Paul Rhee suffered a stroke that resulted in weakness and spasticity in his right arm and leg. His son, Dr. Peter Rhee, spent the next decade perfecting his research that led to the intricate hand nerve surgery that restored his father’s mobility and function.

When Paul Rhee had a stroke in 2015, it changed everything. He lost movement in his arm, endured painful spasms, and withdrew from daily life because of the unwanted attention his bent arm caused. Simple joys — social gatherings, attending church, spending time with family, holding a fishing rod — slipped away. 

For his son, Peter Rhee, D.O., M.S., a hand and microvascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic, the experience was both deeply personal and professionally motivating. “Fishing was something my dad and I always dreamed of sharing across generations. After his stroke, even that was gone,” Dr. Rhee recalls. “It took away part of who he was.”

Fishing was more than just a pastime. For Dr. Rhee, it was symbolic of family and continuity. 

That loss became a powerful motivator. Dr. Rhee was determined not just to help his father, but to develop a treatment that could restore hope for patients everywhere who live with spasticity following brain or spinal cord injury.

The Mayo difference

What Dr. Rhee achieved could only happen at Mayo Clinic.

Spasticity occurs when the brain or spinal cord can’t properly control signals to the muscles, causing them to contract uncontrollably and often creating deforming postures. Traditional treatments for spasticity focus on surgically altering the muscles, but Dr. Rhee identified the nerves as the root problem. 

Developing a new surgical procedure was no small task. It required years of research and the support of a broad, multidisciplinary team at Mayo Clinic. Physical medicine physicians, anesthesiologists, rehabilitation specialists, therapists, and scientists in the Motion Analysis Lab all played crucial roles in bringing Dr. Rhee’s vision to life.

“I don’t think it would have been possible, even if I had the will as the surgeon, without the supporting cast, the resources, the support — everyone buying into the fact that no matter how complicated it is, we can do it together,” Dr. Rhee explains.

Mayo’s Motion Analysis Lab is nationally accredited and one of fewer than 20 labs of its kind in the U.S., it is also one of only two that evaluates both children and adults. Here, patients aren’t studied through static images like X-rays or MRIs. Instead, they are evaluated while moving, allowing experts to see exactly when and how their muscles misfire or fail.

Patients often arrive without a clear diagnosis, only knowing that something isn’t working the way it should. Staff in the lab spend three to four hours with each patient, using advanced motion capture and electromyography (EMG) sensors to measure how the brain communicates with the muscles. Some sensors are placed on the skin for larger muscles, while fine wire electrodes, as thin as a human hair, are used for deeper or smaller muscles. These tools provide precise, real-time data about how the muscles respond to nerve signals.

“By using dynamic EMG, we can see how the muscles are firing compared to how the arm moves,” says Dr. Rhee. “That helps us plan the surgery with a level of accuracy that isn’t possible in most academic medical centers in the world. With every patient visit, I had more ideas about how to treat patients like my father,” he says.  

This level of integration between science and surgery is rare. “The only way you can get this kind of information is through the collaboration of a physician and a scientist,” says Kenton Kaufman, Ph.D., Director, Motion Analysis Lab. “We can see how the upper extremity muscles are functioning while the person is moving. And these types of studies are not done anywhere else but at Mayo Clinic.”

The Motion Analysis Lab doesn’t just inform surgery; the team collects data during surgeries themselves. The lab is able to study human muscle physiology in-vivo, something not done anywhere else in the world. This research has already led to publications in top-ranked medical journals and continues to advance the understanding of spasticity and its treatment.

“Dr. Rhee’s procedures not only restore function, but also quality of life,” adds Dr. Kaufman. “Patients sense the hope that they’ll have a better outcome, because of the time we take to gather the data needed to achieve the best possible surgical results.”

From a single patient to nationwide impact

Dr. Rhee, the sole physician qualified to conduct Paul Rhee's surgery, obtained institutional authorization following a thorough review by the Mayo Clinic Ethics Committee. In December 2022, and again in March 2023, Dr. Rhee performed his new surgical procedure on his father. 

The results were profound. Paul regained movement in his arm, was able to relax muscles that had been locked in place for years, and found the confidence to reengage with his community. Most importantly, he could once again hold a fishing rod — a milestone that symbolized freedom and independence.

“After the surgery, he no longer feared people staring at his arm and was able to reconnect with his community,” Dr. Rhee reflects.

The same procedure is now changing lives for patients across the country. Dr. Rhee and his team perform two to three of these complex upper extremity reconstructions each week, often lasting up to 14 hours and involving the entire limb from shoulder to fingertip. Mayo Clinic is one of fewer than 10 centers nationwide where this type of surgery is available, and the team performs more spasticity-related reconstructions than any other center in the U.S.

Dr. Rhee also trains fellows in hand and reconstructive surgery, ensuring that the next generation of surgeons can carry this innovation forward. Over the past six years, nearly 30 physicians have learned the procedure under his guidance. “Following the Mayo brothers’ tradition of sharing expertise, we are expanding access to this surgery worldwide,” he notes.

His colleague, Kitty Wu, M.D., who trained under Dr. Rhee and joined Mayo’s staff in 2023, is expanding the technique further to treat lower extremity spasticity. “Our procedures are restoring hope for patients who thought they had forever lost the function of their limb,” Dr. Wu says. “In some cases, the procedure even prevents permanent disability.”

“Dr. Wu trained at Mayo and expanded on our unique techniques. Together, we offer comprehensive upper and lower extremity reconstructive surgery to adult and pediatric patients,” Dr. Rhee adds.  

For Dr. Rhee, the lessons extend beyond the operating room. “I ask patients what they want to do most that they can’t do now. For many in the Midwest, it’s fishing — something close to my heart as well. When I can say, ‘I believe we can get you back to fishing, holding a grandchild or simply moving without pain’ it builds trust and hope. And that’s what Mayo is about.”

Category of one

What happened for Paul Rhee is much more than a single success story. It represents the best of Mayo Clinic: a seamless integration of practice, research and education; teams of experts working together; and a patient-first mission that drives innovation.

Thanks to this pioneering work, Paul can once again fish with his son and grandchildren, an experience the family thought was lost forever. Thanks to the pioneering spirit of our staff, stories like Paul’s remind us why Mayo Clinic remains a place where innovation, teamwork and patient-first care change lives every day.

Watch: Dr. Rhee and his father before and after the surgery

 Journalists: Video (2:17) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network."

The post (VIDEO) A family’s journey inspires breakthrough surgery appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Judge Audrey Moran is known for her strength and fairness in the courtroom in Florida's Duval county. But one of the most difficult cases she's faced is breast cancer that spread to the lining of her brain. 

With the help of a dedicated care team and precise treatment, Judge Moran is back on the bench, and recent scans show something remarkable. Alex Osiadacz (oh-SIGH-dus) has her story.

Watch: Back on the bench: Judge's metastatic breast cancer journey inspires hope

 Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:17) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"I work as a county court judge."

Judge Moran doesn't shy away from a challenge, whether in her legal career, solving issues in her community or even her health.

"We were treating the metastatic breast cancer in my abdomen about two years ago now. I began noticing that my balance wasn't very good, and then I started limping," she says.

Scans in early 2024 showed the cancer had spread to the lining of her brain and spine. Treatment would pose another challenge after Judge Moran developed an infection where a port would deliver chemotherapy into the lining of her brain.

"I said, 'We're going to have to figure something else out.' My wonderful oncologist, Dr. Pooja Advani, said she thought she had an idea because a new chemo had come out that she thought might be just the right thing for me," she says.

Instead of delivering treatment directly into the lining of her brain, Judge Moran's care team was able to deliver a newly approved therapy through her arm. The results were better than expected.

"The last scan I got of my brain, the results were that the brain cancer has resolved. And I got to tell you, I couldn't even believe it when I read it on my report," Judge Moran says.

"So many emotions but the biggest of gratitude, you know, to all the people that have worked as a part of her team," says Dr. Advani.

Follow-up appointments have confirmed that the treatment is still working for the metastasis in her abdomen. Beyond her diagnosis, Judge Moran remains active with her family and career.

She says, "You know, my life is back. I am at work. And I'm getting to do that work that I love."

In late September, Dr. Advani and Judge Moran had a chance to meet again.

"It almost brought me to tears to have seen how she was in 2024 when she was going through this journey and the remarkable clinical progress that she has made," Dr. Advani says.

Judge Moran adds, "I'd gotten to the point where I almost didn't want to try anything anymore, and she really helped me realize this wasn't the time to give up. It was time to keep going. And boy, I'm glad I did. I'm really, really glad I did."

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic leads 4 decades of advances in breast cancer care
• Mayo Clinic research improves dense breast cancer screening and early detection
• Top 10 questions about breast cancer answered
• Mayo Clinic treats first person in the US with a novel radiopharmaceutical therapy for breast cancer
• Mayo Clinic Minute: MRI for dense breasts — what to know
• Mayo Clinic Q&A: How to decide which breast cancer surgery is right for you

The post (VIDEO) Back on the bench: Judge’s metastatic breast cancer journey inspires hope appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Tom Heisler was on his last legs when he arrived at Mayo Clinic in September 2024. He had a dire and complicated medical history, and his health was rapidly declining. After nine months of misdiagnoses and unsuccessful treatments, he received the correct diagnosis and a new lease on life in just nine days at Mayo Clinic. 

Tom Heisler was in good health. The retired psychologist lived an active, vibrant lifestyle — regularly playing golf, writing poems and keeping up with his many other hobbies. But when he contracted COVID-19 for the third time in November 2023, his health began to decline.

He had a persistent cough that wouldn't go away despite multiple courses of antibiotics, and he began to experience additional symptoms: significant weight loss, weakness, loss of appetite, blurred vision and gait disturbance, among others, which continued to worsen. 

Over a nine-month span, Tom saw several specialists in his hometown. He received multiple diagnoses: bacterial pneumonia, crypto-organizing pneumonia and cryptococcal pneumonia — all treated without success. His symptoms continued to worsen, and he developed swelling near his salivary glands. 

His daughters, Bess and Lauri, and his four grandchildren reluctantly refrained from visiting Tom because they didn't want to risk spreading germs that could make him sick. When Bess visited him in June after not seeing him for some time, she was alarmed at how unwell he was. 

"I didn't really know how serious it was until I saw him. His eyes were completely glassy. He had lost a lot of hair and weight. He could barely walk, and his voice was getting weaker and weaker," says Bess. "It was really scary seeing my dad, who's always vibrant and full of life, in such a state of despair."

Bess knew her dad desperately needed help. She asked her colleagues for recommendations, and Mayo Clinic was frequently suggested. 

After another CT scan in August showed his treatment wasn't working, Tom was ready to visit Mayo Clinic. On Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, Tom, Bess, and Lauri flew from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Rochester, Minnesota, desperate for answers and hope.

"I thought he was dying," says Bess. "Before we left for Mayo Clinic, I told Dad, 'I don’t know what's going to happen and what we're going to find or not find, but I love you and I'm honored to be your daughter.'" 

Reassessing assumptions and starting from scratch

Over the next week, other diseases had to be ruled out: lupus, myeloma and other forms of cancer, and cryptococcal pneumonia. On Monday morning, Tom and his family advocates had their first appointment at Mayo Clinic with Dr. Pritish Tosh, an infectious diseases specialist. Dr. Tosh suspected that Tom's diagnosis of cryptococcal pneumonia was incorrect. 

"In situations where people have cryptococcal lung infection with relatively normal immune systems and no evidence of meningitis, I would have expected the oral antifungal medicine he was given to have been very effective. However, despite several months of being on the right antifungal medicine, he was feeling worse, the lesions in his lungs were progressing, and he was developing kidney injury," says Dr. Tosh. "Rather than assuming that all his symptoms were related to cryptococcal disease not responsive to antifungal therapy, I thought that, at that point, it was more likely that the cryptococcus was just a bystander in his lung not causing any disease and that his symptoms were being caused by something else entirely. It was time to reassess our assumptions and start from scratch."

Tom then had appointments with Dr. Nadine Abdallah, a Mayo Clinic hematologist/oncologist, and Dr. Wigdan Farah, a Mayo Clinic pulmonologist. They reviewed Tom's symptoms and history, and then ordered a series of tests to narrow the diagnosis. Dr. Abdallah wondered if Tom might have an underlying autoimmune disease.

"In the outside world, you meet with a specialist and they'll give you a diagnosis within 15 minutes, and then you have to wait three or four months to see if the treatment for that diagnosis works. At Mayo Clinic, you see multiple doctors a day and receive countless tests because they don't want to give you a diagnosis until they are very satisfied and confident it's the right one," says Tom. "Everything works seamlessly and rapidly. Mayo's system is brilliant and, I think, as pivotal as the quality of the doctors."

A diagnosis in the details

On day four of Tom's Mayo Clinic journey, he met with Dr. Wisit Cheungpasitporn, a Mayo Clinic nephrologist. During his appointment, Tom mentioned that he felt much better after receiving a steroid for his gout attack. 

"If Tom was taking the steroid at the time of his suspected lung infection, the steroid should have made him feel worse, not better," says Dr. Cheungpasitporn. "With that small but important detail, and given the multi-organ involvement, progressive nature and lack of full response to antifungal therapy, IgG4-related disease (immunoglobulin G4-related disease) became a strong consideration."

IgG4 is a type of antibody that helps regulate the immune system. However, in some people, IgG4 becomes overactive and starts attacking healthy organs, causing inflammation and fibrosis (scarring). This leads to IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD), which can affect different parts of the body, such as the lungs, kidneys, pancreas, bile ducts, salivary glands and lymph nodes. If left untreated, it can cause organ damage over time.

IgG4-related disease is tricky to diagnose because it mimics infections, cancer and other autoimmune diseases. A combination of factors is considered, including symptoms, blood tests, imaging such as CT, MRI or PET scans, and a tissue biopsy, which is the most definitive test in diagnosing the disease. 

"When Dr. Cheungpasitporn said IgG4 might be causing all my symptoms, I almost levitated off the couch. My family and I were close to tears," says Tom. 

Tom had a bronchoscopy scheduled the following Monday. Should they wait for the results of the bronchoscopy and lymph node biopsy, or move forward with a kidney biopsy?

"Given how his symptoms were progressing, I had a detailed conversation with Tom and his family about the risks and benefits of each approach. They put their trust in me, and we moved forward with the kidney biopsy," says Dr. Cheungpasitporn.

The renal pathology team was instrumental in confirming Tom's diagnosis of IgG4-RD. 

"Mayo Clinic has the very best kidney pathologists. Dr. Sanjeev Sethi helped interpret the kidney biopsy finding, ruling out other conditions. Dr. Loren Herrera Hernandez played a key role in reviewing the pathology and ensuring an accurate diagnosis. Dr. Lynn Cornell, Mayo's IgG4 expert, identified the classic features of IgG4-related kidney disease on the biopsy," says Dr. Cheungpasitporn. 

Answers, a plan of care and hope

During Tom's bronchoscopy, his family received a phone call from Dr. Cheungpasitporn confirming the IgG4 diagnosis. 

"Delighted doesn't even come close to describing what we were feeling. There is no doubt in my mind that my dad would have passed away before Christmas had he not been seen at Mayo Clinic," says Bess. "We are forever grateful and are extraordinarily lucky that we walked away with answers, a plan of care and hope."

IgG4-RD responds well to treatment when caught early. Tom immediately began treatment, and within weeks, he made a complete transformation.  

"When my kidneys and lungs improved, when the blurring in my right eye substantially dissipated, when I gained my weight back and reclaimed my energy, and when my blood markers looked so much better, I'm not sure who was more excited and proud — Dr. Cheungpasitporn or my family and I," says Tom. 

It has been nearly one year since Tom's diagnosis. He is feeling great and is back to doing the things he enjoys. 

"Any doctor can treat a condition. It's the diagnosis that counts, and Mayo Clinic is the best diagnostic place in the world," says Tom. "If you don’t know what's going on and your treatment isn't working, you need to go to Mayo Clinic."

Fiercely investigative and integrative

Tom's follow-up care is coordinated through his local physician, and Dr. Cheungpasitporn continues to monitor Tom's response to treatment and the results of his blood work every two weeks. 

"My care coordination works beautifully. Any time I have a question for Dr. Cheungpasitporn, he responds within a day or so, which, given the load of patients in our modern medical delivery system, might be considered nothing short of a miracle," says Tom.

Reflecting on their whirlwind nine days at Mayo Clinic, Bess says it was a moving experience full of memories that they will have forever. 

"Every single doctor, nurse, secretary and scheduler was absolutely lovely," says Bess. "We were made to feel valued and part of their fiercely investigative and integrative team."

Most importantly, Tom has his life back. 

"I can say, without reservation, that Dr. Cheungpasitporn saved my life," says Tom. "In the august and ancient tradition of healers, he is one."

Watch: Leaving Mayo Clinic with answers, a plan of care, hope

The post (VIDEO) Leaving Mayo Clinic with answers, a plan of care, hope appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

After a career dedicated to caring for patients with cancer, Nancy Drourr expected retirement to be the start of a new chapter. However, when troubling health issues emerged, she had to put her plans on hold.

Nancy turned to Mayo Clinic, where a care team uncovered a rare and complex disease called sarcoidosis. Now, with answers, Nancy has resumed the pursuit of a lifelong goal and wrote a letter to her care team thanking them for giving her hope.

Watch: Science of angels': A mother's thankful letter for team who diagnosed rare disease

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (2:13) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"I invested in a very rewarding career taking care of cancer patients. I believed that a big part of my life included service above self," says Nancy.

After retiring in 2022, Nancy noticed changes in her health. A lingering rash, fatigue and short-term memory challenges led to two years of tests and appointments with physicians near her home in Tampa, Florida.

"Being a patient was a new position for me," says Nancy. "I took care of patients, and I take care of people. I felt I needed more support than what I was getting."

When bloodwork in 2024 suggested Nancy may have a severe kidney condition, she turned to Mayo Clinic.

"When I saw the MRI and the results, there was a concerning finding, which was bone lesions and spleen lesions, and to the radiologist, it was concerning," says Dr. Fouad Chebib, a Mayo Clinic nephrologist. "We needed to figure out in a timely manner the source, if it's cancer, but otherwise it could be an infectious process or other autoimmune disease."

Sarcoidosis diagnosis

A biopsy ruled out cancer, but did confirm a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease that affects approximately 200,000 people in the U.S.

"In the case of Nancy, it was quite severe with multiple organs being involved, from skin to bone to spleen to many other organs, and it significantly affected her life," says Dr. Chebib.

Treatment plan

While there is no known cure for sarcoidosis, Nancy's care team, including experts in rheumatology, oncology, infectious diseases and other areas, developed a treatment plan to manage her disease.

"It was within my power now to navigate this disease and not give up on the things that brought me such joy in this life," says Nancy. "Dr. Chebib was my angel, and he made sure I had everything I needed to get answers."

"I'm passionate about making sure that the disease does not dictate the lives of my patients, getting to the bottom of the problem, and making sure we get the answers to things that potentially have not been answered elsewhere," says Dr. Chebib.

Nancy receives weekly treatment and regular follow-ups to measure progress. She's also given more thought to her textile design business. The dream influenced by her grandmother decades ago was put on hold to focus on her health. 

Nancy's journey also inspired her to write a letter to her care team titled "The Science of Angels," in which she shares her gratitude for the diagnosis and treatment options.

"I will forever remember how deeply the science of angels impacted my life and those of my loving sons," Nancy reads. "Thank you for instilling hope and a medical path forward in the treatment of my rare and complex disease."

The post (VIDEO) ‘Science of angels’: A mother’s thankful letter for team who diagnosed rare disease appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Before the sun rises at his home near Orlando, Florida, Rakesh Parekh, M.D., is already making the most of the day. He reviews patient notes and exercises before joining his wife, Tejal Parekh, in preparing their children for school. Time means a great deal to Dr. Parekh.

In 2020, he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) after muscle weakness began to affect his movement. ALS is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Worsening over time, ALS affects control of the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe.

Watch: Dr. Rakesh Parekh's story

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video pkg (2:16) is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"You get this diagnosis, and, you know, within three to five years, you're no longer," says Dr. Parekh.

He was familiar with the disease long before his own diagnosis.

"My father lived with ALS," says Dr. Parekh. "I know time is of the essence."

Initially working with a care team closer to home, Tejal and Dr. Parekh were determined to find a way forward to preserve his quality of life and possibly help others, including their children, who have a chance of inheriting the gene mutation. The couple began messaging physicians, researchers and friends around the world. That's when they learned about the work of Dr. Bjorn Oskarsson, a Mayo Clinic neurologist.

"Dr. Oskarsson was recommended to us by a friend, and it was like finding a diamond in the rough," says Tejal Parekh.

A personalized approach

Dr. Oskarsson and colleagues at Mayo Clinic have spent their careers looking for answers and options for people diagnosed with ALS. A multidisciplinary care team met with Dr. Parekh in May 2021 and began tests to determine the best way forward.

"We worked with our outside partner to develop an individualized treatment made just for him," says Dr. Oskarsson.

The therapy aims to stop protein production by targeting the gene mutation and halting the progression of the disease. After nearly two years of testing and preparations, Dr. Parekh's first treatment was an injection in his spine in April 2024.

"He is the first person in the world to have received this treatment," says Dr. Oskarsson.

He would repeat the trip from Orlando to Jacksonville for the next two months, then placed on a three-month dosage.

"More than just ourselves, this would be a step forward for all the other people getting diagnosed with ALS; it would be something for them, hope," says Tejal.

One year after treatment started, the results are exciting to the Parekhs and Dr. Oskarsson.

"This is something that is truly new, and one day we will get there for everyone," says Dr. Oskarsson. "And when that happens, there's nothing that compares. It's a beautiful thing."

Back home, Dr. Parekh reflects on how this treatment has changed his outlook. His 25 years working in healthcare did not prepare him for what it would be like to receive care, let alone a therapy that may benefit his children one day.

"Not only has it made an impact on our lives, but honestly, it's made an impact on the way I practice because I realize now what patients need beyond healthcare," says Dr. Parekh.

The post (VIDEO) Florida dad receives first-in-world ALS treatment appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

When Charnel Golis-Tabag picked up her sister from the airport in her home state of Hawaii, she didn't expect to hear that her sister's kidney function had dropped below 11%. That moment changed everything. "She told me she was on the transplant list," Charnel recalls. "Two days later, I called Mayo Clinic to start the living kidney donation process."

Charnel had seen too many family members endure the exhausting cycle of dialysis — three times a week, hours at a time. "They were tired, their veins were shot, they couldn't carry their grandchildren," she says. "I didn't want that for my sister."   

The power of living donation

"Living donor kidneys are great options for people waiting for a transplant," says Dr. Carrie Jadlowiec, surgical director of Kidney Transplant at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. "They have a shorter waiting period, fewer complications, and the kidneys function longer than deceased donor kidneys."

For Charnel, knowing that her sister could live a longer, healthier life with a living kidney solidified her decision to donate. Despite her family's concerns for her own health, she was committed. "I believe we need to start with educating young Native Hawaiian people about living a healthier lifestyle," she says. "In our ohana community, we can reclaim our health," she says.  

A donor chain of hope

For Michelle Gabriel, her younger sister's diagnosis was a turning point. "We asked each other, 'Can we do this? Will I be a match? What will it cost?' There were lots of questions and no answers at first," Michelle says.

She turned to Mayo Clinic, the National Kidney Foundation and the National Donate Life Registry. "These resources are fantastic and easily available online. Beyond online, our transplant coordinators walk patients through every step of the process," explains Dr. Ty Diwan, transplant surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. "We connect with patients from anywhere in the world via the portal and virtual appointments."

Michelle wasn't a match to her sister, but that didn't stop her. She joined a paired exchange program, creating a donor chain that benefited multiple families. No longer a question but a statement, "We can do this," became the sisters' ongoing mantra. "From that moment, we were all in. I saw the bigger picture: three people received kidneys that day," says Michelle.  

A husband's promise

For Albert Harris, June 20, 2024, is a date he'll never forget — it's the day he donated his kidney to his wife, making her "officially his other half," he jokes. "When she got sick, we got sick. I understood the marital vows, in sickness and in health. She's my partner in everything, and I look forward to having her around for a very long time."

Though friends and family worried about his health, Mayo Clinic's transplant team provided the reassurance he needed. He learned he could return to his normal life within weeks and give his wife the chance at a healthier, longer life.

Watch video: Donors who give hope and healing

Bridging the gap

Nearly 60% of people on transplant waiting lists come from minority communities, while about 30% of donors are people of color. This gap makes awareness and education critical — especially during Minority Living Donor Awareness Month, which highlights the need for diverse donors to help reduce disparities in transplant access. 

"Blood types and certain HLA, or antibodies, tend to correlate with various ethnic groups," says Dr. Shennen Mao, transplant surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Florida. "It is not directly related to a particular minority group; however, organs will end up with someone of a similar background because the better matched an organ is, the more longevity that organ has."

A shared legacy of hope

For Albert, Charnel and Michelle, living kidney donation was about more than surgery; it was about love, family and community. "It wasn't just a gift to my sister," Charnel says. "It was a gift to our entire family."

"You become someone's miracle," Michelle adds. "That person is someone's parent, sibling, friend. You give hope to everyone who loves them."

In most states, signing up to be a donor after death can be done online or when registering for a driver's license or identification card. For information on living donation, view Mayo Clinic's Living Donor Toolkit, contact the recipient's care team, or a transplant center. 

Comprehensive care at Mayo Clinic

Living kidney donation is a safe, medically supported procedure, with most donors resuming their lives within weeks. Mayo Clinic provides end-to-end care, including:

• Expert evaluation and surgery from leading transplant specialists.
• Financial coordinators to assist with travel, lodging and lost wages.
• Virtual consultations and access to resources anywhere in the world.
• Support and follow-up care for living donors.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: Why diverse organ donors are needed
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Become an organ donor and save lives

The post A living legacy: Donors who give hope and healing appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Kenneth Adams understands the importance of love, resilience and family. After his wife's passing in 2022, Adams reconnected with a lifelong friend, whom he had known for nearly 50 years. Kenneth and Susan Kidd eventually fell in love, and they were committed to building a life together.

"We love to travel and spend time with family — we wanted our relationship to be an example for our grandchildren. And to us, marriage was the next step," Adams said.

While making plans for a wedding in early 2025, Kenneth became ill and was diagnosed with sepsis. His complex condition required coordinated care, so the team at Mayo Clinic developed a plan: antibiotics administered intravenously every day for six weeks. Instead of staying in the hospital for the duration of the treatment, Kenneth's care team determined he was a candidate for Mayo Clinic's Advanced Care at Home program.

Going home

Advanced Care at Home offers patients high-acuity care, delivered in the comfort of their home. With around-the-clock access, advanced technology and a dedicated in-home care team, patients receive comprehensive treatment while minimizing stress and disruption to daily life. 

"With Advanced Care at Home, we can treat, monitor and communicate with patients as we would in a hospital setting, without recreating the feeling of being in a hospital setting," says Dr. Michael Maniaci, director of Advanced Care at Home.

For Kenneth, receiving treatment at home allowed him to maintain his routine, enjoy meals and sleep without interruption. 

“The program provided everything you would need in a hospital but with the comforts of home and closeness of family," Kenneth says. "They had the procedures down, the infrastructure and the systems in place — it was a dream come true."

As the end of his treatment neared and his strength improved, Kenneth and Susan began thinking about a wedding ceremony again.

A wedding between treatments

On May 19, 2025, Kenneth and Susan invited a pair of close friends and a pastor to their Ponte Vedra, Florida, home. The couple was married in their backyard, and just an hour after saying "I do," Kenneth received one of his daily treatments.

"Getting married was a goal for Mr. Adams, so as his care team, we made sure he could achieve that goal safely and on his terms," Dr. Maniaci says.

Kenneth credits Advanced Care at Home with making the wedding possible. He was discharged from the program a week later with no signs of sepsis. 

“People heal better at home," he says. “I feel that I'm living proof of that. There was no burden on my family — the team handled everything – and by being at home, I could get married,” Kenneth says.

By late July, Kenneth was well enough to resume another passion: travel. A trip that had been postponed earlier in the year was back on the calendar as a honeymoon. Looking ahead, Kenneth is preparing for an annual family trip in October. He continues to live with purpose and gratitude. 

“I want to do what I can, while I can,” Kenneth says. "I can do so much more with my health restored."

The post How Advanced Care at Home helped make Kenneth Adams’ wedding day possible appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

When Dr. Bobby Mukkamala found himself on the other side of the exam table, he relied on the cutting-edge surgical techniques at Mayo Clinic to get him back to his professional work. 

While presenting at a professional meeting, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, normally an eloquent speaker, began speaking incoherently for about 90 seconds. 

"Given my age of 53 at the time, I thought it was a 'senior moment,'" says Dr. Mukkamala, an otolaryngologist and head and neck surgeon from Flint, Michigan. 

His colleagues suspected he was having a stroke and convinced Dr. Mukkamala to go to a nearby emergency department for evaluation. Doctors suggested he may have had a transient ischemic attack, or ministroke. They recommended an MRI when he returned home.

That scan revealed something far more serious: a brain tumor. His journey as a patient had begun — and it would ultimately lead him to Mayo Clinic. 

Finding the right brain cancer care

After sharing the news with his family, Dr. Mukkamala tapped into his professional network. "Within a week of my diagnosis, I had half a dozen Zoom calls with neurosurgeons around the country," he says. "They were all wonderful with similar but slightly different perspectives on how to approach my case."

One call, however, stood out — his conversation with Dr. Ian Parney, (pictured here) a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and member of Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Dr. Parney knew the tumor was large, complex and near critical speech areas in the brain. "It was important to Dr. Mukkamala to protect those areas," says Dr. Parney.   

Unlike other surgeons who recommended two brain surgeries, Dr. Parney recommended a single awake craniotomy with speech mapping. During the procedure, the patient answers questions, and brain activity is monitored. This helps surgeons avoid damaging parts of the brain responsible for speech. His extensive experience — about 200 similar brain tumor procedures per year — gave hope to Dr. Mukkamala that the single operation was the best choice.

"Dr. Parney spent time answering every question we had," Dr. Mukkamala says. "That is what healthcare should be. As soon as we got off the call, my wife and kids said, 'That's it. That's where you're going.'"

Using advanced surgical techniques to guide care

In December 2024, Dr. Mukkamala underwent an awake craniotomy with speech mapping. The surgical team also used an intraoperative MRI. This advanced imaging technique provides real-time, high-resolution MRI scans while the surgery is in progress. 

"We do an MRI during the procedure to get the most accurate image so that we can remove the tumor safely," says Dr. Parney. Integrating functional imaging into image-guided systems in the operating room is a technique that Dr. Parney's team develops and tests to improve patient safety. He also correlates these techniques with novel strategies such as intraoperative electrophysiological mapping (using electrodes or electrical simulation to identify and preserve functions) and fluorescence-guided resection.

In Dr. Mukkamala's case, as part of the speech mapping, Dr. Nuri Ince, a professor of neurosurgery and biomedical engineering at Mayo Clinic, provided a novel electrocorticography technique that showed critical areas of function without requiring direct cortical stimulation (electrical signals to the brain's outer layer), as is usually necessary.

Dr. Parney and his colleagues were able to remove more than 90% of Dr. Mukkamala's tumor without damaging the speech areas. Six weeks after surgery, he was once again speaking professionally and confidently to large groups.

Coordinating multidisciplinary cancer care

Dr. Mukkamala's cancerous brain tumor was a low-grade IDH-mutant astrocytoma. This type of brain tumor arises from astrocytes (a type of glial cell in the brain) and carries a mutation in the IDH (isocitrate dehydrogenase) gene. 

After surgery, Dr. Mukkamala met Dr. Ugur Sener, a neuro-oncologist at Mayo Clinic, who prescribed a new targeted drug to treat any remaining cancerous cells. The less toxic therapy allowed Dr. Mukkamala to avoid chemotherapy and radiation, which are standard treatments for brain cancer that can cause side effects such as fatigue and nausea. 

"We've built one of the largest brain tumor practices in the world here at Mayo," Dr. Parney says. "We have the right resources and the right teams in place to provide cutting-edge therapies and holistic care."

Bringing new 'tumor wisdom' to the bedside

While his life today looks much like it did before his diagnosis, Dr. Mukkamala says his perspective is forever changed by his experience. "I used to be more science than emotion, but I've learned there's room for both," he says. 

Dr. Mukkamala was alone when he received the news that he had cancer, much like most of his patients were when he delivered hard news. "It never occurred to me before that it was a problem to share a diagnosis when a patient was alone," Dr. Mukkamala says. He now tries to ensure his patients have support. 

It's one of the many lessons he attributes to "tumor wisdom." "My brain may be a little smaller," says Dr. Mukkamala, "but I think it's happier and wiser."

The post How advanced surgical skills returned a physician to the podium after brain cancer appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

After more than 22 months at Mayo Clinic Children's, 13-year-old Ava Weitl went home to Iowa. She and her family were met with tears and cheers as dozens of members from her care team, who are now considered friends of the family, said goodbye and wished her well. 

This was a day Ava had been looking forward to after a long journey with heart failure, two lifesaving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapies, a heart transplant, kidney failure and a kidney transplant. 

Watch: 13-year old Ava Weitl leaves Mayo Clinic Children's after a 22-month hospital stay

Journalists: Broadcast-quality natsound video is in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic."

Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a life-threatening condition where the left side of the heart is severely underdeveloped, Ava faced three open-heart surgeries before she would reach her 5th birthday. Within 90 minutes of her birth, her first surgery was performed. Her second surgery was completed months later, but the third, typically required for HLHS patients between the ages of 3 and 4, was not possible due to other medical concerns. 

For a handful of years, Ava's care team monitored her to see what her body would do. During that time, Ava felt good and was "defying the odds," as her mom, Christina DeShaw, would say. 

It was in 2021, during third grade, when Ava began to show signs of her heart and lungs struggling. While cardiac catheterization improved the blood flow to her lungs, it was a temporary improvement, and by early 2023, doctors determined a heart transplant was her only option.

Officially listed for a heart transplant in February 2023, Ava's condition worsened, leading to hospitalization at Mayo Clinic in September 2023. That hospital stay was the start of her long journey of constant monitoring and tests, and it wasn’t easy on her family as they navigated life split between Minnesota and Iowa. 

In December 2023, Ava's condition took a critical turn. Ava was placed on life-sustaining ECMO, which provides heart and lung support when those organs are failing. Then, Feb. 26, 2024, the call came: a donor heart became available. The surgery was successful, but postoperative challenges arose.

Weeks later, complications with her lungs led to a return to ECMO for three months. She also needed a tracheostomy placed. While trying to save her lungs, her kidney function began to fail, leading to another gift of life — a kidney transplant on Jan. 25, 2025, thanks to a donation from her uncle through a kidney exchange with the National Kidney Registry. 

"She's a walking miracle," her mother says. "We can't even wrap our heads around what she's been through."

Ava is excited to be home with her parents, Christina and Brad, her twin brother, Aiden, and her younger brother, Miles. She says she looks forward to hanging out with friends, going back to school and having a barbecue with her family. 

The post (VIDEO) 13-year-old Ava is home with a new heart, kidney following a 22-month hospital stay  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

In April 2023, CV Rao had just returned from a work trip in Europe when he started experiencing abdominal pain on his right side. His wife, a doctor, recognized that he needed to see his primary care physician for an ultrasound scan. 

When the ultrasound didn't show anything, CV's care team ordered a CT scan. The results were alarming — a 7 centimeter tumor, the size of a large peach, was in his liver. 

"It was a shock to the system," CV recalls. 

The initial diagnosis suggested intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the bile ducts.

CV quickly received a PET scan, an MRI and a biopsy at a local hospital which confirmed those suspicions. Within eight days, CV was undergoing chemotherapy to shrink the tumor so he might be eligible for surgery.

After six cycles of chemotherapy, the tumor was reevaluated. The good news was that the cancer was responsive to chemotherapy, and the tumor had shrunk by about 50%. Unfortunately, because the tumor surrounded major blood vessels, local surgeons still deemed it inoperable.

Seeking a second opinion

Determined to explore all options, CV sought a second opinion at Mayo Clinic. 

"I was working on 3D printing investments and kept running into Mayo's innovative approaches," he explains. "Everywhere I looked, they had this 3D printing effort where the surgeons were able to visualize what they were operating on using 3D printed organs."

This led him to believe that Mayo Clinic could offer a solution.

A new hope

Six months after diagnosis, CV and his wife, Madhavi, sat across from Harmeet Malhi, M.B.B.S., a hepatologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

"We want to give every patient every chance. Undergoing surgery was his best chance at being tumor-free."

Harmeet Malhi, M.B.B.S.

After reviewing his imaging and personalized treatment plan with Dr. Malhi, CV and his wife met with Patrick Starlinger, M.D., Ph.D., a hepatobiliary and pancreas surgeon. 

"Dr. Starlinger looked at me and said, 'You came to the right place. We can help you with this,'" CV remembers.

All three liver veins appeared to be involved. This type of tumor usually is not removable because there must be at least one vein to drain the liver, according to Dr. Starlinger.

"We told him to continue chemotherapy to maximize his response, aiming to get the tumor even smaller. And then we planned for advanced, complex liver surgery."

Patrick Starlinger, M.D.

Although CV understood this would be a high-risk procedure, he remembers feeling reassured after speaking with Dr. Starlinger.

"Dr. Starlinger looked at his fellows and said, 'Would you say this is routine?' And they all said 'Yes, it's a routine surgery for us,'" CV says.

As a native of Austria, Dr. Starlinger explains, "In German, we have a word that means saying 'yes' to life, 'lebensbejahend,' and that's how CV approached this. Both CV and his wife had such positive attitudes and a willingness to fight this with all they had."

CV believes the same can be said of Dr. Starlinger's approach to his case. 

"The very first day, Dr. Starlinger walked in with a positive attitude, which is one of the things that you realize you absolutely need to get through things like this," CV says.

Resecting the unresectable

CV's surgery was scheduled for November 22, 2023, the day before Thanksgiving. 

To prepare for the operation, Dr. Starlinger turned to a 3D printed model of CV's anatomy, just like the ones that had led CV to Mayo Clinic.

"3D models are incredibly helpful in complex surgical procedures because they allow for optimized surgical planning prior to the actual surgery," Dr. Starlinger explains.

At 6 a.m. on Nov. 22, CV was taken back to the operating room for the complex, 4.5-hour surgery. 

"We carefully dissected through the liver until we approached the right hepatic vein, which was really the critical portion of CV's operation," Dr. Starlinger says. "We had everything prepared to reimplant the only remaining liver vein, but with meticulous precision, using an ultrasound dissection device, we were ultimately able to peel the tumor off the majority of the right hepatic vein and perform a primary repair of the vessel."

Dr. Starlinger and the surgical team removed roughly 50% of CV's liver, along with the entire tumor. The surgery was a success.

Experiencing cherished milestones

Nearly two years after his diagnosis, CV is returning to the activities he loved. He has resumed skiing, attended his younger son's robotics competitions, and even traveled to Switzerland and Austria with his wife. 

"I can't wait to see my older son graduate and drop him off at college," he shares with a smile. "We are in a stage of life where a lot of life events are happening. It's amazing to do these things that are important to the family."

These moments, once clouded by uncertainty, are now cherished milestones.

Reflecting on his care at Mayo Clinic, CV expresses deep gratitude to the team that provided him with expert and compassionate treatment. 

"The Mayo Clinic staff is beyond what we've experienced elsewhere," he says. "During my seven days in the hospital, we interacted with many nurses, and through changes in shifts, it was just a uniformly amazing experience. Every, every single person we came in touch with was such a positive experience."

"We wish Dr. Starlinger the longest career possible because the number of lives he has and will save is incredible," he says. 

Related post:

• (VIDEO) A rare cancer. A rare weapon. Curtis Jackson’s inspiring story of survival

The post Resecting the unresectable: The right place, the right team  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.