Enzaime Health Stories

I reached out for help from my primary care physician many times and was repeatedly shot down. The cure all in my doctor’s opinion was that I needed to push myself away from the table and start running five miles a day. If I had a dollar for every time he had given me that response I’d be a millionaire. I had three family members and two close friends that had bariatric surgery a few years prior to our move to Florida. I spent those years as a support person for my family and friends knowing that surgery was something they desperately needed to survive. I researched all surgical options and educated myself as much as possible so I could become their best support person. I searched the Internet for countless hours reading every Web site and study I could find pertaining to surgery, the life changes, eating habits and why people chose to have bariatric surgery. I became infatuated with the Web sites designated for weight loss patients. I couldn’t wait everyday to read their personal stor

During the summer of 2015, Yimeng and Shaonan Chen believed they would need to say goodbye to their baby daughter Meiyee. After taking her to  American Family Children’s Hospital  in Madison at the beginning of the summer, they learned she had biliary atresia, which meant the bile ducts from her liver were not formed. Bile could not drain from her liver, which caused it to become hard and scarred. She was hospitalized for more than a month as doctors tried medication after medication, but her condition did not improve. Without a liver transplant, Meiyee would die — so she was placed on the wait list. In July, Meiyee was about to receive a liver from an infant who had died, but her surgeon,  Tony D’Alessandro, MD , was concerned the artery to the new liver would clot, due to its very small size, if she received a liver from this deceased donor. “We thought we were going to lose her,” says Yimeng, “because we didn’t know if a deceased donor liver transplant would be available for her in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2TffFDW_GQ When Ali Wandschneider was 3 years old, her mother, Lori, was told that her little girl had just 20 hours to live - unless she got a liver transplant. A liver was found for Ali, who had a rare, genetic liver disease, and UW Health Dr.  Anthony D'Alessandro  performed the life-saving transplant surgery. Now a teenager, Ali is a vocal advocate for organ donation, appearing in public service announcements and speaking to driver's education classes. She also has formed a great friendship with Dr. D'Alessandro, whom she calls "Dr. Tony." The two danced together at the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin's Spotlight on Life Gala in January 2012, performing a combination of cha-cha, rumba and salsa. Original Published Link Amazing kid Ali had genetic liver disease #Dr.AnthonyD'Alessandro, #Life-SavingTransplantSurgery, #LiverTransplant #Transplant

Ezekiel was a normal, playful 2-year-old boy until the day I happened to notice that the whites of his eyes were a yellowish color. I took him to the emergency room, just to have someone take a look. I never knew that that moment was the start of a big tragedy that would change our lives forever. The doctors told us that some of Ezekiel's liver function tests were abnormal, and they kept him overnight to see if the numbers changed by morning. Morning came, and things were worse. There wasn't anything they could do for him and all we could do was wait to see if his numbers got better. They took blood from him three times a day to check his liver numbers, and put a PIC line into his heart in order to draw blood more easily. We were so scared. Every day Ezekiel got sicker and sicker. It got to the point that he wouldn't even get out of bed or eat anything. He had a feeding tube in his nose to give him all the nutrients he needed, and after about a week of seeing him like this

Aspen Johnson loves to play baseball and golf. He's also an aspiring chef who hopes to own his own restaurant one day. And right now, at age 12, he's the newest voice behind the Yes I Will Wisconsin radio campaign in the La Crosse area, hoping to encourage more people to become registered organ and tissue donors while sharing a message that is close to his heart. Aspen is among the 15 children in Wisconsin and 897 nationwide who are awaiting a kidney transplant. By helping to promote organ donation, Aspen hopes he can help kids like himself and people of all ages get the organs that they need to survive. Aspen is no stranger to hospitals or dialysis. When he was six months old he was diagnosed with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS), a rare genetic condition that damages vital organs, including the kidneys. At that time Aspen lost function in both kidneys and immediately went on dialysis. When he was 18 months old he received a kidney transplant, which worked well until

Selfish reason #1 - I wasn’t done with him yet. Kidney disease was slowly killing my husband, but he didn’t know it. My already thin husband was wasting away before my very eyes. And, like most husbands, was in complete denial and not following doctor’s orders well. He continued to say “I feel fine.” The day the hospital called with lab results and told me I should immediately take him to the emergency room, he went for a three-mile run. I’m sure you can understand the frustration. I awoke each morning listening for his breathing, fearing that I would find him cold and unresponsive. Not cool. Selfish reason #2 - I was hungry. Scott fought having the dreaded dialysis treatments for as long as he possibly could. Who can blame him? After finally getting an emergency port put in his chest with a direct line to his heart, he had to admit that maybe something wasn’t quite right. We met with the dietitian, and promptly gave up eating foods like potatoes, tomatoes and for the love of God, CHEE

Miller has a passion for musical theater. He loves to sing and perform in musicals such as  Grease  and  Sweeney Todd.  But in the past few years his passion became a burden as his cystic fibrosis began to quickly take its toll. "I had to push through songs – often losing my voice, or stopping to cough," said Miller. Then, last October at age 18, Miller's physician in Illinoisreferred him to UW Hospital and Clinics, where he underwent a bilateral lung transplant - the only option for someone with advanced cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease. Children are born with the disease even though they may not show signs of the disease until they are older. People with cystic fibrosis produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus. The organs most affected by this defect are the lungs, pancreas, sweat glands and those within the reproductive system. When his mother heard him sing for the first time post-transplant, at a benefit for epilepsy awareness, she was overwhelm

Kidney disease isn't just an illness that affects adults or the elderly. In the United States, more than 1,000 children are awaiting life saving kidney transplants, 17 in Wisconsin today. This fact became a startling reality for the Koenig family of Buffalo City, Wisconsin, after a routine trip to the pediatrician. When Penny and Jason Koenig brought their daughter Laina to her six-month check-up, the news they received about their baby shocked them. During the examination, the pediatrician noticed swelling in Laina's abdominal area. An ultrasound soon revealed that Laina had polycystic kidney disease (PKD), which is an inherited renal disorder characterized by the presence of multiple cysts on the kidney. In patients with PKD, normal kidney tissue is replaced by fluid-filled sacs or cysts of varying sizes that become larger as the disease progresses. Often abnormally high blood pressure (hypertension) and the progressive loss of kidney function, leading to end-stage renal fail

Trevor was a typical fun-loving and energetic five-year-old boy before his liver began to fail. After several days of hospitalization involving extensive medication and a barrage of tests, it became clear he would be unable to survive without a liver transplant. Testing was completed and final plans were made for Trevor to receive a partial liver from a live donor. Just a couple of days before the procedure was scheduled to be performed, we were informed that a pediatric donor organ had been located and the transplant would be done the next day. Throughout the surgery and during the recovery period, the UW Transplant Clinic staff spent countless hours educating us and preparing us for life after Trevor's transplant. What at first appeared to be an overwhelming change in our lives has now become a normal part of our daily routine. The caring and supportive staff continues to play a major role in the life of our family. Throughout Trevor's stay at the hospital, the medical team w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYCAc4cZAHg What's a father to do? When Randy Holcomb learned that his 15 year-old son Zach had Wegners disease, a very rare disease that landed Zach on the kidney transplant wait list, Randy immediately stepped up to donate his own kidney. Now 16, and the owner of a new driver's license, Zach joins his dad to share their journey through kidney transplantation. Original Published Link Wegners disease and kidney transplant #KidneyTransplant, #RandyHolcomb, #RandyImmediatelyStepped #Transplant

Agunda House is a veteran who served as a master sergeant in the U.S. Army for 26 years. He was honorably discharged with a serviceconnected hearing disability in 1996 and went on to employment as a tractor trailer driver. Most recently, he was a University of Maryland Medical Systems’ Distribution Manager, until his position was eliminated in early 2008. Mr. House then decided to contact the Veterans Administration, as a means to “upgrade my computer skills by learning Microsoft Word and Excel programs.” In June 2010, Mr. House was referred to VSP by the Veterans Administration’s Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Unit for services. In August 2010, he entered VSP’s Work Adjustment Training (WAT) program in Sinai Hospital’s Distribution department. Staff there quickly recognized Mr. House’s experience and assigned him advanced tasks while in training. When reflecting on his Work Adjustment Training experience, Mr. House stated that the program “gave me a much-needed routine again

Ronald Cameron has a great enthusiasm to work. As a utility worker with Linton’s Managed Services for five years, he truly enjoyed his work and was unfortunately laid off in 2009. Since receiving unemployment benefits, Ronald has had a strong desire to return to work, and, through his sister’s contact, he learned that VSP could be a beneficial resource with employment reentry. Referred in November 2011 by Penelope Sykes a Counselor with the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Ronald began his three-day exploratory assessment in mid-January 2012 in order to determine his marketable skills. As part of the assessment, the career evaluator administered a number of assessment tools to determine Ronald’s marketable skills and realistic vocational options. Measures included academic levels, learning styles, aptitude, work values and dexterity. Throughout the threeday evaluation, the evaluator observed and recorded Ronald’s “soft skills”, including his attendance, punctuality, work pace, prod

Tayo was diagnosed with Perthes disease in March 2009 and had the fixator surgery with Dr. Standard in August. He is now about 9 months post-fixator. Tayho shared the most amazing thing with me tonight: today in school (5th grade) they had to write about the worst thing that has happened to them. Tayo says to me, "Guess what I wrote about?" I just looked at him. He said, "Not Perthes. It isn't the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Actually, it is one of the best things. And the fixator is one of the best things too. Think about all the friends we've met. Think about all the things I can do now that I couldn't do before." I just looked at him and said, "Wow. That is such an amazing outlook to have Tayo," and then tried not to cry! We never know how things like Perthes will affect our children. As hard as it is (and I know how hard that fixator can be) our children somehow seem to come through it with a perspective that is positive and th

I am writing on behalf of my son Nicholas. He is 5 years old and was diagnosed with Fibular Hemimelia at about 1 month old. We decided to have his leg lengthened and his ankle reconstructed at the ICLL because of their experience in treating fibular hemimelia and the confidence in the doctors that my son would live a full and active life without limitations. We understood that to most doctors amputation is the standard treatment for a case like Nicholas and for some children that may be the right choice but that was not what we felt was best for our boy. Nicholas is currently in a fixator for the second time and he is doing great. His first surgery was at 18 months old. Before his first surgery, we were very scared of what it would be like for him: would it affect his sparkling personality, would he be in constant pain? Our fears never came to pass. With both surgeries, Nicholas was off pain medication within weeks and walking and running and dancing and the same sweet, strong and happ

I would like to write this post as a thank you to Dr. Noman Siddiqui. I was born with a club foot, and at the time I was born there were not many doctors that specialized in dealing/treating it. I had a good doctor for much of my life who did what he could to make sure I would be a normal, functioning kid. As I grew up I got stronger and more mobile. I wrestled from a young age, played baseball and football, and I also wanted a black belt in tae kwon do. I also wrestled in college and participated in track and field. Even though my leg and foot have not been that of a normal kid, I never gave up. About three years ago my foot, ankle and knee began to really hurt, but with my foolish pride and stubborn ways I put off going to the doctor. My previous doctor retired and I didn't want to find a new one. Last year it became harder and harder to get around. Hunting and fishing became more of a chore than the enjoyable experience that I once knew. And work became painful and discouraging

William Snyder’s story is in large measure a story of two young parents fierce in their advocacy of their infant son, who simply would not accept what doctors told them—parents who went from hospital to hospital, expert to expert, until they found a place and a group of physicians who would listen to them. And that was only the beginning of a harrowing journey. Just 6 weeks old, William began experiencing seizure-like symptoms. For over a year neurological experts at two different hospitals told William’s parents that there was nothing seriously wrong with their son. But his parents, witnessing the episodes each night, could not believe them. And so they kept searching. It took 14 months, three hospitals and numerous specialists before the cause was found. After an MRI, Dr. Edward Gratz, a Sinai pediatric neurologist, and Dr. Joseph Wiley, chairman of the Children’s Hospital at Sinai, and a pediatric hematologist/oncologist, told Lori and Ron Snyder the reason for their son’s seizures.

Adelea and Frank GraymanMy name is Adele Grayman and my husband, Frank Grayman, is a resident of Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital. It’s hard to imagine that Frank was once an original draftsman who drew building plans for bridges in Vermont, all by hand, no computers, can you imagine? I remember the day everything changed it was like yesterday. It was a windy day, Frank said “I am going for a walk.” I was waiting for him to come back but still no Frank; hour after hour passed. Eventually a neighbor brought him home and said Frank was standing in the middle of the street trying to pick up trash cans that were blown by the wind but he couldn’t—this was the beginning of Frank’s dementia. I was always afraid of him wandering off or slipping in the tub I would help him get up, he would fall, I would fall it just became too much for me. That’s when we turned to Dr. Julian Jakobovits and Levindale. Levindale is a community and a neighborhood. Wherever I go, even if I don’t know

The morning of October 2nd I was on my way to work but I had a strange headache unlike any headache I’ve had before. I decided to leave work early and go home to rest. When I woke from my nap my mouth felt tingly and numb, a few minutes later my hand started to contort in a weird way and then my legs gave out on me. At that point, it dawned on me; oh my God I am having a stroke! I was rushed by ambulance to Sinai Hospital. After my acute treatment, I spent several weeks in the inpatient neurological rehabilitation unit. During that time I had to relearn how to swallow and do very simple tasks I once took for granted. My doctor there, Dr. Melanie Brown, Director of Brain Injury Rehabilitation at Sinai Hospital asked me to participate in the outpatient RETURN! program for brain injury survivors. It took me a while to accept the reality that at age 55, I was a brain injury survivor. I always took pride in my ability to care for my wife and family. I knew to get that back I needed to commi

The pain was agonizing; I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t even sit or sleep. My wife, Carolyn, and I visited doctor after doctor and finally by the grace of God we ended up at Northwest Hospital. Dr. Ian Weiner, Orthopedic Surgeon and Dr. Norbert Zemankiewicz, Vascular Surgeon, took Herbert Hareone look at my foot and immediately rushed me into emergency surgery to clean out the infection. When I woke from surgery, my foot was completely open with the tendons exposed. They explained to me that because I am a diabetic, the wound had become so severely infected and surgery would not be enough; I was now going to need a skin graft. Once the skin graft was complete, I was sent to the Center for Wound Care and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) to expedite the healing process. I didn’t get my hopes up, I knew my foot was in bad shape and there was a slim chance they were going to save it. The very next day we went to the Wound Center and the nurses, the doctors, everyone was top notch! Together the

“Stronger than Sickle Cell” Sammie CohenThis is the slogan of Samantha Cohen’s new Foundation she and two friends started in the summer of 2013. They want to help get the word out about sickle cell disease and help those who suffer from this illness. Diagnosed with sickle cell disease when she was a baby, “Sammie” as her mother, Kelleye, calls her has grown into a strong, compassionate, positive young woman with such effervescence for life. Her smile brings sunshine to any room. The family moved from New Jersey when Sammie was a baby, and they had their first introduction to Sinai Hospital when she was 9 months old and had a fever that would not break. Kelleye calls Sinai their “extended family.” They have gotten to know all the doctors and nurses extremely well over a 14-year period, and have adopted them into their family. At age 2, they learned that Sammie was susceptible to strokes, so they started the transfusions every 4-6 weeks as a way to try and prevent them. At 4, she had her

What started out as a simple fall in gym class forever changed the Wetheral family’s life. When Sadie’s bump wouldn’t heal, the doctors ordered more tests. Then came the diagnosis – Osteosarcoma – a tumor on the femur bone. This 8 year-old girl with a huge smile on her face was about to start a long year of treatments and uncertainty, and at the end of it that smile still remains, stronger than ever. Her treatment was at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai. Dr. Joseph Wiley and Dr. Albert Aboulafia were her primary doctors. Both have been with Sadie and her family the entire time. She has grown close to both doctors throughout her treatment. Dr. Wiley always puts Sadie at ease and can make her smile. Dr. Aboulafia conducted her surgery and did a fantastic job at calming her anxiety. Sadie received chemo – an intense process of finding the right medicine, and then surgery to replace her femur bone with a rod. This rod grows with Sadie, so she is able to walk n

Cesar Munoz was 7 years old when he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. After a fall on the field at school, his parents took him to the doctor fearing he had broken his leg. Instead, his diagnosis was cancer. His doctor suggested they seek treatment at the The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. Both his parents spoke little English, so his older brother, Wesley – 11 at the time took over the scheduling of the appointments and talking with the doctors along with a medical interpreter. Drs. Joseph Wiley and Albert Aboulafia handled his care and his surgeries. Because of the size of Cesar’s tumor, he would need to have his leg amputated above his knee. In all, Cesar has had three surgeries – one to remove the tumor, one to amputate his leg, and one to shave his bone after his amputation. Today, six years later, Cesar is a smiling, exuberant and strong 13 year-old who is looking forward to getting fitted for his next prosthetic leg which will allow him to run

For those dealing with plantar fasciitis treatment can provide fuller more active lives. Here in the mountains we jam our feet into stiff ski boots hammer them on hikes and squeeze them into tiny climbing shoes. What are some common ailments of the active community and why is it so important to take care of our feet? “Our feet form the base of our upright existence” explains Dr. John Paul Elton a Harvard-trained foot and ankle specialist with Vail-Summit Orthopaedics. “Whether we are walking running or standing it is our feet that support our bodies help us balance and propel us forward in our activities.” The feet and ankles are the most complex part of our locomotion and are therefore susceptible to many ailments he adds. Because of this we need to pay a bit more attention to caring for our feet and ankles. Active individuals are at risk of developing problems with their feet. Dr. Elton says some problems develop over time with increased activity such as plantar fasciitis tendon prob

VAIL CO — Nearly 250 high school boys and girls received free physical exams on Saturday from volunteer physicians and athletic trainers from Vail Valley Medical Center and The Steadman Clinic. Runners skiers dancers football and ice hockey players were screened for vision and hearing heart blood pressure and pulse as well as general health and all incoming freshmen received baseline testing for concussions. In addition the student athletes and their parents received education on injury prevention when to return to sport after injury concussions and physical rehabilitation. “VVMC and The Steadman Clinic have partnered to offer this service for almost 20 years” explains VVMC President and CEO Doris Kirchner. “The goal of providing this testing at no cost is to make athletics possible for all our high school student athletes but our true mission is to keep these young athletes healthy and safe.” Dr. Steve Singleton a physician with The Steadman Clinic is the medical director for the Eagl

Research shows changing how we eat can lead to weight loss and the practice of intuitive, mindful eating may also relieve stress, helps with high blood pressure and stomach distress! Hurried eating patterns set us up for overeating and weight gain through delayed feelings of satiety and may also lead to poor digestion which could result in lower nutrient absorption. Mindful eating is an approach that involves bringing one's full attention to the process of eating—to all the tastes, smells, thoughts, and feelings that arise during a meal. Lisa Bentley, clinical dietitian at Vail Valley Medical Center, offers helpful hints that will allow you to experience food more intensely. Practical tips for mindful eating: What do I eat? Tune into your taste buds and focus on your food: taste, texture and temperature. Be thankful for food and the nourishment it provides your body. Where do I eat? Atmosphere is everything! Share meals with your friends and family whenever possible. When do I

Vail Health's registered dietician Katie Mazzia and clinicical dietician Lisa Bentley, share carbohydrate tips for bikers and runners. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RUNNERS Although carbohydrates often get a bad rap, Katie Mazzia points out that they are the power house of fuel for runners; a healthy diet consists of 45-60% of calories from carbohydrates. If you're running races, it's important to choose the best foods to refuel, decrease inflammation and repair your muscles for the next workout! On average, a female runner might consume 250gm total carbohydrates for the day while a male may require 350gm. Where do carbohydrates come from? Natural sources include fruits, milk, yogurt, starches (rice, pasta, polenta, quinoa, bread, crackers etc.), starchy vegetables (peas, corn, potatoes, beans/lentils etc.). Other sources of carb are added sugars like honey, maple syrup, cane sugar, agave, brown sugar, coconut sugar which should be kept to a minimum. The best carbohydrates for ru

Brain fog: it’s as if your thoughts must squeeze through a porous sponge before they come out of your mouth. It’s difficult to focus — wait — what focus? Moments of confusion ensue. Oh, and memory: Searching for the right word, that person’s name, an actual event. Yes, brain fog is aptly termed. Brain fog isn’t a medical diagnosis, but rather a nonspecific phrase that “implies that the brain is not working the way it should,” says Dr. Dennis Lipton, an internist at Vail Health. CAUSES Brain fog is fairly common, but it’s not normal; it’s actually a symptom of other problems, which can be as simple as not sleeping well or as serious as low or high blood sugar in a person with diabetes. Even people without experience swings in blood sugar after eating refined carbohydrates, which can adversely affect cognition. Bdiabeteslood glucose fuels the brain, so the roller-coaster ride produced from eating carbohydrates that break down quickly (like sugar and pasta) occurs because the brain receiv

Nutrition experts aren’t perfect when it comes to eating, but they do usually implement the main pillars of a balanced diet: nutrition, variety and moderation. Unfortunately, there is not a cookie-cutter methodology that works for everyone. Every person has individual relationships with food —preferences, allergies or intolerances, a unique family and medical history, a specific budget and schedule for eating, individual cooking skills and a different level of access to quality food sources. “Those are things I feel really play into how people eat and what dietitians consider to help people meet their nutritional needs,” says Rhonda Galer, clinical nutrition manager for Vail Health. In general, however, even though every person’s nutrition plan is unique, the core principles of a healthy diet are pretty consistent. "Studies have shown that most Americans still don’t get enough fruits and vegetables and whole grains,” explains Katie Mazzia, clinical dietitian and diabetes educator

This article was written by Laura Bell and originally published in the Vail Daily on October 16, 2017. Stop in your local City Market and you will find hydrogen-infused water in the nutrition center. The first company to develop this concept was HTWO created by Dr. Cody Cook, who actually trademarked the name HydrogenWater. According to Cook, "HTWO's benefits for health and performance include a boost in endurance, the reduction of lactic acid and fatigue, and it is a rich source of antioxidants. HTWO will deliver hydrogen to your body for health and wellness, boost and re-charge your metabolism, provide anti-aging properties that will help detox your body and reduce stress at the cellular level." But regular water (H2O) by its very nature has hydrogen in it, so why infuse it? "Unlike oxygen gas (O2) that is rich in our atmosphere and thus often found dissolved at relatively high concentrations in natural sources of water, hydrogen gas (H2) is rare in Earth's atm