Neurology & Neurosurgery
December 12, 2021
Living life to the fullest, pain-free
“I’m Maria Coffaro, I’m 28, live in Colorado, and spend my time traveling, trying new restaurants, and doing anything and everything outdoors. At 27, I was diagnosed with #TrigeminalNeuralgia — a disease that primarily affects women over 50. In July 2019 I experienced a shocking pain in the right side of my face that continued off and […]
Tags: Dr. Richard Zimmerman, Maria Coffaro, Neurosurgery, sharing mayo clinic, Trigeminal Neuralgia
November 24, 2021
Reversing a dire disorder on the road to renewed health
Advanced testing at Mayo Clinic Laboratories that confirmed a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis put Lorinda McKinley on the road to renewed health after she nearly lost it all to the rare autoimmune disease. When Lorinda McKinley arrived at Mayo Clinic’s Spine Center in February seeking a second opinion for neck surgery, her eyelids were droopy, […]
Tags: Dr. Karen Truitt, Lorinda McKinley, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Mayo Clinic Spine Center, myasthenia gravis, sharing mayo clinic
November 5, 2021
Baby a blessing for woman who had deep brain stimulation for epilepsy
For nearly 10 years, Sheri Finstad suffered from seizures that couldn’t be controlled with medication ― a situation that happens to roughly one-third of people with epilepsy. With the help of her epilepsy team and deep brain stimulation, Sheri Finstad was able to have a successful pregnancy. When Sheri Finstad looks down at her son, […]
Tags: DBS for epilepsy, Dr. Gregory Worrell, Epilepsy, Sheri Finstad
October 28, 2021
New therapies, holistic modalities and hope help photographer see future
Had it not been for the persistence of a co-worker, Jeremy Paterno might be living a different journey. It was the first Tuesday in 2020 when Jeremy Paterno, a photographer at Mayo Clinic in Florida, began noticing some small oddities. “That day, I had a couple flighty moments where my right hand was off, like […]
Tags: glioblastoma, Glioma, Integrative Medicine, Jeremy Paterno, MayoClinicFL, Meditation
October 14, 2021
Finding joy after rare neurologic diagnosis
When Joy Carol finds something she is passionate about, she embraces it. A love of international development work and education led to a 35-year career working with international organizations, including the United Nations Development Programme, the Ford Foundation, Save the Children and Child Fund. Although New York City was her home base, Joy visited and supervised programs in more than […]
Tags: breast cancer, central nervous system, Dr. Kurt Jaeckle, joy carol, MayoClinicFL, paraneoplastic syndrome
October 7, 2021
Surgery to correct scoliosis helps Pat Druckenmiller move again
Pat Druckenmiller is a person who likes to keep moving, whether that means playing clarinet in a community band, teaching students at a tribal college, relocating her family to the other side of the world or simply taking a walk each day. She and her husband, Doug, have lived a life full of adventure, including […]
Tags: Dr. Anthony Burrows, Dr. Jason Dauffenbach, Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Neurosurgery, Pain Medicine, Pat Druckenmiller, Scoliosis
August 17, 2021
Reclaiming his life after lab testing confirmed a serious illness
At 71, David Voeltz is a happily married family man who appreciates putting in a hard day’s work and enjoys spending time in the woods. But for David, the ability to walk through nature with his children and grandchildren, and to climb in and out of the dump truck that is an integral part of […]
Tags: David Voeltz, Dr. John Mills, Dr. Teerin Liewluck, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, necrotizing autoimmune myopathy
August 11, 2021
Pharmacist advocates for stroke awareness
A pharmacist for a regional grocer, health and wellness was the foundation of Faye Baracats’ life. She advocated daily to her patients the importance of living a healthy lifestyle, eating well, and exercising. Faye, 42, and mom to two teenagers, also practiced what she preached. She followed a Mediterranean diet and exercised regularly. During her […]
Tags: cerebrovascular disease, COVID-19, faye baracats, MayoClinicFL, stroke
July 29, 2021
Complex brain surgery gives woman more time with family
Julie Berg’s life revolves around three things: family, friends and faith. The 79-year-old has a large extended family that enjoys celebrating large and small milestones together, and she has a wide network of close-knit friends across two states. Through it all, her strong Catholic faith has been the foundation of her life. When Julie’s health […]
Tags: brain tumor, COVID-19, Dr. Alla Byakova, Dr. Eric Gomez-Urena, Dr. Manish Sharma, Glioblastoma multiforme, Gwen Krogwold, Julie Berg, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System in Mankato, Mayo Clinic Health system in New Prague, Neurosurgery
July 5, 2021
‘Every day you don’t lose, you are winning’
Jennifer Summers, 35, is an optimistic, articulate woman. She enjoys crafting, spending time with her close-knit family, and leading small groups and organizing volunteers at her church. And she is excited that she can carry a 32-ounce water bottle. This may not feel like an important feat to some people, but it’s momentous for Jennifer […]
Tags: Dr. Daniel Anderson, Jennifer Summers, Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Spinal muscular atrophy