Cardiology & Cardiac Surgery
February 17, 2021
Complex heart surgery gives 6-year-old a second chance at childhood
Amy and Josh Porter were looking for the best pediatric heart surgery program to give their son the best chance at a regular childhood. Then they learned that two of them were working together in a new collaboration. When Mitchell Porter was born, he was diagnosed with heart defects that typically require multiple surgeries over […]
Tags: cardiovascular surgery, Dr. Joseph Dearani, Mayo Clinic Children's Center
January 14, 2021
84-year-old patient reaches milestone on a left ventricular assist device
Gayle Wilkerson has lived for 10 years with a left ventricular assist device, a mechanical pump that helps a damaged heart pump blood. The milestone is one not many patients reach. Gayle Wilkerson doesn’t accept hero status. Her care team at Mayo Clinic disagrees. At age 84, Gayle, holds the honor of living on a left ventricular […]
Tags: congestive heart failure, Dr. Robert Scott, Left Ventricular Assist Device
December 29, 2020
Transplant patient says thanks ‘with all my old heart and new one’
Ernie Hernandez was battling congestive heart failure when he learned his liver was failing, too. On Oct. 26, he found answers to both issues with the first combined heart and liver transplant in Arizona. Ernie Hernandez was used to the hot Arizona sun. He was born and raised in Phoenix and worked as a contractor […]
Tags: congestive heart failure
December 24, 2020
10 years, 2 brothers, 2 transplants: the Wilson brothers’ story
The Wilson brothers’ connection goes deeper than the average siblings. They both were in serious need of a heart transplant. The brothers now have new hearts, a new perspective on life, and a new purpose. On the surface, John and Mark Wilson are model brothers. Growing up, the two would playfully pick on each other […]
Tags: Churg-Strauss syndrome, Heart tranplant, Left Ventricular Assist Device
December 15, 2020
Joelle’s journey to a new heart
Cardiomyopathy is a medical term for a number of genetic and nongenetic diseases involving the heart muscle that adversely affect the heart’s mechanical pumping function and its electrical system. It can occur in people of all ages, races or genders, and it is a frequent cause of sudden cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac death. For […]
December 15, 2020
Israeli patient tells his own “life-changing” story of heart surgery during COVID-19 pandemic
When Yiftah Geva was diagnosed with a heart condition several years ago, he never expected his journey to treatment would take him 6,000 miles away from home during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was almost six years ago when Yiftah Geva began taking medication to stabilize his blood pressure. Doctors wanted to investigate the cause of […]
Tags: Dr. Hartzell Schaff, Dr. Steve Ommen, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
May 4, 2020
Rising Above Two Challenging Health Conditions
For years, Joey Del Toro has lived with medical conditions that have affected his abilities and appearance. But Joey hasn’t let his health concerns define him. Instead, he’s focused his energy on moving beyond them and excelling at the sports he loves.
Tags: Alopecia areata, Cardiovascular Medicine, Dermatology, Dr. Bryan Cannon, Dr. Megha Tollefson, Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
April 6, 2020
Embracing His Heart’s Passion, Despite Congenital Heart Defect
Woody Hust, an athlete and outdoorsman, is living his dream in the Rocky Mountains. It’s a picture-perfect existence made even more special because he’s achieved his goals despite having a congenital heart defect. Thanks to the lifelong, personalized care Woody’s received from his Mayo Clinic cardiologist, the sky continues to be the limit for him.
Tags: Center for Congenital Heart Disease, Congenital heart defects, Dr. Allison Cabalka, Dr. Joseph Dearani, Mayo Clinic Children's Center, Pediatric Cardiology
March 23, 2020
Impromptu Evaluation Uncovers Life-Threatening Heart Disease
Greg VanBellinger knew from family history that he was at risk for heart disease, but as a fitness enthusiast who stayed on top of his medical appointments, he believed his heart was in good shape. An offhand decision to participate in a fitness evaluation at Mayo Clinic, however, revealed that Greg’s heart was not as […]
Tags: Dr. Gurpreet Sandhu, Dr. Robert Frye, Dr. Warren Thompson, Executive Health Program
February 3, 2020
Cardiac Surgery Frees Amber Taff to Live Her Life
When surgery to ease the swelling and irritation that had developed around Amber Taff’s heart failed to improve her cardiac function, the 34-year-old decided to take her health into her own hands by going to Mayo Clinic.
Tags: Dr. Christopher Appleton, Dr. Hartzell Schaff, Dr. Rick Nishimura, Pericarditis