Sharing Mayo Clinic - September 2019 Archives

When Division 1 women's college basketball player Jamie Ruden could no longer play through, or live with, the chronic back pain that was keeping her from playing her usual style of basketball, she came to Mayo Clinic for the surgical fix she knew she needed.

Side effects from oral cancer treatment left Mike Serpe in terrible pain and unable to eat or drink for months. But after coming to Mayo Clinic, where he began hyperbaric oxygen therapy followed by surgery, his throat healed, and he reclaimed his love of cooking and eating.

As a sled dog trainer, Rick Minard has faced blizzards and subzero temperatures. But those challenges paled in comparison to facing a complicated medical situation that involved brain tumors and two cancer diagnoses. He's been able to weather it all, though, thanks to the trust he's placed in his team at Mayo Clinic.

When Scott Stewart learned he had a rare neuroendocrine tumor, the journey ahead of him looked frightening and difficult. But with steadfast support from an interdisciplinary Mayo Clinic team, Scott now takes comfort in knowing that some of the best physicians in the world are walking the path with him.

For six months after surgery to repair an injured radial nerve, Patrick Metzger couldn't lift his wrist or extend the fingers in his right hand. Seeking help, he made an appointment with the Peripheral Nerve Clinic at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. There his care team gave him new hope that he could regain his hand function.

Eleven years of constant pain had left Rose Boehmer worn down and discouraged. Then she met Robert Spinner, M.D., a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic, who not only identified the long-hidden source of her pain, he and his surgical team eliminated it — returning Rose to a full and happy life.

Gyles Randall lived for years with pervasive pain that radiated down his legs. When he no longer could tolerate the discomfort, he sought medical help and was surprised to be referred to a neurosurgeon. But that referral made a world of difference.

Although 3-year-old Matthew Makela and his family have already been forced to deal with a host of serious medical concerns during the young boy's life, they navigate it all with grace and gratitude.

When Jose Ramirez learned his kidneys were failing and he needed a transplant, his sister Kelsey Ramirez-Macias immediately stepped forward to be his donor. With guidance from Mayo Clinic's Hispanic Transplant Program, the Ramirez family navigated the transplant process, and now Jose's health has been restored.

For more than a decade, Mike Ramsey suffered from debilitating pain due to a severe spinal deformity. He thought disability and pain would always dominate his life. Then he met a neurosurgeon at Mayo Clinic who offered him a path to relief. Today, Mike is pain-free.