During Nurses Week 2026, Mayo Clinic celebrates its nurses — advancing innovation while preserving the heart of care

A Mayo Clinic nurse's journey from cancer patient to caregiver has come full circle, shaped by her experience receiving care.

"It looked like a shark bite." That's how Kristin Surdy describes the spot removed from her leg, which began as a smooth, pink mole she noticed last spring while living in Florida. At the time, she was packing to move her family to Rochester, Minnesota, and planned to see a dermatologist after the move. She had experienced multiple bouts of skin cancer before, but did not yet know that this discovery would change both her health and her career.

After arriving in Rochester, Kristin was evaluated at Mayo Clinic and diagnosed with an aggressive melanoma on her shin in June 2025. The stage 2B melanoma was localized but deep, and surgery to remove it was extensive. The cancer had likely been present for some time. She began immunotherapy treatments in September and now receives infusions every three weeks for one year, along with twice-yearly full-body scans. There is no evidence today of cancer recurrence, though she continues follow-up care due to a moderate risk.

From a patient to a bedside nurse

Before her diagnosis, Kristin had spent more than three decades in nursing, primarily in leadership roles focused on hiring, training and operations. She had long considered returning to a role with more direct patient care.

Her experience as a patient helped clarify that decision.

"I was just stunned from day one," Kristin says. "The nurses were kind, empathetic and reassuring. They explained everything to me."

She also remembers the fear of walking into a busy chemotherapy unit for the first time — the sounds of IV pumps, alarms and constant activity. That experience now shapes how she cares for patients, helping her anticipate concerns and ease anxiety from the moment they arrive.

Encouraged by her care team, Kristin applied to join Mayo Clinic. After years of commuting, she was seeking an ambulatory care role closer to home. During treatment, she realized the unit where she received care offered exactly what she had been looking for — direct patient care in a setting she deeply understood. In December 2025, she began working as a bedside nurse — transitioning from leadership back to hands-on care. She now works as a medical oncology nurse on the chemotherapy unit where she was treated.

"It's so rewarding," she says. "There's something meaningful about caring for people in vulnerable moments."

A new 'family' and sense of purpose

Today, Kristin works alongside more than 50 nurses on her unit. Her clinical background and personal experience with cancer allow her to connect with patients and families in a deeply personal way, including sharing that she has faced cancer herself.

"Cancer affects not just the patient but the whole family," she says. "Being able to listen, explain and provide reassurance feels like being the calm in their storm."

Colleagues describe her as an important addition to the team, and patients have taken notice. One patient told her, "You're really a good human." It’s a moment that still moves her to tears.

Kristin says the role has given her a sense of purpose she did not expect. At the end of each day, she returns home to her family with the balance she once hoped to find in her career.

"I've come full circle," she says. "I've become the kind of nurse I once needed."

Related post:

• When caregivers become patients: A story of heart, healing and friendship

The post Cancer survivor returns as a nurse to the unit that treated her appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

When Ruby Norland of Las Vegas decided to donate a kidney to her 29-year-old son, Ramiro Alvarado, she assumed determination and love would be enough. But after a series of evaluations at another transplant center, Ruby heard the word she feared most: no. 

"I cried out of anger and frustration," she recalls. "I felt devastated and helpless." 

Even though Ruby was a match, she was told her case was too complex. She had a small kidney stone and unusual anatomy. Instead of one artery, the right kidney had two, with the main artery branching very close to the aorta. Although her left kidney was not complex, Ruby was told the risks were too great to leave her with a single kidney that had a stone. 

That's when Ruby was referred to Mayo Clinic. 

Watch: Mother refuses to give up on son and finds a way forward

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:43) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

The path forward to donation

Ramiro had been on dialysis for eight months, three to four hours a day. For him, it was physically and emotionally challenging. "When my mom first offered to donate her kidney, I was stunned. I could never have asked anyone to do something so profound for me. She decided almost instantly, without a second thought," says Ramiro. "Donating an organ is not just a medical act. It is an act of love." 

During her first call, Ruby remembers the coordinator pausing before responding, not to say no, but to say that Mayo wanted to take a closer look. The Mayo Clinic team reassured her that their technology and surgeons were well equipped to handle complex cases like hers, offering hope instead of focusing on obstacles to donation. 

Experience meets complexity 

The transplant team evaluated her kidney stone risk, studied her anatomy in detail and worked through what donation would mean for her long-term health. The outcome was one other centers hadn't reached: Ruby was approved to donate her left kidney, while keeping the kidney with complex anatomy and the small stone, along with a long-term plan to reduce future risk. Mayo Clinic Transplant Center physicians have studied predictors of future kidney stones and have helped develop donor guidelines.   

"My test results didn't show a high risk of recurring kidney stones, and I felt confident about keeping my right kidney," says Ruby. When Ruby received the call that she was approved, she cried again, but this time out of relief. "When I told my son, he didn't believe me at first," she says. "Then it sank in, and we just held each other."   

The transplant itself was a success. "The testing was thorough, and the team was honest about the risks," Ruby says. "That made me feel prepared, not afraid."  

"It is our responsibility to not only identify but also comprehensively understand risks for potential donors, ensuring that decisions are guided by the expertise of our clinical team as well as input from the donor. Often, complex donor anatomy leads to denial at other centers. However, our approach at Mayo Clinic allows us to assist many donors successfully," explains Dr. Carrie Jadlowiec, medical director of the Living Donor Program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.  

"My care team never minimized my risks," Ruby says. "They just refused to stop at no." 

Ruby says the moment that stays with her most is waking up after surgery and hearing that her son's new kidney was already working.  

Her recovery was smooth, and today she's back to hiking, practicing hot yoga and strength training and looking forward to her first Mother’s Day after the transplant.  

For Ramiro, having more energy, freedom and a renewed sense of gratitude for everyday moments that once felt out of reach drives his days. "I am not just surviving anymore. I am living again," he says. "There was a time when I avoided looking too far into the future because it felt like a privilege I could not count on. Now, I find myself making plans and looking forward to what comes next." 

For Ruby and her son, the transplant is no longer the center of the story; it's the turning point. What remains is many more Mother’s Days in their future together. And for Ramiro, every day reminds him of the incredible gift his mom gave him. 

Becoming an organ donor

Living kidney donation is available at all Mayo Clinic sites, where multidisciplinary teams prioritize patient needs, even in complex cases. Ruby's story is just one example of what's possible, thanks to the Transplant Center's support from Mayo Clinic's depth of expertise. This collaboration enables Mayo Clinic to care for patients facing extraordinary challenges while advancing transplant medicine. 

Learn more about Living Kidney Donation at Mayo Clinic. 

Related posts:

• How innovation is shaping the future of transplant care (VIDEO)
• Transplant Center at Mayo Clinic in Arizona sets a five-year national record for solid organ transplants (VIDEO)

The post Mother refuses to give up on son and finds a way forward (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

For patients with type 1 diabetes and end-stage kidney disease, a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant eliminates the need for dialysis and insulin injections by restoring insulin production and curing diabetes. Some people with type 2 diabetes may also be eligible.

For nearly four decades, 49-year-old Nakia Odom of Phoenix lived with type 1 diabetes, a disease that slowly took more than his health. It took his independence, his mobility and the tap dancing that once defined him.

Nakia was taught tap dancing by his grandmother, and it became an early passion. He even got to dance with tap legend Savion Glover at the Apollo Theater in New York. But a diabetes diagnosis at age 13 forced him to shift his focus from the stage to his health.

"Diabetes was livable at first," Nakia says. "But as I got older, it took more and more." As he approached his mid-20s, his health began to deteriorate. He had to give up tap dancing and eventually, playing football and basketball.

Diabetes to kidney failure

By his mid‑40s, diabetes-related complications had led to kidney failure. Nakia began dialysis at age 46, endured multiple surgeries, lost a toe to infection and developed sepsis, leaving him unable to walk or bear weight on his feet for months.

Nakia leaned into his faith. He also began to explore kidney-pancreas transplantation — but his case was too complex for most transplant centers.

That changed when he was referred to Mayo Clinic in Arizona, where transplant teams specialize in caring for patients others may turn away. Mayo Clinic is a leader in kidney–pancreas transplantation, with outcomes that meet and often exceed national averages. The team is also advancing the field through innovations such as robotic-assisted transplants, using minimally invasive techniques to support complex procedures.

Watch: Kidney-Pancreas transplant restores life without diabetes, the Nakia Odom story

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:21) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Last spring, Nakia received a simultaneous kidney–pancreas transplant. "The first thing I noticed when I woke up was that the brain fog was gone," he says. "I wasn't in pain. And every day since, it's gotten better."

Now, one year post‑transplant, Nakia no longer needs insulin or dialysis. He's active again and has returned to tap dancing for the first time since 2001.

"My goal was always to dance again," Nakia says. "Dancing is how I connect with God."

Organ donors

His story reflects both the promise and the urgency of organ donation. More than 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney transplant, and around 2,500 are on the list for kidney–pancreas transplants. For many, the wait can stretch three to five years or longer. 

Nakia is deeply aware of the gift he received. "I pray for the donor's family every day," he says. "Their loss gave me my life back. Without their sacrifice, I might not be here today."

Now, the sound of Nakia's second chance is the rhythm of his tap shoes touching the floor once again — showing how his transplant didn't just restore his health; it gave him back something he deeply loved. 

"This is the best thing that's ever happened in my life," he says.

Related posts:

• Mayo Clinic Transplant performs record 2,065 organ transplants in 2025
• Robotic kidney transplant, when innovation meets family (VIDEO)
• How innovation is shaping the future of transplant care (VIDEO)
• Mayo Clinic Minute: What to expect as a living kidney donor

The post Kidney-pancreas transplant gives tap dancer new life without diabetes (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

For years, a lifelong athlete was sidelined by chronic wrist pain that took more than just her ability to compete — it took a part of her identity. Now, thanks to an innovative surgical approach at Mayo Clinic, a Minnesota woman is back on the court, returning to the game that means so much to her. 

Watch: Innovative wrist surgery helps athlete return to the pickleball court after decades of pain

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (3:06) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"Being an athlete has always been a part of my life," says Tami Lucius.

A former college basketball player, the 54-year-old from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, also loved playing tennis. But devastating wrist pain kept her off the court for two decades.

"I didn't know what it was, but it was always on the outside of my wrist," she says. "I really had a sense of loss with my life and with that sense of community from not being able to be in sports. And then a girlfriend of mine from high school, out of the blue, said, 'Hey, come and play pickle with me.' I knew pickleball was something that I was going to love."

But unfortunately, almost immediately, Tami's wrist pain returned.

"It got so bad that I couldn't even do the acts of daily living. So even making a bed, washing my hair, it didn't matter what I was doing, the pain was always there and the instability was always there," she says.

Rather than giving up another sport and a community she loved, Tami came to Mayo Clinic to see Dr. Sanj Kakar, a hand and wrist specialist.

"She was struggling. I think the biggest frustration for her was the pain was affecting not only sport but also activities of daily living," Dr. Kakar says.

"He was such a kind person, and he knew that, for me, this journey was more than just the pickle, it was part of my life and my identity. And he took the time to really share with me what he felt we needed to do," Tami says.

"Just by listening to her, examining her, looking at the imaging, we then were able to pinpoint the major causes of her problem," says Dr. Kakar. "The TFCC, or the triangular fibrocartilage complex, sits right in this area. She had a problem not only with that TFCC, or that sort of shock absorber for that part of the wrist, but also the tendon. So for Tami — especially with sport — hitting tophand, topspin, forehand, backhands — anything with twisting and grip would cause pain in here."

Wrist surgery

With Tami's wrist problem diagnosed, Dr. Kakar recommended a novel surgical technique he and his colleagues developed at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

"It's what we call the over-the-top TFCC technique, which allows us to more accurately place stitches, or sutures, in the tear exactly where the tear is, in a more minimally invasive manner," he says. "It's a very precise method to fixing an area."

Tears in the TFCC often don’t appear on traditional MRI scans and may only be identified once a camera is placed inside the joint. Dr. Kakar uses a smaller, more flexible camera system, allowing for clearer visualization and more precise diagnosis and treatment.

The technique has several benefits compared to some conventional wrist repair approaches, including faster completion, less radiation exposure and lower fracture risk.

Back on the court

After successful surgery at Mayo Clinic, Tami is now back on the pickleball court, three times a week — pain-free.

"My wrist is the most stable joint on my entire body today," Tami says. "It does bring tears to my eyes because I didn't realize how much I missed sports in general. I get such a sense of identity who I am, my passion for competition, my passion for people. Mayo didn't just give me my wrist back and the ability to play pickle again, Mayo gave me my life back."

Related post:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: How to prevent injuries when playing pickleball

The post Innovative wrist surgery helps athlete return to the pickleball court after decades of pain (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic is using new technology to help with diabetes-related kidney failure.

About 40 million people in the U.S. are living with diabetes. Most are able to manage the condition with medication and lifestyle changes.

But in some cases, diabetes, type 1 or type 2, can lead to more serious problems, including chronic kidney disease, even kidney failure, leaving patients with only one option – a pancreas-kidney transplant.

The transplant has been performed for decades. Now, surgeons at Mayo Clinic are performing the transplant robotically. 

Steve Canzoneri shares his life-changing story of becoming Mayo's first patient to undergo a robotic pancreas-kidney transplant.

Watch: Mayo Clinic announces first robotic pancreas-kidney transplant

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:45) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Steve has battled diabetes most of his life. Despite treatment, diabetes still took a toll on his body and over time led to kidney failure.

"I've had some major setbacks with diabetic complications and other things like that," says Steve.

Diabetes is a disease where the body cannot properly control blood sugar levels. In most cases, the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or the body can't use it effectively. This can damage organs, especially the kidneys, leaving some patients like Steve in need of a pancreas-kidney transplant.

Steve got the transplant he needed at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He also became Mayo's first patient to undergo the procedure robotically.

"Traditionally, this operation involves a very big incision, but with the minimally invasive approach, we're able to offer patients a smaller incision," says transplant surgeon Michelle Nguyen, M.D. "That potentially allows the patient to recover faster, have less pain, have less risk of wound complications and just be able to return to their normal life more quickly."

For the transplant, two surgeons sit at consoles guiding the robot with hand controls. The robot does not replace the surgeon – it enhances precision, accuracy and control. 

"The robot is actually just a tool that we use in the operating room that improves our magnifications, allows us to do a minimally invasive approach," says transplant surgeon Nitin Katariya, M.D. "We are in control the whole time."

Goal of transplant

The transplant is more than just a treatment.

"For many of these patients on insulin, we can try to cure both issues: the kidney disease and what may have caused their kidney disease in the first place, their diabetes. And so we look at kidney-pancreas transplant together as a way to attack both problems and solve both problems," adds Dr. Katariya.

Steve's dad noticed an improvement right away.

"He said to me that I finally sound like his son again," says Steve.

Steve was discharged less than a week after his transplant. 

"He’s recovering very smoothly. He is done with dialysis, his kidney function is pretty much normal now, he is off insulin," says Dr. Nguyen.

For Steve, that means a future free of limitations.

"To be able to live, and travel again, be able to live life, and having that renewed spirit of being able to just do whatever I want–whenever I want–and not be tied down somewhere," says Steve.

Not everyone is a candidate for the robotic pancreas-kidney transplant. Doctors recommend talking to your healthcare team to determine what options are best for you.

Related stories:

• Mayo Clinic surgeons perform first robotic-assisted kidney transplant in Minnesota
• How a pancreas transplant can cure diabetes
• Mayo Clinic Minute: Reasons to be a living kidney donor
• From donation to Kilimanjaro: Living kidney donor defies limits (VIDEO)

The post Mayo Clinic announces first robotic pancreas-kidney transplant (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Dancing is more than just a hobby or passion for 22-year-old Reagan McDaniel. It's her life's calling. When she entered the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Jacksonville University in Florida as a dance major, Reagan felt like she was on her way to the life she had dreamed about. 

But after finishing a challenging dance routine during the fall recital of her freshman year, Reagan felt a sharp ache in her left hip. She stretched, and it felt better the next day. However, when the pain kept returning sharper and lasting longer, Reagan got the nagging sensation that something was wrong.

"I continued to dance on it for months," says Reagan. "I know a lot of dancers have chronic pain. I thought this hip pain might just be something I would have to learn to live with."

After five months of progressive pain, Reagan finally mentioned it to her mother, who works in the medical field. Her mom, who previously underwent surgery for a hip labral tear, recognized the signs and made an appointment for Reagan with a sports medicine and orthopedic specialist at Mayo Clinic in Florida, where she works.

Crushing news 

Reagan met with Dr. Luke Spencer Gardner, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip surgery. As Reagan's mom suspected, an MRI revealed a torn hip labrum, the cartilage lining the hip joint socket. 

Dr. Spencer Gardner explained that Reagan had femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). FAI occurs when the ball-and-socket of the hip joint don't fit together properly, and the hip bones rub together. In Reagan's case, a bony protrusion on the ball caused the misalignment. It's not uncommon for extra bone to develop during natural growth and development, but when it pinches the labrum, it can lead to tearing. Repetitive or twisting motions, like those used in dancing, are also a contributing factor and can make tearing more likely.

"I remember getting the news that I had been dreading," says Reagan. "I was so upset. But my mom assured me that Dr. Spencer Gardner would take good care of me, and sure enough, he did."

Hip preservation surgery times 2 

Reagan tried physical therapy to reduce the pain, but between her dance schedule and the severity of her tear, she was not making good progress. Dr. Spencer Gardner suggested hip preservation surgery to fix Reagan's structural hip injuries and eliminate her pain so she could get back to dancing. Hip preservation also has added long-term benefits by helping prevent early onset osteoarthritis and delaying the need for hip replacement.

In November of her sophomore year, Reagan underwent a hip arthroscopy and labral repair. Dr. Spencer Gardner fixed the tear and shaved down the bone spur, operating through small incisions using a tiny camera called an arthroscope and specialized instruments. 

The minimally invasive surgery was an outpatient procedure, and Reagan went home the same day with no complications. The expected recovery time for the procedure is typically six months. 

But less than two months later, Reagan once again experienced the nagging feeling that something was wrong. This time, the pain was in her right hip.

"I had just started my spring semester and was still using a crutch to recover from the first surgery, when I felt the same kind of pain," says Reagan. "I told myself that my hip was just sore from overcompensating during my recovery, but soon I was back in front of Dr. Spencer Gardner and getting another MRI." 

Imaging showed a similar labral tear and smaller FAI in her right hip. At the end of January, less than eight weeks after her first surgery, Dr. Spencer Gardner performed a second hip preservation surgery (arthroscopy and labral repair) on Reagan's other hip.

"I remember being in that hospital the second time and wondering whether I was ever going to dance the same way I had before," says Reagan. "Then I locked in and made the decision that I wanted to be back dancing by six months from my first surgery."

The road back to dancing 

Physical therapy was critical to Reagan's recovery. The physical therapists at Mayo Clinic guided and supported Reagan as she pushed to regain her strength and restore flexibility. Four months after the second surgery, Reagan started easing back into dance.

"I was worried I might get injured again, but I know my body well enough to know when to start," says Reagan. "I began with marking, a dance term for performing movements on a much smaller scale to mentally rehearse and then working yourself up to bigger and bigger movements."

Reagan spent time learning choreography and teaching at several local studios. She worked hard to make up for all the dance training she missed. Somewhere along the way, she found herself drawn to hip-hop.

"While I was not fully back by the six-month mark, I was doing hip-hop at that point," says Reagan. "Hip-hop doesn't require as much leg lifting and floorwork as other dance styles, so it was easy to start with it. But I realized how much I loved it."

Dancing toward a bright future 

Reagan is forever thankful to her entire team at Mayo Clinic. The nurses helped calm Reagan when she was nervous about anesthesia. The physical therapists pushed her and supported her quick recovery. Dr. Spencer Gardner gave Reagan back the gift of dancing.

After college graduation, Reagan has plans to move to Los Angeles, where she will be pursuing a career in professional dancing.

"I'm finally back to where I was before my surgeries," says Reagan. "I may not be as flexible as I used to be, but I have the same strength and movement quality I had before. And my passion for dancing is stronger than ever."

Related post:

• Mayo Clinic in Florida expands shoulder arthroplasty with robotics, scaling capability across sites

The post Dancer’s comeback made possible by hip preservation surgery appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

What began as a routine check for swelling quickly turned Randy Ramey's life upside down. When pneumonia and swelling were diagnosed as stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver, Randy, of Denton, Texas, struggled to understand how it was all connected. 

A series of visits with local specialists revealed a fatty liver disease called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, or MASH. For Randy, the diagnosis set off a cascade of life-or-death decisions that led his wife and him to Mayo Clinic, where he underwent a complex series of three lifesaving procedures, including a double coronary artery bypass surgery, liver transplant and, just months later, a kidney transplant. They found themselves navigating one health obstacle after another.

Randy is sharing his story to raise awareness during Donate Life Month.

Watch: 3 lifesaving surgeries and a second chance

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:47) is available for download at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"I was shocked. I mean, we didn't see that coming at all. It's right out of left field. You know, at that point, I wasn't physically sick. I was just swollen," says Randy.

When pneumonia and swelling became a diagnosis of stage 4 cirrhosis. Randy came to Mayo Clinic for a liver transplant evaluation. What doctors found made his situation far more urgent and far more complex.

"I went into the lab for a chemical stress test, but that's where they confirmed the two blockages. So what they ended up deciding, we're going to do two surgeries in one day. We're going to do your heart surgery — your double bypass — and we're going to do the liver. The worst I felt was the day before I got transplanted. The next morning when I woke up and had to do the walk, I still felt better than I did before the surgery," he says.

From the hospital window, Randy's wife, Elise, watched the mountains outside and saw their journey ahead — every peak, every valley — another procedure, another decision, another climb.

"We're going to have to climb every one of those mountain ranges," Elise says as she recalls their journey. "We're going to have to ascend and descend and ascend and descend every one of those mountain ranges."

"I'm getting rebuilt from the ground up," Randy says. "My kidney took off running, and it hasn't stopped. I don't know how you pay somebody for saving your life. I get emotional because you can't put it in words, but I've tried."

And with smiles as big as Texas, Randy and Elise are home after 27 weeks in Arizona. 

Related stories:

• From donation to Kilimanjaro: Living kidney donor defies limits (VIDEO)

The post 3 lifesaving surgeries and a second chance (VIDEO)  appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

An Arizona woman who is a Mayo Clinic retiree, along with several other fellow kidney donors, is proving that donating a kidney doesn't limit a person. In fact, donors can accomplish amazing feats, like climbing Africa's highest mountain. 

Watch: From donation to Kilimanjaro: Living kidney donor defies limits

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (2:07) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

"My life has changed a lot. I am probably healthier now than I've ever been in my entire life — partly because of the climb that I'm doing, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with kidney donor athletes and 15 kidney donors all climbing," says Bethany Krom. "We will summit on World Kidney Day to show the world that those of us with one kidney can do anything that those with two kidneys can."

"This expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro is just an example of how donating a kidney does not need to limit you in any way," says Dr. Mikel Prieto, a Mayo Clinic transplant surgeon.

"Being able to donate to someone and change their lives is something that's really amazing and makes me feel good every day," Bethany says. "And knowing what a difference it made on my life inspires me to help others to think about doing the same thing."

Bethany donated her kidney as part of the paired exchange program. It's an option for donors and intended recipients who aren't a match for transplant. In paired exchange donation, two or more organ-recipient pairs trade donors so that each recipient gets an organ that is compatible.

"Thanks to paired exchange, as long as you have a donor — it doesn't matter what blood group, doesn't matter what age or anything — if they pass the test to be a donor, but they are not a good match for you, we can use that kidney for somebody else," says Dr. Prieto.

"You can donate totally independent of when your person is and just name your person — actually, five people you can name — and whoever needs it first will get it," Bethany says.

"Basically, what we need is a healthy person — somebody that is not putting themselves at risk for donating their kidney," Dr. Prieto says.

"I knew that the person I was donating for was a grandpa. And as it turns out, the person I donated to is a grandfather as well. So I'm a grandma who gave so two grandpas will be able to watch their grandchildren grow up. That, for me, is very special," Bethany says.

"Donating a kidney is basically changing somebody's life: 'I'm going to help you. I'm going to change your life for the better,'" says Dr. Prieto.

And Bethany says, in her case, it's not just the recipient's life that was changed.

"For me, donation enhanced my life because I am more careful about how I take care of my body. And then I am exercising and eating good food," she says. "So I am healthier and doing all the things I did before and more, like climbing mountains."

The post From donation to Kilimanjaro: Living kidney donor defies limits (VIDEO) appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

A successful consultant and avid athlete, Lauren lived at full speed — until a leaky heart valve turned life-threatening. Robotic surgery at Mayo Clinic helped her rebound quickly. 

As a little girl, Lauren rarely thought about her mitral valve prolapse, a heart condition she'd had since birth. Although the bulging valve caused blood to leak backward in her heart, it didn't stop her from dancing competitively. 

"I never experienced it as something wrong with my heart, but as, 'Your heart makes a silly sound,'" she says.  

Lauren joined the Notre Dame dance team in college. She began running races, including half-marathons and marathons. She enjoyed pushing her body, and her heart never slowed her down. 

In the summer of 2023, that abruptly changed. While running in downtown Minneapolis, Lauren felt unusually exerted. After only half a mile, she slowed to a walk. Was the Taylor Swift concert from two nights earlier catching up with her? "Maybe I'd screamed too hard," she says. 

Then Lauren checked her wearable — a gold ring that tracks health data — and noticed a change in her heart rate variability, an indicator of cardiovascular fitness. "It dropped off a cliff, and my heart rate had elevated," she says. 

Feeling uncertain, Lauren headed to an urgent care. They reassured her she was the healthiest person they'd seen all month. Yet Lauren continued to feel "off" for weeks.

After listening to her heart, her husband, Joe, a cardiologist, suggested an echocardiogram, or heart ultrasound. The scan confirmed his concern — her mitral valve prolapse had progressed, causing the left side of her heart to balloon, a risk factor for heart failure or sudden cardiac arrest. Lauren would need surgery to repair her valve — and she'd need it soon. 

"To go from running a 10-mile race at a 7:40 pace to being told the left side of my heart was 40% enlarged didn't seem possible," she says. "Anything I pushed my body to do, I could do. Now, the word 'severe' just echoed in my brain."  

Facing the possibility of open-heart surgery, Lauren started searching. 

Finding a solution close by

For the last two decades, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has combined its world-renowned surgical expertise with advanced robotics to offer a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery. From their medical community, the couple learned Mayo was a pioneer in robotic mitral valve repairs.

"Instead of cutting the sternal bone, we make tiny 'keyhole' incisions on the side of the right chest," explains Dr. Arman Arghami, a cardiovascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. "With the robot, we can provide the same gold standard repair while cutting the recovery in half."

 
Minimal scarring and a quicker return to daily rhythms and exercise appealed to Lauren. After meeting with Dr. Arghami, she felt confident Mayo was the right choice. "I had like 30 questions, and we talked through every single one," she recalls. "It felt like his focus on me was limitless."

While awaiting her surgery, Lauren kept running to maintain her heart's strength. She also began working with her therapist to build emotional resilience. 

As an athlete, "I do a lot of visualizing before a performance or a race," she says. "Since I wasn't going to be the one doing the surgery, I focused my thoughts on having a team of people I trust."

"Thank you, I trust you" became her surgery-day mantra — carefully chosen words of surrender that she repeated to every care team member. During the few seconds of solitude before surgery, Lauren pictured a successful repair one last time. 

She was ready to let others fight for her. 

Recovering her identity 

When Lauren woke up, her husband's smiling eyes told her she was OK. Her relief mounted when Dr. Arghami handed her a stethoscope. The rhythmic reassurance of a fully functioning heart had replaced the clicking she'd heard since childhood. 

"It's good?" she asked, and Dr. Arghami replied with a smile, "It's very good." 

Watching the echocardiogram, her husband marveled that he'd never seen such an effective repair. "My valve was totally torn," Lauren says, "and now it was sealing perfectly." 

Less than 24 hours later, she was ready to start moving. With a nurse next to her, Lauren lapped the intensive care unit. That afternoon, she walked herself to the step-down unit. 

"I know there was pain from the surgery, but my mind can't drum up that feeling anymore," Lauren says. "What I can access is the memory of listening to my heart, of seeing my echo on the screen, how my nurse made me feel confident. I felt really empowered." 

Before her flower deliveries could arrive the next day, Lauren was discharged to go home. Four weeks later, she was back to running. Three months later, she could hold a plank in Pilates class. 

While visiting with Dr. Arghami, Lauren eagerly showed him her wearable data. Her heart rate variability was moving back toward baseline. Her heart rate was once again that of an athlete. 

"The data so powerfully confirms how my body feels," she says. "I have no limits in my activity or my life." 

Lauren also recognizes that freedom is no longer a given.

This sense of vulnerability has nurtured a deeper gratitude for her body and all it allows her to do, including a 10-mile race last fall. Although Lauren didn't train as hard — or run as fast — as she once did, that didn't matter because she was back to doing what she loves. 

"I didn't take any of those miles for granted. Crossing that finish line was awesome," she says. "Running and moving through life without worry was the goal, and I got there." 

The post Robotic heart surgery enables lifelong athlete to race again   appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Donna J. Gainer fuels her active lifestyle of hiking, bicycling and gardening with a health-conscious diet of mostly whole foods. So, when the 64-year-old received news that she had colorectal cancer in autumn 2025, a wave of emotions hit her.

"My first thought was the heartbreak I felt knowing I would have to call my son to tell him about the cancer diagnosis," recalls Donna. "My second thought was shock that I could have developed cancer with my lifestyle. A cancer diagnosis did not make sense."

Colon cancer screening

Donna's journey began in June 2025 after a colon cancer screening returned abnormal results. Her primary care physician then referred her to Mayo Clinic's Gastroenterology Department for a diagnostic colonoscopy, which identified two polyps in the bends of her colon and one near her appendix.

The complexity of Donna's colonoscopy results prompted further consultation with Dr. Michael Wallace, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist. Dr. Wallace shared that, in many cases around the world, large polyps at difficult-to-reach locations in the colon are typically removed surgically.

"Fortunately, here at Mayo Clinic, we have sophisticated techniques for removing even these advanced and large polyps through endoscopy or colonoscopy," says Dr. Wallace.

A review of Donna's case with a multidisciplinary care team led to a plan using two advanced treatments that reduced the risk of recurrence while mitigating the need for more intensive surgery: endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and endoscopic mucosal resection.

Dr. Vivek Kumbhari, a Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist, partnered with Dr. Wallace on Donna's care.

"Care like this is never delivered in isolation. Before the procedure, Dr. Wallace and I carefully reviewed her case and determined that a comprehensive, single-session approach was in her best interest," says Dr. Kumbhari. "That level of collaboration ensures that every decision is thoughtful, evidence-based and tailored specifically to the patient. It's one of the defining strengths of Mayo Clinic."

Donna underwent her comprehensive endoscopic resection at Mayo Clinic in November 2025. She recalls feeling less apprehensive about undergoing the resection than the colonoscopy, citing the thorough yet compassionate care from Dr. Wallace and confidence in Dr. Kumbhari's expertise and ability to operate inside the colon.

"I felt really special that (Dr. Kumbhari) was the one doing my surgery," says Donna. "What meant the most was how warm and reassuring he was when he sat with me before surgery and explained everything. I felt truly blessed to have him as my surgeon."

During the single outpatient procedure, Dr. Kumbhari removed all three polyps without incisions, preserving Donna's organ function and quality of life.

"That is exactly what modern, patient-centered cancer care should look like," says Dr. Kumbhari. 

In a final review of Donna's case, her care team concluded that since Dr. Kumbhari removed all three polyps in one outpatient procedure using advanced techniques, further surgery and its associated risks — including sphincter injury, incontinence or colostomy — were not needed. Donna remains under close surveillance by Dr. Wallace, undergoing endoscopic ultrasound, CT scans and lab work every 90 days.

Since her procedure, Donna has returned to the lifestyle she enjoys, including her outdoor activities.

"I continue to live each day with gratitude, and I am humbled to have two brilliant and skilled surgeons who truly saved not only my colon, but my life," says Donna. "I was back to my daily routines within 24 hours, sometimes forgetting that I underwent a 3-hour procedure."

Donna raises awareness about colorectal cancer by sharing her story in the hope of inspiring even one person to get a screening colonoscopy, even if they consider themselves healthy.

"I want people to know that colon cancer is one of those diseases that can grow silently, without symptoms," says Donna. "Imparting that message is worth sharing a personal and private part of my life."

The post When a healthy life meets an unexpected colon cancer diagnosis appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.