Author Archives: susanashephard

Incredible Journey: Surviving an Incurable Disease

March 5th, 2012 - 7:00 am

“Couldn’t breathe, gasping for air,” is how Bobbie Sofia describes the first sign that something was wrong. In 2007, Bobbie Sofia and her husband, Sam, traveled to San Antonio, Texas from their home of almost forty years in Lake Havasu … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Cancer | Tagged amyloidosis, Bobbie Sofia, cardiac amyloidosis, Craig Reeder, CyBorD, D. Eric Steidley, heart failure, stem cell transplant | Leave a comment

Mark McNeary: “A miracle of a different sort”

February 28th, 2012 - 4:54 pm

For Mark McNeary, a retired music industry executive, his miracle story began shortly after finishing Saturday morning chores at his ranch in Kingman, Ariz. Sudden, searing head pain and throat problems made it clear that he needed immediate medical attention. … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Neurology & Neurosurgery | Tagged Arizona, Bert Vargas, Mayo Clinic, stroke, telemedicine, Telestroke | Comments (3)

Living with Cancer: Blessings and Hope Abound

February 3rd, 2012 - 6:00 am

A diagnosis of cancer can be devastating. For Robert Hoopes, a facilities manager from Glendale, Ariz., the diagnosis hit home – twice. In 2006, Kara, his wife of more than three decades, discovered that she had advanced colon cancer. After … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Cancer | Tagged Arizona, Cancer, clinical trials, Mayo Clinic, Patient Story, Robert Hoopes, small bowel cancer | Leave a comment

Ricky Rinehart: Raising Funds for Cancer Research One Mile at a Time

October 27th, 2011 - 6:00 am

As he biked 213 miles of desert between Yuma, Ariz., and Phoenix in temperatures above 90 degrees, Ricky Reinhart thought a lot about moving forward. Much the same as he did a year ago as he laid in a bed … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Cancer | Tagged cardiothoracic surgery, esophageal cancer, esophagectomy, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, Ricky Rinehart, Yuma | Leave a comment

Knowledge: A Powerful Tool in the Battle Against Breast Cancer

October 18th, 2011 - 6:00 am

Tamieko, a 38 year old woman, was completely caught off guard when she was diagnosed with Stage I/II breast cancer in December 2010. After two years of observing suspicious changes in her breast that appeared normal on mammograms, she requested … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Cancer | Tagged Arizona, breast cancer, Deborah Bash, Donald Northfelt, Mayo Clinic | Comments (1)

Suzanne Vela: The Flu Shot Could Save Your Life

October 17th, 2011 - 8:00 am

In mid-February, 2011, flu-like symptoms caused Suzanne Vela to leave work early to try to recover quickly from fatigue and a persistent cough. Several days of rest at home did not seem to improve her symptoms and Javier Vela, Suzanne’s … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Infectious Diseases, Preventive Medicine | Tagged acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS, Arizona, flu shot, influenza, influenza shot, Mayo Clinic, Patient Story | Comments (2)

Breast Cancer Treatment: It’s a Project and You are the Project Manager

October 14th, 2011 - 8:00 am

Written by Karen Brown, Ph.D., Professor of Operations and Project Management, Thunderbird School of Global Management Anyone facing or experiencing cancer treatment can relate to the idea that it’s a project: a set of coordinated activities aimed at a goal. … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Cancer | Tagged Arizona, breast cancer, Breast Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Patient Stories | Comments (4)

Morgan Tyner: Overcoming Brain Cancer

October 13th, 2011 - 8:00 am

In the fall of 1990, Morgan Tyner experienced a moment that would change his life forever. While at work, Morgan, a newly practicing dentist, suffered a seizure. After undergoing many tests over the course of several days, he received a … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Cancer | Tagged anaplastic astrocytoma, Arizona, brain cancer, Cancer, Mayo Clinic, Patient Story | Comments (1)

David Hawley: Overcoming Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

September 1st, 2011 - 8:34 am

What began as an isolated episode of shortness of breath and developed into symptoms of increasing fatigue in 2008, turned into an unexpected and serious medical condition for David Hawley, a retired hotel executive in Phoenix, Arizona. David Hawley received … Continue reading →

By susanashephard | Posted in Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery | Tagged Arizona, David Holmes, Hartzell Schaff, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Mayo Clinic, myectomy, Rochester, Steven Lester, William Freeman | Comments (2)

Living With Myelofibrosis (Part 4 of a 4 part-series)

August 29th, 2011 - 1:16 pm

By Patricia Wagner In this final entry, I’ll be sharing as one patient to another the complementary practices which have enhanced my total health. I am most grateful to the M.D.s who treat me, as I’m sure most of you … Continue reading →