Chris, treated for a broken arm

To a 12-year-old, a broken arm is a major life event. It stops everything. For doctors at University of Minnesota Physicians, even the seemingly routine condition receives special attention. In the case of Chris Kelley, the still-developing bones in his broken catching arm kept shifting. After two surgeries, they still hadn’t settled correctly. The chances that Chris could continue playing baseball were not looking good. Thankfully, Chris came to the right place, at the right time. University of Minnesota Physicians had developed technology principles for a specialized fixed-angle surgical plate. [Read Chris's Full Story]

Mike, bladder cancer patient

Mike Neeson is an active guy. When a cancer diagnosis in September of 2008 threatened to slow him down, he turned to the University of Minnesota Physicians. “Upon finding the tumor, I went to the University of Minnesota for more tests and advice. My original concerns included the chemo treatment and possible side effects. Then the colostomy bag really freaked me out, not to mention the 20% chance I’d also have a urostomy bag,” said Mike. [Read Mike's Full Story]

Yvette, breast cancer patient

Yvette is a woman very much in tune with her mind and body. Meditation, tap dancing, even alternative medicine. So she sensed something was wrong when she found another lump in her breast after she was treated for cysts. That’s when Yvette turned to University of Minnesota Physicians for a second opinion. As she says, “I’ll never forget hearing I had cancer.” But what she says will stay with her long after her cancer is gone is the patient-focused approach of University of Minnesota Physicians. [Read Yvette's Full Story]

Goffrey, heart transplant recipient

At age 5, Goffrey was treated at Fairview for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His cancer went into remission, but the stress of treatment took its toll on his heart. Years later as a Florida college student, he had an echocardiogram as part of his annual oncology appointment at Fairview. The test showed some disturbing results, and Goffrey was told his best chance for survival would be through a heart transplant. [Read Goffrey's Full Story]

Scott, treated for blastomycosis

Blastomycosis is a very rare fungus that’s specific to the Mississippi and Ohio river valleys. So at first, what was causing Scott Stepp’s incessant cough was a bit baffling. It wasn’t until Scott saw intensivists and infectious disease experts through University of Minnesota Physicians that the elusive answer was found. He had blastomycosis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Teams would have to get to work. Fast. [Read Scott''s Full Story]

Alijah, treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia

It wasn’t until Alijah’s family sought care through University of Minnesota Physicians that they uncovered the reason Alijah stopped walking. What was causing this once normal, bouncy little boy to suddenly revert to crawling was leukemia. [Read Alijah''s Full Story]
 

Liz, double lung transplant recipient

While sitting in the lobby of the Transplant Center at University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, in May 2010, Liz Johnson spots one of her doctors as he turns the corner to leave the clinic. She quickly turns to her father, Dick: “Dad, there goes Dr. Kempainen. Go see if you can catch him. I want to show him my medal.” Around her neck hangs a participation medal that she had earned only a few days earlier for running a half marathon back home in Lincoln, Nebraska. [Read Liz's Full Story]

Shelly, treated for irregular heart rhythm

On a Saturday afternoon, making sandwiches in the kitchen with her two teenage daughters, Shelly felt her heart racing. She was sweaty, light-headed and nauseated. The symptoms were familiar. From her mid-20’s, Shelly had experienced worrisome episodes of sporadic heart racing. Anxious, she asked herself, “Is it the VT (ventricular tachycardia) again or is it a heart attack?” [Read Shelly's Full Story]