Enzaime Health Stories

Riding through the cold mountain air as the sun was setting is the last thing Clay remembers before seeing two stray horses inches from his front motorcycle tire. The resulting impact caused a spinal cord injury with quadriplegia, a condition that affected the use of his legs, arms and hands. Rushed by AirMed to the University of Utah Hospital, he was semi-conscious and utterly overwhelmed by his situation. He didn't know if he would ever be able to work, spend time with his daughter, or enjoy the outdoors again. LEARNING TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY Clay's doctors referred him to the Rehabilitation Center for comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation. He had to learn to do things differently, deal with the frustrations of learning to write left-handed, get dressed, and brush his teeth. "My therapists at the Rehabilitation Center cared about me as a person," he recalls. "They were always finding ways to incorporate my personal interests into therapy. I learned new ways

As an accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, Art McKee knows how to protect himself. And as someone with a strong family history of prostate cancer, Art also knows how to protect his health. At age 40, a good 10 years before most men would have their PSA levels tested, Art was proactive and asked his family doctor that he be tested. And with good reason. Art's father, grandfather and 4 uncles were diagnosed with prostate cancer. "It still came as a big surprise when I was told my PSA score was high and warranted a biopsy, which subsequently showed that I had prostate cancer. With no symptoms, that came as a total shock," explained Art. Once diagnosed, Art researched his options for treatment. In looking on the Internet, Art came across a new procedure where surgeons perform da Vinci robotic-assisted prostatectomy. This was appealing to Art because it is less invasive than traditional open surgery, which translates to a speedier recovery, shorter hospital stay, no

At age 54, David, a physicist and computer scientist, had excellent health and a successful career working on Minuteman missiles. David has a vague recollection of the day his life changed: "I was helping my daughter fix the brakes on her car. I had a wrench in my hand when suddenly everything became fuzzy, and I dropped the wrench. My daughter said I was slurring my words. When we went in the house my wife said the side of my face was drooping. The next thing I remember was waking up in the hospital. A blood vessel had burst in my brain, causing a severe stroke." REGAINING SKILLS THAT SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE "I can honestly say that all of my therapists at the Rehabilitation Center, both inpatient and outpatient, helped me to learn new skills that at first seemed impossible." After a stroke, many people struggle to communicate. David was no different. But, David demonstrated great courage and commitment to recover. At the beginning, he couldn't read or carry-on a con

Raising hogs, cattle, turkey and chickens on 187 acres in rural Telford doesn't give Kermit Moyer much free time. But in 2009, when a bout of pneumonia at age 58 forced the lifelong farmer to take a break and visit his family doctor, even he was surprised to hear it had been 18 years since his last check up. "He wasn't happy with me,” said Kermit. Although he had no symptoms, and thought nothing of working 12-hour days, his PSA (prostate specific antigen) numbers were off the chart. PSA levels indicate a man's likelihood of developing prostate cancer. Further testing confirmed that Kermit did in fact have prostate cancer. At his local hospital, Kermit's doctor recommended invasive prostate surgery, but he worried about recovery time. "It's just my wife, Pat, and I, running our farm and she recently went back to work. I have a very physical job and I couldn't afford to be off my feet,” shared Kermit. "When an 1,800 pound beef cow doesn't want t

In August of 2009, John West weighed 330 pounds. He was unhappy and uncomfortable. At 46 years old, he no longer wanted to ride his bike, or walk his dog. He couldn’t even tie his own shoes. After visiting with his family in Rhode Island, John decided something had to change. His father was also morbidly obese, and it made John sad to watch his dad struggle. He saw himself heading down the same path and decided that night after a discussion with his wife that it was time to do something. The next day, John called the Surgical Weight Loss Center at Lahey Clinic. He was already a Lahey patient and had heard good things about the Center. Going in for his first consultation, John remembers being extremely anxious. The team at Lahey quickly put him at ease, however, and he decided to go through with laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery. The lap band procedure involves an adjustable band placed around the upper stomach. The band is attached to an access tube, which is laid across the

Tony can't help getting a little choked up when he talks about welcoming his first great-grandson into the world, Lucas Anthony Reres, born March 4, 2010. "Because of Fox Chase, I was around to meet my great-grandson," said Reres, who was 76 at the time. "I never expected to live this long." Tony's journey with cancer started in November 2006. Traveling from Florida with his wife Helen, still the love of his life after 54 years of marriage, he passed out suddenly on the plane. He hadn't been having any symptoms. Preliminary tests at a Florida hospital were inconclusive. After a spinal MRI near his home in East Windsor, New Jersey, showed abnormalities in Tony's pancreas, his family doctor recommended that he see an oncologist. His family urged him to seek medical care at Fox Chase Cancer Center. "We heard the words pancreas and cancer, and that frightened us," recalls Tony. His family urged him to seek medical attention at Fox Chase Cancer

Independence Day weekend of 2008 brought more than fireworks for Pembroke, Mass., resident Bill Brennan. Like many of us do in the summer months, Bill decided to mow his lawn. But when he tried to make the first pull to start his lawn mower, he was so weak he couldn’t complete it. Bill had been feeling sick for months, and what he first thought was stress related, he now suspected was something much more serious. He knew he had to go to the emergency room. Bill was rushed to a Boston hospital, where he stayed for several days. He was diagnosed with end stage liver disease, or ESLD, a condition that requires liver transplantation. One of the liver specialists on his medical team told him he was living on borrowed time and should start getting his things in order. Fortunately, a different doctor on Bill's medical team was also a doctor at Lahey Clinic, and he brought the case to the attention of Lahey's transplant team. In April 2009, Bill came to Lahey for evaluation to see if h

Prior to 2004, John O'Donnell did not regularly visit his doctor for routine check-ups. He was active and felt healthy and didn't see any reason to go to the doctor. But a life insurance blood test indicated high cholesterol, which resulted in a rate increase. That prompted John to see a doctor annually. In the spring of 2009, during a routine appointment, John's doctor noticed something suspicious which raised his concern for prostate cancer. As a result, he sent John for further testing. John was just about to turn 53. His father had been treated for prostate cancer at 71, so he knew it was a possibility at some point down the road, but did not expect it at this age. However, he was not surprised when the test came back positive for prostate cancer. "Hearing the words 'you have cancer' are hard to take, regardless of the circumstances," shared John. He and his wife, Mary Beth, began their research by visiting doctors, reading books and searching the Inte

BURLINGTON, MA (February 3, 2016) – Shortly after playing in a pick-up ice hockey game the Sunday after Thanksgiving, Brian Martin suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, according to the Community Advocate Newspaper. The Hudson, Mass. resident was saved thanks to the quick-thinking of his friends and the fact that the facility was equipped with an automated external defibrillator (AED). According to the Community Advocate Newspaper, his friends were able to save his life and revive his pulse with the use of the AED. Martin was taken by ambulance to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center because of the Landsman Heart and Vascular Center, according to the Community Advocate. Christopher Pyne, MD, a cardiologist at Lahey performed the surgery and inserted the stent. “I thanked the doctor for saving my life with the stent, and he said, ‘Don’t thank me; thank your hockey player friends because they did it all’” Martin told the Community Advocate. Original Published Link Hockey Player Suffers Heart

"I am a ten-year old student at the F.L. Olmsted School. Just this school year, my father was part of a live liver donation. I had to be very brave during this time. I am very grateful to have a wonderful family and a very heroic dad. This is a story that changed my life. On a beautiful August morning at my Cape house, I was on my screened-in porch. My mother came out with some news. My uncle had a very sick liver, and needed help fast. She told me that Dad wanted to do whatever he could to help our uncle, Stephen. I couldn't believe what I had heard. "What was going on?" I thought. "Will Stephen be alright?" I kept thinking. I couldn't fall asleep at night for a long time. My dad was going to doctors and hospitals getting tested. He was seeing if he was the right match to donate some of his liver to Stephen. I hoped that he would not be a match, and somebody else would. Soon, we found out that my dad was a perfect match in late September. He would be d

I had high blood pressure and declining kidney function in 2005, leading me to make an appointment with a nephrologist. The CT scan the nephrologist ordered showed that I had  five lesions on my kidney , but it was unclear whether the lesions were cysts or tumors. The doctors at my local hospital said I would need to have my kidney removed and that I would probably need dialysis because my diabetes and high blood pressure had affected my renal function. My doctor recommended that I see  Dr. Robert G. Uzzo , chair of surgical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. When he described Dr. Uzzo as the Michael Jordan of renal surgery, I was sold on the idea. A few weeks later I was in Dr. Uzzo’s office. He explained that there was a 90% chance that the lesions were cancerous and recommended that I undergo a partial nephrectomy to remove the cancer and save my kidney. He said I would be at risk of the cancer returning, possibly to both kidneys, and that I would need to be closely monitored. Six

"Shawn first got diagnosed in February 1999, when they thought she had hepatitis A. Then other issues started to arise, so we brought her back in and had blood work done with a new doctor, who did a complete workup. They sent us up to Dartmouth-Hitchcock in Lebanon, NH, where they diagnosed her with autoimmune hepatitis. From there, they sent us to Children's Hospital in Boston, where they did tests and determined Shawn had 25 percent liver function left. They told us she would eventually need a liver transplant. By May 2004, when the doctors agreed it was time to take that next step, Shawn had somewhat outgrown Children's Hospital, and they recommended Lahey Clinic here in Burlington. When we initially met with the team at Lahey, they started talking about doing a liver transplant, and they said, "Well, we'll do a live donor." We had no clue how the process worked, but this place is incredible. I mean...you're part of the family here. I get emotional tal

My doctor had been monitoring my PSA levels for four years when, in December 2009, he recommended that I have a prostate biopsy. The results showed traces of cancer in four of the 12 tissue samples. I was 57 years old, had no symptoms, felt healthy, and was active. When my diagnosis of prostate cancer was confirmed, I had my records sent to Fox Chase Cancer Center. Both my uncle and a college friend had been treated at Fox Chase, and I had been impressed by the friendly and caring staff when I visited them. I knew Fox Chase was the place to be for my treatment. I was referred to  Dr. David Y.T. Chen , a surgical oncologist at Fox Chase. When I first met him, I knew I was in very competent hands. He confirmed my test results, was calm and reassuring, and he explained my treatment options. I was luckier than some in that I had been under observation for several years until the prostate cancer surfaced. One of Dr. Chen’s best attributes is that he is very patient friendly, and I liked the

Steve Sennott suffered from a genetic kidney disease, spending weeks at a time in the hospital. Knowing that Steve could face dialysis for the rest of his life, his wife Jackie suggested a kidney transplant and immediately volunteered to be his donor. Learn how the power of transplant gave Steve and Jackie a fresh perspective on life and a new appreciation of the vows “in sickness and in health. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCIOCF2gGSA Original Published Link THE POWER OF TRANSPLANT: IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH #KidneyTransplant, #TheHospital, #WifeJackie #Transplant

I was just 54 years old when I was diagnosed with  prostate cancer . My doctor had done a PSA test at my annual exam and ordered a biopsy when the test showed a high level of PSA. The news came at a difficult time for me. In 2007, I had to close my printing business due to the downturn in the economy, so I was looking for other business opportunities. Cancer was just another thing to worry about. My local doctor in Delaware thought I should have surgery, but I didn’t want to go in that direction without researching other options. I learned that radiation therapy can be as effective as surgery for treating prostate cancer. I also read about Calypso technology, which uses radiation targeting to pinpoint the exact position and movement of the prostate during radiation therapy treatment, which can help reduce the side effects of therapy. That was when I discovered that the technology was available at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Even though Philadelphia wasn’t as close as I would have liked to

Watch the touching story of Caroline and Jeremy Theerman, two parents who learned that their infant son urgently needed a liver transplant to survive. Learn how Jeremy was able to donate a portion of his liver to save his son’s life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCr9dhYPdUs Original Published Link THE POWER OF TRANSPLANT: A FATHER'S GIFT #Caroline, #JeremyTheerman, #LiverTransplant, #Son’SLife #Transplant

I have always been proactive about my health and started having annual prostate exams when I turned 50 in 2007. My first report was great and showed that my PSA level was undetectable. When I turned 55, the level was slightly elevated at 0.9, and annual PSA tests over the following two years showed an increase to 2.9. My doctor encouraged me get checked more regularly. Because my levels hadn’t hit 4.0, this newly elevated level was just a red flag. I questioned how this could be happening to me. I don’t smoke or drink, I’m active, and I eat healthy, so what could be going on? I didn’t tell anyone about this, not even my wife, Donna, of 37 years.  I just didn’t want to think about it or have anyone else worrying about it until it was time to worry. About five months later, I had biometric screening, a health benefit offered by my employer. The screening also included a PSA test, so I elected to do that as well, and I’m glad I did. The test showed that my PSA level had risen to 3.4, so I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGXCvSdAh6I April Berends went to the Emergency Room complaining of pressure in her abdomen and really bad heart burn. Tests revealed she needed a new liver, soon. The hospital in Maine sent her down to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, where she fell into a coma. Almost two weeks later, on New Year’s Day, April received a new liver and a second chance at life. All the while, her boyfriend Scott was there by her side. “I think the next year holds just so much amazing,” said April. “And I just can’t wait.” Original Published Link THE POWER OF TRANSPLANT: THE POWER OF APRIL #Abdomen, #Coma, #EmergencyRoom, #MuchAmazing, #NewLiver #Liver

When Joe Briggs, Jr. turned 50 in 2013, his wife of 24 years, Valerie, urged him to make an appointment with his primary doctor for a complete physical and a blood work-up. At the time the only health concern Joe had experienced was frequent urination, often at night. “I was healthy, active, wasn’t super overweight. I just attributed the urination issues to getting older,” he said. Blood work from the physical revealed an elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) which was 7.1. “My doctor referred me to a urology group in Norristown PA, I had an initial biopsy," says Joe. Biopsy results are provided as part of a Gleason score, ranging from 2 to 10. A low score means the cells look normal with little possibility of spreading, while a higher score indicates risk of cancer. Joe's local urologist expressed urgency in recommending surgery. “My biopsy had a Gleason score of 6. My doctor advised me that I had no options other than immediate surgery, with no time for a second opinion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9chD_VkDQg What do you give the woman who gave you a piece of her liver? The gift of never having to do the dishes again! Watch the incredible love story of Derek and Logan, who are connected through marriage, and through organ donation. Derek had primary sclerosing cholangitis, a progressive disease that had begun to severely affect his quality of life. Logan donated a piece of her liver to Derek, and the procedure was performed at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, Mass. Today, Derek is back to all the activities he enjoys, and the couple have many more years of laughter and love to look forward to. Original Published Link THE POWER OF TRANSPLANT: LOVE #IncredibleLove, #LaheyHospitalMedicalCenter, #SclerosingCholangitis, #Woman #Transplant

I often think back and wonder what would have happened if I had not gone to Fox Chase Cancer Center for treatment of my prostate cancer. Choosing Fox Chase was the best decision I’ve ever made. In 2005, I took advantage of prostate screenings offered at my workplace. I was a manager with the Federal Aviation Administration William J Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic City, NJ. I had always had regular check-ups, but I decided to have the prostate screening blood test since I was over age 50. The screening showed that my PSA score was higher than expected. The result made me concerned enough that I decided to see my primary care doctor to do some further evaluation. My doctor confirmed the results and sent me to a local urologist who did more testing, including a CAT scan and biopsy. Those tests discovered the  cancerous mass on my prostate . The urologist didn’t think I was a good candidate for surgery, so he recommended a treatment plan with radiation therapy. He offered me little ho

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=saqtfUjH50I Meet Ana Colcord, a surgical weight loss patient at Lahey Outpatient Center, Danvers.Thinking about her future and potential health concerns, she decided to take control of her life. Ana had surgery in Burlington and followed the exercise and dietary recommendations of her clinicians in Danvers, and is now enjoying a healthier lifestyle with her family. Weight wasn’t truly a problem for Barry Noonan until it almost took him from his two children. His struggle with obesity is a fairly common story. In fact, obesity in America has become epidemic. In some states, nearly 40 percent of adults are obese. After reaching 405 pounds, Barry, who is 5-feet, 6 inches tall, knew he needed to make a change if he wanted to be there for his young adult children. A lifetime of small and consistent weight gain resulted in 240 extra pounds, immobility and swollen legs, a condition called lymphedema. “I’d lose, and I’d gain it back and more,” he said. “I was on

Heather Maxwell was shocked when she was diagnosed with a type of colon cancer that wasn’t found in her family’s history. However, the 30-year-old also was relieved to know that the symptoms she had experienced for years – and had tried to convince herself were minor problems not to worry about – were not all in her head. In the summer of August 2011, Maxwell began a comprehensive treatment plan at the Mass General Cancer Center. It included eight cycles of chemotherapy, almost a month of proton beam radiation and finally an aggressive surgery to remove all of her colon. All the while Maxwell maintained her full-time job as an auditor, despite having to commute almost two hours a day from her home in Brentwood, N.H. for treatments. Throughout her cancer battle, Maxwell maintained her love for bicycling. Now, cancer-free for the past year, Maxwell has turned her attention to help others facing a different medical battle. On May 19, Heather and a group of friends who share her passion fo

Allan's Story Allan Larkin is grateful that two Lahey nurses were working out in the same gym when he suffered a major heart attack. It may sound odd to say that the best day to have a heart attack is a holiday, but in Allan Larkin’s case, it’s true. On February 21, 2011 – President’s Day – Allan was doing his usual workout at a gym in Stoneham, when he decided to try something different. “I was feeling great,” Allan said, “So I played some basketball, which I hadn’t played in years.” After finishing the ball game, Allan felt a pain in his chest. He went to the men’s locker room and looked in the mirror. “My face was bright red,” he recalls, “Like a lobster. I splashed some water on it and that’s the last thing I remember before I was in an ambulance on my way to the hospital.” Sisters Ashley and Samantha Gallo, two nurses from Lahey Clinic, were at the same gym as Allan that day. Samantha was working out with her headphones on when someone came running out of the locker room calli

Researchers have shed light on how an important treatment for early-stage bladder cancer enters cancer cells to eradicate them. Memorial Sloan Kettering researchers have shed light on how an important treatment for early-stage  bladder cancer  eradicates cancer cells. They also found evidence that the effectiveness of this bacterial treatment, called BCG therapy, may be determined partly by the presence of specific genetic mutations within cancer cells. “This study shows that some of the same mutations causing bladder cancer also activate a process that allows the treatment to enter the cancer cells and destroy them,” says  Gil Redelman-Sidi , an infectious diseases specialist who conducted the research together with physician-scientist  Michael S. Glickman . “It raises the possibility that specific properties of a patient’s tumor cells might predict how well BCG therapy will work.” The researchers, including Memorial Sloan Kettering physician-scientists and co-authors  David B. Solit

Cody's Story “The surgery went extremely well, which you can expect from Lahey Clinic.” On November 26, 2009, the Falmouth Clippers were facing the Red Raiders from Barnstable, Mass. in the Thanksgiving Day football game. Early in the third quarter, Cody Murray – a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker for the Clippers – broke through the Red Raider line to attempt a punt block. He jumped, but when he landed, his left foot came down half on the infield clay and half on the grass. His leg locked and, as he fell, a teammate landed on top of him, twisting Murray’s leg underneath him. The resulting injuries were so extensive that they nearly ended 17-year-old Cody’s involvement in sports forever. His knee was dislocated; his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), medial collateral ligament (MCL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) were all torn; his hamstring and calf muscles were also torn, as were other tendons and cartilage. In addition, he could not lift h

Lymphedema is swelling in the arm or hand and sometimes in the breast or chest wall that can be very uncomfortable. It can occur when some or all of the  axillary (underarm) lymph nodes  are removed as part of treatment for breast cancer. It can also happen after the axillary lymph nodes have received radiation. In both instances, the lymphatic fluid that’s normally filtered from the tissue collects and causes swelling. Signs of lymphedema include: visible swelling in the arm, hand, breast, or chest wall a sensation of heaviness, achiness, or tightness in the arm easy fatigue of the arm pain in the arm If you’re experiencing lymphedema after  breast cancer surgery  or  radiation therapy , the experts at Memorial Sloan Kettering recommend prompt treatment. For many women, lymphedema therapy can be extremely helpful. It’s important to note that there is no known cure for lymphedema at this time. However, the approaches described here may help ease symptoms. MSK’s researchers are