBS uses implanted electrodes to deliver adjustable electrical stimulation to areas of the brain involved in movement. It can lessen symptoms of dystonia, but it is not a cure.

For Emma and her family, the next step did not require starting over with a new care team. Dr. Coffman could evaluate her for DBS alongside Dr. Kai Miller, a Mayo Clinic neurosurgeon, through Mayo Clinic's Pediatric Deep Brain Stimulation Program in Rochester. 

At first, Emma was hesitant about brain surgery. 

Dr. Coffman and Dr. Miller talked with Emma and her parents, Angie and Andy Fink, about the potential benefits, limitations and risks. They also addressed Emma's questions, including how much of her hair would need to be shaved. As the physicians answered her questions, Emma became more comfortable considering the procedure. 

"I just wanted to be better," Emma says. "Anything to make me better." 

Emma notices a change after DBS activation 

Dr. Miller performed Emma's DBS surgery in April 2025. When Dr. Coffman activated the device several weeks later, Emma felt the muscles around her shoulder release. 

"I could feel my shoulder shift down, and then all my muscles finally relaxed," she says. "It felt like it was floating." 

Within minutes, Emma could move an arm she had been unable to use for nearly eight months. 

After watching Emma live with persistent pain, Angie struggled to believe the change could last. 

"I remember thinking, 'We're going to wake up tomorrow, and it's going to be back to the way it was. This can't be real,'" Angie says. "I had some disbelief that it worked so well, so quickly, and then gratitude that we had the expert team to make it happen for her." 

The moment affected Emma's care team too. 

"When we turned Emma's device on and she got relief, we all cried," Dr. Coffman says. 

A second dystonia diagnosis in the family 

As Emma recovered and rebuilt her strength through occupational therapy with Katie Cossette, OT, and physical therapy, her younger sister, Lauren, began experiencing rapid blinking and unusual movements of her head and neck. 

She also had a long history of tightness and pain in her legs that worsened with activity. 

During one of Emma's DBS programming appointments, Angie described Lauren's symptoms. Dr. Coffman asked to see Lauren and later confirmed that she, too, had dystonia. 

Their specific condition is classified as presumed monogenic dystonia, meaning it is likely tied to a change in a single gene that has not yet been identified. Dr. Coffman says this is the second most common form of dystonia in children. 

Individualizing care for each sister 

Sharing the same condition did not mean Lauren's treatment would mirror Emma's. Still, like her sister, Lauren wanted to try medication before considering DBS. 

The team gave her time to make the decision on her own terms. But as Lauren's symptoms worsened, the effects became harder to ignore. Softball, a sport she loves, grew more difficult as her bat speed slowed and fatigue set in more quickly. 

After watching her sister benefit from DBS and talking through her own concerns with her care team, Lauren underwent DBS surgery in February 2026. 

When her device was activated, Lauren noticed almost immediately that walking felt easier. 

"I didn't realize I wasn't supposed to feel that uncomfortable tightness in my legs when I moved," she says. 

Fine-tuning deep brain stimulation over time 

As Emma and Lauren grow and their symptoms change, they return to Dr. Coffman to fine-tune their DBS settings around the activities that matter most to them. For Lauren, that means softball. 

During a recent appointment, she stood in the clinic swinging a bat while Dr. Coffman adjusted her DBS settings on a tablet. With each change, she described what she felt. 

When the stiffness eased and her swing felt natural again, they knew they had found the right setting. 

Returning to school, sports and everyday life 

Across specialties, Emma and Lauren's care team continues to share updates about their symptoms, rehabilitation and personal goals, so their treatment can adjust as their needs evolve.  

Although the family may meet with each specialist separately, Angie says their care has never felt divided. 

"It feels like when we talk to one of them, we're talking to all of them," she says.  

Today, Emma is returning to archery, drawing and time with friends. Lauren continues to practice softball, work on her strength training and has plenty of energy for her family and friends. 

Looking back on how far both girls have come, Angie and Andy say they are grateful for the Mayo Clinic care teams that helped Emma and Lauren return to the rhythms of teenage life. 

"Through this all, we felt like we were in good hands," Andy says. "If there’s any place in the world we would have wanted this done, it would have been right here."

The post Deep brain stimulation helps sisters with dystonia return to the activities they love (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Dr. Sikander Ailawadhi, a Mayo Clinic hematologist and oncologist, explains how new therapies and ongoing research are changing the outlook for people with the disease.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:10) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that forms in a type of blood cell called a plasma cell that builds up in bone marrow.

"When plasma cells multiply and crowd up the bone marrow, they can produce certain abnormal proteins," says Dr. Ailawadhi.

Damage caused by multiple myeloma can lead to anemia, weakened bones, frequent infections and kidney failure.

"Treatment for multiple myeloma has come a long way," Dr. Ailawadhi says. "While historically, there were traditional chemotherapies, now, the focus of treatment is targeted therapies, which are frequently engaging the body's own immune system to try and target the cancer in a way that is safer and has a more sustained effect on the disease."

This includes bone marrow transplantation, novel immunotherapy agents and chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy, also known as CAR-T cell therapy.

Dr. Ailawadhi says research is ongoing to better predict who may be at risk for multiple myeloma and to develop new treatments.

"We are able to see the field advancing rapidly and how major treatment advances are progressing to benefit patients," says Dr. Ailawadhi. "We expect that over the next five, seven, 10 years, we will see many, many more drugs, novel combinations and agents with newer mechanisms will be available to patients with this disease."

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: New approaches bring progress in treating multiple myeloma (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

On June 17, 2026, Kayla Gengler walked through the doors of Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, with her husband, AJ, and their youngest daughter, Ida. 

The date carried more than one meaning. It was Ida's first birthday. It was Kayla and AJ's ninth wedding anniversary. And it marked one year since a rare and life-changing obstetric emergency required multiple Mayo Clinic care teams to respond within minutes. 

Watch: Suspected amniotic fluid embolism leads to maternal cardiac arrest and rapid ECMO response at Mayo Clinic

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:28) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

What happened when Kayla suddenly collapsed at 39 weeks pregnant? 

A year earlier, Kayla, then 33, was 39 weeks pregnant with the couple’s third child. She was at Mayo Clinic receiving care late in her pregnancy when her condition suddenly changed. While being monitored, Kayla reported severe nausea and heart palpitations before losing consciousness.  

Kayla’s care team, including obstetrician Vanessa Torbenson, M.D., immediately called for an emergency cesarean delivery.  

"Moving rapidly was essential. If too much time passed, blood flow to the uterus could have been reduced, putting both mother and baby in danger," says Dr. Torbenson.  

In situations this complex and fast-moving, having obstetrics, anesthesia, and critical care available within minutes can make a crucial difference. Those teams began mobilizing simultaneously as Kayla's condition deteriorated. 

Four minutes later, Ida was born safely as another team continued working to stabilize Kayla.  

Then, Kayla's heart stopped. 

How did Mayo Clinic respond when Kayla went into cardiac arrest? 

When Kayla went into cardiac arrest, Mayo Clinic’s ECMO team was activated immediately.  

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO, is a form of temporary life support that can assist heart and lung function during critical illness. It requires specialized equipment and a team certified to manage patients whose condition can change rapidly. 

At Mayo Clinic, maternal cardiac arrest triggers immediate consultation with the ECMO team, allowing specialists to assess the need for advanced life support while resuscitation continues. In Kayla's case, ECMO preparation began as other teams worked to restore and stabilize her circulation. 

Troy Seelhammer, M.D., an anesthesiologist, critical care physician and medical director of Mayo Clinic's ECMO Program, was on call that morning. 

"We had a very short window to try to save Kayla’s life," Dr. Seelhammer says.  

 Within minutes, specialists, ECMO equipment and transportation resources were mobilized across Mayo Clinic campuses.  

"Cases like this are incredibly rare," Dr. Seelhammer says. "Survival depends on having experienced, multidisciplinary teams that can quickly come together while remaining coordinated throughout the patient's journey." 

Why did Kayla's emergency require so many specialized teams? 

For Kayla, several urgent needs were developing at once.  

The obstetric team needed to deliver Ida while continuing efforts to stabilize Kayla. While in cardiac arrest, critical care and ECMO specialists were needed to provide advanced life support. Nurses, transport teams and other specialists helped coordinate care, equipment and movement across Mayo Clinic as her condition changed. 

Mayo Clinic's team-based model brought together specialists from across disciplines who routinely work side by side, allowing Kayla's care plan to evolve rapidly as new challenges emerged.

Later, when imaging revealed that Kayla had experienced multiple strokes, neurologic care became part of her treatment.  

What is an amniotic fluid embolism? 

As Kayla stabilized and began recovering in the intensive care unit, specialists from several disciplines worked to understand what had caused her sudden collapse. 

The exact sequence of events remains uncertain. Kayla's care team determined that an amniotic fluid embolism, or AFE, was the most likely explanation. 

AFE is an exceptionally rare obstetric emergency that can occur when amniotic fluid or fetal material enters the mother's bloodstream and triggers a sudden, severe reaction. It can develop during pregnancy, labor or delivery and may rapidly lead to breathing and circulatory failure, abnormal blood clotting and cardiac arrest. 

"There is no single test that can confirm AFE, and it can happen without warning or an obvious cause," Dr. Torbenson says. 

AFE is estimated to occur in about 6 of every 100,000 pregnancies in the U.S. 

Why was Kayla's case so medically complex? 

Surviving the initial cardiac arrest was only the beginning of Kayla's medical course. 

Further imaging revealed that Kayla had experienced multiple strokes. During the evaluation, her care team also discovered a previously undiagnosed opening in her heart, called a patent foramen ovale, or PFO. 

Kayla’s physicians say this opening may have provided a pathway for amniotic fluid in her bloodstream to pass through the heart and reach the brain, potentially contributing to her strokes. 

The combination of suspected AFE, cardiac arrest, ECMO support and multiple strokes made Kayla's case unusually complex. It also meant her care did not end when the immediate emergency passed. 

Recovery would require time, specialized care and continued support. 

What does recovery look like after an obstetric emergency? 

After 31 days in the hospital, including nearly two weeks of inpatient rehabilitation, Kayla was able to return home. 

Recovery was not simple. The strokes left Kayla with lasting effects on her vision, cognition, balance and movement. Vision loss in both eyes meant losing her ability to drive, while weakness and nerve pain in her legs made everyday activities more difficult.  

The emotional recovery has been just as real. 

"At first, I was just so happy to be home with my kids," Kayla says. "Now, I’m learning more about what happened, and there is a bigger emotional piece. I’ve come down from that initial high and am learning to live with a disability." 

As she navigated the physical and emotional challenges of recovery, Kayla leaned on the support of those around her. 

While many memories from the weeks after Ida's birth remain unclear or missing for Kayla, both Kayla and AJ vividly recall the love that surrounded their family from those who stepped in to provide help and encouragement. 

"What I will always remember is the positivity of all the people who sent food and lent a helping hand. There's just so much kindness in the world," says Kayla.

One year later, a return to Mayo Clinic 

One year after the emergency, Kayla, AJ and Ida chose to mark the anniversary by walking through the doors of Mayo Clinic again.  

They came to reunite with some of the physicians and nurses who had cared for them, including Dr. Torbenson and Dr. Seelhammer. 

For Kayla and AJ, the reunion offered a way to reclaim a difficult anniversary. 

"It's so special to be here," Kayla says. "We get to celebrate Ida's first birthday and we get to celebrate all of life's amazing moments." 

For the physicians and nurses, seeing the family together again was a reminder of what coordinated care had made possible. 

"This is what really keeps us going," Dr. Seelhammer says — seeing patients return to their families and their lives after illness. 

Kayla’s recovery continues, and she is still adapting to physical challenges that have changed parts of daily life. But she holds close the ordinary moments with AJ and their children — walks, bedtime routines and watching them grow. 

Those moments are possible because, when a rare obstetric emergency unfolded without warning, specialists from across Mayo Clinic came together within minutes to deliver highly coordinated care. As Kayla's needs evolved from emergency delivery to cardiac resuscitation, ECMO support, neurologic care and rehabilitation, teams across disciplines remained connected at every stage. 

The expertise required to manage each complication was different, but the goal was shared: helping Kayla return to her family. 

No single specialty carried her through the experience. Her care moved seamlessly from one team to the next, with specialists working together to meet each new challenge as it emerged. 

“We drew on years of planning, experience and team training to bring the right resources rapidly to Kayla’s bedside,” says Troy Seelhammer, M.D.. “That preparation allowed teams across Mayo Clinic to respond together when she needed them most."

The post Suspected amniotic fluid embolism leads to maternal cardiac arrest and rapid ECMO response at Mayo Clinic (VIDEO)  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

As the fire chief for the city of Fargo, North Dakota, Gary Lorenz is accustomed to high-stress emergencies.  

"Firefighters are problem solvers," Gary explains. "When people call 911, and the dispatchers aren’t sure whom to send, they send the fire department."  

But on Oct. 7, 2025, Gary faced a crisis he could not simply delegate.  

During a routine scan for an unrelated issue, doctors discovered a tumor on his left kidney.  

Stunned by the news, Gary recalls pacing the floor at his headquarters fire station, feeling overwhelmed and not knowing what to do next.   

"I am kind of a fixer," says Gary. "Whether it's mechanical or other things, I'm fixing problems all the time, and so when it was my problem, trying to figure out how to fix this, it just seemed big."  

Walking in circles, the reality of his diagnosis set in.  

With the love and support of his wife, who works in the medical field, Gary discussed the next steps and knew exactly where to turn. He reached out to Mayo Clinic.  

Watch: Robotic surgery helps fire chief return to duty

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (3:01) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

A rapid response and a precise plan  

Within one day, a video conference was scheduled for the following week with Dr. Aaron Potretzke, a Mayo Clinic urologic surgeon.  

Knowing a plan was in place, his family urged him to go ahead with his annual fishing trip that weekend to Lake of the Woods in Canada.  

While driving, Gary received a call from Mayo Clinic asking whether he could meet virtually that Friday instead of the following week. 

During the videoconference, Dr. Potretzke explained how the scans described a single, approximately 4-centimeter bi-lobed tumor, but the exact nature of the growth would not be determined until after it was surgically removed.  

Because of the tumor's location and associated risks, Dr. Potretzke recommended a robotic-assisted radical complete nephrectomy, a minimally invasive surgery using robotic tools to completely remove a kidney through tiny incisions. 

"Dr. Potretzke’s thoroughness, professionalism and confidence greatly helped relieve much of the anxiety I was experiencing," says Gary.  

In short order, Gary received a call on Monday morning from Dr. Potretzke’s office about a last-minute surgical opening for the next day.  

Mayo staff coordinated and communicated with Gary to complete all of the necessary surgical preauthorization. 

Despite this tight timeline and a five-hour drive the night before, he was in the operating room exactly one week after his diagnosis.  

"It’s unheard of to go from start to finish that quickly," Gary says. "It felt like people actually cared how fast it came together."  

Dr. Potretzke says Gary's case was unique because of the multidisciplinary coordination that occurred in such a short time while Gary was several hours from Rochester, Minnesota. 

"To be able to get him into the operating room that fast was not something that we see every day, but it shows that this system works really well — and people at Mayo Clinic go the extra mile in an amazing way to take great care of patients in a thorough and efficient way," says Dr. Potretzke.  

Because of this advanced approach, he spent just a single night in the hospital and was able to return to work four days later.   

Dr. Potretzke will continue to monitor Gary over the next two years for signs of recurrence. 

Reaching a milestone: 100,000 da Vinci robot-assisted surgeries  

Gary's successful journey comes as Mayo Clinic marks a milestone in robotic-assisted surgery.  This summer, Mayo Clinic surpassed 100,000 surgeries assisted by the da Vinci robot.

Mayo Clinic uses advanced surgical robots to perform complex operations with precision, helping patients like Gary experience less pain, spend less time in the hospital and recover faster.  

"At Mayo Clinic in Arizona specifically, it's a marker of how far we've come as a campus from adopting the technology to now defining where complex robotic surgery goes next," says Dr. Michelle Nguyen, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon. "Reaching 100,000 cases is a meaningful milestone, but it's the culture of innovation behind it that will define what the next 100,000 look like."  

Much of that progress is being driven by breakthroughs in surgical technology. 

"Robotic-assisted surgery allows us to perform increasingly complex operations with greater precision, control and safety," says Dr. David Yang, a urologist at Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Minnesota. "This translates into improved patient outcomes, less postoperative pain and faster recovery. Perhaps just as importantly, procedures that were once only available at large tertiary care centers can now be performed closer to home."  

That high level of care is a collective effort. 

"Each of those 100,000 robotic surgeries was made possible by our exceptional care teams, including not only surgeons at Mayo Clinic in Florida but nursing teams, anesthesia, surgical staff, custodial support, scheduling and many others," says Dr. Mara Piltin, a Mayo Clinic surgical oncologist. "Each member of our institution plays a meaningful role in allowing us to offer high-volume, high-complexity care to patients in need, and we are grateful for each piece of the puzzle."  

Grateful for the seamless multidisciplinary care  

Reflecting on his clear follow-up scans and rapid recovery, Gary is grateful for the seamless multidisciplinary care he received.   

Highlighting how technology empowers clinical teams, Dr. Potretzke notes that robotic-assisted surgery has been a tremendous asset.   

"Robotic surgery allows us to enhance traditional laparoscopy with 3D and magnified visualization, and articulating instruments that allow for meticulous dissection and sewing in very small spaces," he adds.  

Meanwhile, patients like Gary are thankful for the team at Mayo Clinic.   

"I told Dr. Potretzke I would only share my story if I could brag about him and his team," says Gary. "You really respect the knowledge and training that the care team has." 

The post When a fire chief needed help: How Mayo Clinic’s collaborative care and robotic surgery saved his life (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

For patients waiting for a kidney transplant, finding a compatible donor can take time. A paired kidney donation program can make transplantation possible, even when a donor isn't a direct match. That's what reunited two former high school classmates, now teachers, and gave one of them a new kidney and a new lease on life.

Watch: Teachers connect beyond the classroom through paired kidney donation

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:33) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"I kind of always knew I needed a new kidney," says Shannon Williams, a 50-year-old elementary school teacher in Leesburg, Florida.

Shannon Williams spent 15 years living with polycystic kidney disease. When dialysis became a reality, she knew she couldn't wait any longer for a transplant.

"I've got to find my own match, so I started looking," says Shannon.

Then, a social media post reached an old friend.

"I didn't know that she had been sick initially," says Kelly Harrington.

"I went to school with Kelly back in high school. We twirled together, and I was a senior; she was a freshman," says Shannon.

"Shannon and I both teach in the same school district," says Kelly.

"Kelly called me, and she said, 'I want to see if I'm a match for you.' She was a match, except for the antibodies," says Shannon.

Although Kelly couldn't donate directly to Shannon, a kidney paired exchange program offered another path.

"Someone may not be appropriate to donate to a particular recipient, but they are a fantastic donor to someone. And so the kidney goes into a national matching pool," says Dr. Shennen Mao, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon. "Once a match is found, the kidney is donated to an intended recipient, and our recipient gets a kidney in return."

"When I realized that I could still help Shannon, potentially save her life, give her a longer life, give her a healthier life, it was a bonus," says Kelly.

Then, in January 2026, there was a life-changing phone call.

"(Transplant coordinators) called and said they had a match," says Kelly. "I don't recall ever crying so hard in my life. It was overwhelming, absolutely overwhelming."

Shannon and Kelly drove two hours from their homes in Central Florida to Jacksonville, where the surgeries took place at Mayo Clinic. One of Kelly's kidneys was sent to someone else in need.

"Shannon received a living donor kidney back through the kidney paired exchange program," says Dr. Mao. "It worked right away on the operating room table."

Not long after surgery, Shannon and Kelly were reunited.

"They wanted me to walk right away," says Shannon. "Kelly and I were two doors down from each other, so we got to walk the halls together — just us and our walkers strolling down the hallway."

"That first walk, we felt like superstars," says Kelly. "All of the staff members were just helping us and supporting us."

"The ability and the impact that we can make on our patients is what drives me, both as a transplant surgeon and also as a scientist, to think about the solutions for the future, so that we can help more patients like Shannon," says Dr. Mao.

Before the end of the school year, Shannon and Kelly returned to their classrooms.

"To know that she literally saved my life, I will always be grateful to her," says Shannon. "I always tell her she's my angel."

The post Teachers connect beyond the classroom through paired kidney donation (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

After years of living with Crohn's disease and trying treatments that didn't work, Amy Marshak felt she was running out of options. The chronic illness affected her career, her energy and the everyday family moments she cherished most. At Mayo Clinic, she found a new treatment approach and renewed hope for the future.

Watch: A mom's journey beyond Crohn's disease and back to the moments that matter

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:35) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"I first started noticing symptoms of my Crohn's disease in the fall of 2018," Amy recalls.

She is a lawyer, a wife and a mom of two.

"It was about six months after my younger daughter was born," Amy says. "She's really never known me as a parent without Crohn's."

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory condition that can cause abdominal pain, weight loss and digestive issues.

"It's really difficult day-to-day living with Crohn's because of the amount of pain I experienced," Amy says. "It really felt like I could do one or the other, be a lawyer or be a mom, to have the energy to do either of those things."

Amy had a portion of her colon and small bowel removed, then went through a series of medications.

"Some of them worked for a short period of time, and then I developed antibodies to them and would never work again," Amy says. "I was sort of at the end of all the options that exist because my Crohn's disease is spread throughout my small intestine."

Months turned into years.

"I worked so hard to find a solution to make Crohn's disease livable but felt no closer to a solution than I was before," Amy says. "I did some research, spoke with my doctor, and they suggested coming to Mayo Clinic." 

In July 2024, Amy traveled to Jacksonville, Florida, to meet Dr. Jana G. Al Hashash, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist.

"She really did want something cutting-edge and something different," recalls Dr. Al Hashash, who has collaborated closely with colleagues, including Dr. Ernesto Ayala, a hematologist and oncologist, to treat refractory Crohn's disease.

"What we're performing here is a newer protocol," says Dr. Al Hashash. "This stem cell transplant program is for patients like Amy who have failed multiple medical therapies and whom we want to try to reset the (immune) system."

The process uses chemotherapy followed by the body's own stem cells to reset the immune system and reduce the effects of Crohn’s disease.

"If Crohn's disease comes back, we'd like to see that it's coming back weaker than it was before, with less inflammation and less impact on the body," says Dr. Al Hashash.

"This was really both the best and the only option there was, and that there was another option that had such promise was really exciting," Amy says.

In addition to getting back to her family and career, Amy had another milestone in mind: to be able to sit through a whole family dinner without pain.

"I love family dinners," Amy says. "I think they're a wonderful way to connect with my kids. It just feels frustrating not to be part of that family moment."

Amy's treatment began in early 2025 and kept her in the hospital for nearly two months. She recorded herself reading bedtime stories to her children nightly, who were nearly 1,000 miles away.

About 100 days after treatment, tests confirmed that the stem cell transplant was successful.

"Amy is a beacon of hope for people with Crohn's disease who failed multiple therapies," says Dr. Al Hashash. "She's done fantastic."

Amy's care team continues to monitor her progress. Since returning home, Amy has been able to get back to the things she loves, starting with that family moment around the dinner table.

"I'm excited to be able to play with them more, to be with them more, to have more energy for their projects and ideas," Amy says. "And also, to be able to balance work-life in a way that I haven't been able to balance in the past few years because of my Crohn's."

The post A mom’s journey beyond Crohn’s disease and back to the moments that matter (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.