Orthopedics Patient Stories

When Delaney Willingham damaged her right shoulder during a high school meet, she feared her competitive weightlifting days were over. But now, after arthroscopic shoulder surgery at Mayo Clinic, Delaney's fully recovered from her injury, and she's back to high-level competition.

With hard work and determination, Ann Statz lost more than 100 pound in preparation for knee surgery. Now she's feeling much better and reaping the rewards of renewed health.

When Kennedy Folkedahl's hand was cut off during a construction accident, the young man thought life as he knew it was over. But thanks to the support of his Mayo Clinic care team and years of physical therapy, Kennedy is embracing an alternate future with enthusiasm and appreciation.

Thanks to a titanium implant constructed with 3D modeling technology, Isaac Garcia has moved past his diagnosis of bone cancer and is back to enjoying an active life with his family.

After suffering with debilitating knee pain for years, knee replacement surgery turned back the clock for Linda Bure, who went from walking with a cane to dancing with preschoolers.

Buoyed by her Mayo Clinic care team, Kellie Leasure, a 48-year-old mother of four living with metastatic breast cancer, embraces each day.

Don Varney's bones were breaking, and no one could tell him why. But after being diagnosed with of a rare form of vitamin D deficiency triggered by a hard-to-detect tumor and then undergoing surgery to remove it, Don has returned to his active, athletic ways.

In 1956, spinal fusion surgery was in its infancy. But the pioneering medicine Joyce Gugler received for scoliosis from her Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeons at that time set her on the path to a pain-free future.

Craig Cretsinger had accepted the fact that he'd never be able to use his right hand — until he learned about a specialized hand surgery at Mayo Clinic.

When he began to have serious shoulder pain, James Biond feared his decades-long enjoyment of racquetball might come to an end. But his Mayo Clinic surgeon put those fears to rest. Now after shoulder replacement, James has returned to his favorite sport pain-free.

Frustrated by ongoing pain, Lexi Riley considered giving up on swimming — a sport she loves. But ankle surgery at Mayo Clinic solved the problem, and now Lexi is thrilled to be back in the pool.

Surgical removal of a large mass of tangled blood vessels relieved painful symptoms and allowed Ross Wasdin to turn his attention back to enjoying his family and having fun.