Enzaime Health Stories

Karyn Staton Karyn Staton is originally from North Haven, Connecticut, and later lived in Madison, Mississippi. She has resided in Northern Virginia for 12 years, where she is a substitute teacher and a full time Mom. Her husband of 24 years, Syd, is a U.S. Secret Service Agent in Washington, D.C. They have two children, Emily (age 12), and Matthew (age 10). Karyn was enjoying an active, healthy life, when she randomly discovered a suspicious lump one cold, snowy morning in February 2015. The following days consisted of a whirlwind of doctors, scans, biopsies, worried conversations between family and friends, and culminated with the shocking confirmation that she had Stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer. After radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery, Karyn traveled to UMGCCC to participate in a novel clinical trial. Here's her story:  I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Triple Negative Breast Cancer on February 24, 2015. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately...

After working for many years in the medical field, Ann (whose name has been changed for privacy reasons) was well aware of the signs of aultrasoundproblem. So when she began spotting blood unexpectedly, she immediately went to her doctor for an examination. An ultrasound and biopsy revealed that Ann had cancerous growths in her uterus. Ann would need a hysterectomy. She was referred to Albert Pisani, MD, of Palo Alto Medical Foundation, an expert in gynecologic cancers and minimally invasive robotic surgery. "I knew a lot about Dr. Pisani and his expertise in this area," recalls Ann. "He is not only skilled at gynecologic surgery, he is also highly skilled in the use of the robotic system. I felt very safe in his hands." Unfortunately, Ann had an additional complication that would make her surgery more risky: She’d had a heart attack just six weeks earlier, so she'd had a stent put in and was on blood-thinning medication. Dr. Pisani and anesthesiologist Charles ...

Although Jean has a family history of cancer, like most people, she never wanted to think about the fact that it could possibly happen to her, too. So when she started feeling some unusual symptoms in early 2011, she blamed it on eating too much over the holidays and tried to ignore it. But, after a trip to the ER in February 2011, Jean was diagnosed with rectal cancer. Her oncologist, Shane Dormady, MD, planned a month-long course of treatment with chemotherapy and radiation, which would then be followed by surgery. Once Jean had recovered from her initial treatment and was well enough for surgery, the surgical team prepared her for the operation to remove her tumor, which, fortunately, had not spread to any other part of her body. The first step was to perform a colostomy (bringing one end of the large intestine out through the abdominal wall), then remove the tumor. However, once the surgeon looked at Jean's tumor, he was unsure if it could be removed because it appeared to be g...

Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October is one of the mostly recognized health observance months.  We’ve all seen it on social media, television news stations, and more: “Save the Tatas,” “Save Second Base” and more.  Initiatives like these during the month of October not only help raise funds to fight breast cancer, but they save lives. Carol Bailey knows that more than just about anyone else. As a support tech with the University of Maryland Medical System’s Information Services and Technology Help Desk, Carol gets hundreds of emails a day. But it only took one a few Octobers ago to change her life.  The Breast Center sent out an email to all UMMS employees reminding them of their extended hours for breast imaging and mammography services. “Right when that email came into my inbox, I was immediately reminded I was overdue for my mammogram,” Carol said. “All my experiences with friends and family at the University of...

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer facing American men today. And it is primarily a disease afflicting older men. According to the American Cancer Society, 60 percent of prostate cancer cases are diagnosed in men age 65 and older. Henry is one of those men. After a routine physical exam at age 71, Henry learned he had prostate cancer. He was referred to Scott Angell, MD, a urologist with Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Dr. Angell discussed the options with Henry, and they decided to combine hormone therapy, brachytherapy and traditional, 28-day external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Brachytherapy (also known as seed implantation) is a type of internal radiation therapy — radiation given from inside the body. It involves placing small devices ("seeds") containing radiation in the prostate gland, near the cancer cells. Each seed is about the size of a grain of rice. Over time, the seeds give out a small amount of radiation, which is aimed directly ...

In 2010, Randy had his first blood test mearsuring his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate gland. Although doctors disagree somewhat on what is considered "normal" for PSA levels, according to the National Cancer Institute, when PSA numbers begin to rise in a patient, it can indicate a prostate problem (prostate cancer or a non-cancerous prostate condition). Randy's first PSA reading was 2.5 ng/mL; his second test was 3.5 ng/mL. After that, his numbers continued to rise, alarming his doctor. To check for cancer, his doctor decided to take a biopsy. Lab tests confirmed that Randy had early-stage prostate cancer. At age 51, Randy still had much of his life ahead of him, and therefore he wanted to be treated as soon as possible. His urologist, Frank Lai, MD, recommended a prostatectomy with the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System. The da Vinci system allows doctors to operate by controlling tiny medical instruments via a computer con...

Rudolph Jurricks worked as a Lead Custodian with the Frederick County School System for more than 30 years.  All day every day he was on his feet – mopping floors, changing light bulbs and more. It wasn’t until after he retired that Rudolph started feeling an immense amount of pain in his lower back and hips while doing ordinary household chores.  It was almost impossible for him to walk without a limp. After seeing a location orthopaedic doctor in Frederick, Rudolph found out his hip needed to be replaced.  Rudolph was told bone was rubbing on bone, and his only option was surgery, more specifically, a hip replacement. Rudolph wanted to have his surgery done at a large, academic medical center, where physicians bring a breadth of experience and expertise often not found elsewhere. He was referred to University of Maryland’s Department of Orthopaedics, where he met  Dr. Vincent Ng. Below Rudolph discusses his experience with Dr. Ng and the Universit...

FRIDAY, Dec. 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Cooling the scalp with a specialized cap during chemotherapy sessions could help breast cancer patients avoid treatment-related hair loss, new research suggests. In a clinical trial involving women with early stage breast cancer, just over half who underwent scalp-cooling throughout at least four cycles of chemotherapy retained their hair, though some thinning may have occurred. "When you lose your hair, everyone knows you're sick and looks at you differently," said study author Dr. Julie Rani Nangia, explaining the potential impact of cold cap use. Nangia is an assistant professor of medicine at the Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. The study was funded by the manufacturer of the cold caps, Paxman Cooling. The devices are known as the Orbis Paxman Hair Loss Prevention System. The company is now seeking U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance for their cold caps. Nearly 247,000 women h...

My story starts on Dec. 18, 2012. On this day my Dad passed away due to a heart condition.   I decided it was time for me to get myself checked out, to see where my heart health was (my Mom passed away just before her 56th birthday). I had the family history and had just turned 50.  I went to the doctor and he ran some tests. On the treadmill, I went for 3.5 minutes and just couldn’t go any further. I was so sure it was just because I was overweight and out of shape.  The doctor then scheduled another test- the angiogram. During this test the doctor found that I had 3 clogged/blocked arteries.  He told me I was being admitted and transported to St. Pete's.  While there, waiting for my triple bypass surgery, I was watching the informational videos they have available in the rooms.  This is when I realized that I did actually have a heart attack on the day my Dad passed.  I felt pain in my chest, crushing pain, and I couldn't breathe...

FRIDAY, Sept. 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Significant progress has been made in treating childhood cancers, but more needs to be done to fight tougher cancers and protect the long-term health of survivors, a new report says. In 2016, more than 14,600 children aged 19 and younger will be diagnosed with some form of pediatric cancer, and 1,850 will die, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS), which compiled the report with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer. "The numbers here tell a compelling story," said Katherine Sharpe, senior vice president of patient and caregiver support at the ACS. "We have seen significant progress when it comes to developing effective treatments for a variety of pediatric cancer sites and ultimately saving lives," she said in an ACS news release. "But when we expand our view to look at all pediatric cancers, as well as long-term health and survival, it becomes clear that there are still areas of research where progress is urgentl...

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Hodgkin lymphoma is a form of cancer that starts in white blood cells is often curable. But, poor black and Hispanic young people are less likely to survive the disease than their white peers, a new study shows. "This study identifies vulnerable subgroups of young Hodgkin lymphoma patients at higher risk of dying from their disease, and points to disparities in treatment delivery and follow-up care as likely contributing factors," said study author Theresa Keegan. She is an associate professor in the division of hematology and oncology at the University of California, Davis. "Identifying and reducing barriers to recommended treatment and follow-up care is critical to improving survival for all patients," Keegan said in a university news release. She conducted the research while at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. For the study, researchers followed more than 9,300 patients between the ages of 15 and 39 who we...

My story starts on Dec. 18, 2012. On this day my Dad passed away due to a heart condition.   I decided it was time for me to get myself checked out, to see where my heart health was (my Mom passed away just before her 56th birthday). I had the family history and had just turned 50.  I went to the doctor and he ran some tests. On the treadmill, I went for 3.5 minutes and just couldn’t go any further. I was so sure it was just because I was overweight and out of shape.  The doctor then scheduled another test- the angiogram. During this test the doctor found that I had 3 clogged/blocked arteries.  He told me I was being admitted and transported to St. Pete's.  While there, waiting for my triple bypass surgery, I was watching the informational videos they have available in the rooms.  This is when I realized that I did actually have a heart attack on the day my Dad passed.  I felt pain in my chest, crushing pain, and I couldn't breathe...

In 2009, I was a married 38 year old, with a 2 year old and a 6 year old. Thursday, October 8 th  of 2009, was one of the last days of a week without my husband, who was out of town hunting.   I had dropped off each of my kids at school, then went in to work to see about taking the day off, for a “me” day.   I arrived at work around 10 am and was getting settled, waiting to meet with a supervisor, when I started to feel what I would call indigestion.  It wasn’t going away so I went outside to get some fresh air.  The sensation was getting worse – it was getting harder to breath and I was starting to feel sweaty.   I was pacing, trying to figure out what to do, when a co-worker let my supervisor know I didn’t look well.  My supervisor sat me down to talk to me.  As we talked, my hands were cramping up and my symptoms continued to get worse, so he decided to call 911.  The paramedics came and said I ...

Let me start by saying my father, Robert Youngblood, is simply amazing. A true blessing. He and my mom will be married 57 years on October 27th and have raised eight children together in Maryland. My dad and I spent a lot of time together. I was a daddy's girl. When I was a young teenager, I inherited my brothers' newspaper route and every morning, my dad and I were out there together delivering the newspaper. A smoker since he was a teenager, my dad had his first heart attack around age 59. He had just retired after his return from living eight years in Seoul, Korea.  Thankfully, he was working part time at a community center at the time, which was located across the street from the fire station. The firefighters knew him because they regularly worked out at the community center, ran across the street and saved his life.  My dad promised to quit smoking. His second heart attack was only a few years later. I was living in Chicago at the time and took my eldest daughter to D.C....

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 3, 2016 (HealthDay News) -- Hodgkin lymphoma is a form of cancer that starts in white blood cells is often curable. But, poor black and Hispanic young people are less likely to survive the disease than their white peers, a new study shows. "This study identifies vulnerable subgroups of young Hodgkin lymphoma patients at higher risk of dying from their disease, and points to disparities in treatment delivery and follow-up care as likely contributing factors," said study author Theresa Keegan. She is an associate professor in the division of hematology and oncology at the University of California, Davis. "Identifying and reducing barriers to recommended treatment and follow-up care is critical to improving survival for all patients," Keegan said in a university news release. She conducted the research while at the Cancer Prevention Institute of California. For the study, researchers followed more than 9,300 patients between the ages of 15 and 39 who we...

I was training for a half-marathon and found myself getting winded very early on during my runs. I’d get short of breath, and my chest and throat would burn until I rested. At first I chalked it up to a lingering cold, but after a few runs I figured I was simply out of shape and needed to suck it up. I tried to power through the next run – after a few minutes I had to turn around, go home and lie down. I started wondering if something was going on with my heart. A Google search and the Hope Heart Institute website made it pretty clear I needed to see a doctor. My regular doctor thought I might have exercise-induced asthma, but initial tests didn’t show anything. So she did an EKG, which led to a cardiologist referral. A stress test showed a blockage in my coronary artery. There’s nothing like a problem with your heart to remind you of your mortality. The following Monday an angiogram led to the discovery of a blood clot. The location of the clot made a placing a ...

On Sunday, January 6, 2002, while driving to Dicks on Holman Road, I experienced Sudden Cardiac Death.  You don’t drive very well when you are dead, so I crashed into the rockery on the side of the road, just past Dick’s Drive-in. Someone driving behind me called 911 to report the accident.   The Medics from Fire Station 35 performed CPR for about 8 minutes until support, possibly from Northwest Hospital, arrived with a portable defibrillator.  I was shocked 7 times; on the top, sides and back before my heart started to beat on its own.  I was then rushed to Harborview Hospital where I remained in a coma for three days.  On the fourth day, I had surgery at the University of Washington Medical Center to receive a Medtronic pacemaker/defibrillator unit.  At 35 years old I discovered I had a heart condition, mitro-valve prolapse and cardio myopathy. Because I was dead for so long before the Medics arrived, doctors told me that less than h...

Many U.S. politicians and media outlets hyped the threat of U.S. cases of Ebola last year, according to a newly written personal account by Dr. Craig Spencer, the last AmericaHe also believes that officials and the media unnecessarily maligned those who were risking their lives to combat the West African epidemic. Spencer contracted the virus while performing aid work at an Ebola treatment center in Guinea, and fell ill days after his return to New York City. He entered Bellevue Hospital on Oct. 23 as New York's first Ebola patient, and spent 19 days there recovering from his infection. "Though I didn't know it then -- I had no television and was too weak to read the news -- during the first few days of my hospitalization, I was being vilified in the media even as my liver was failing and my fiancee was quarantined in our apartment," Spencer wrote in a letter in the Feb. 26 New England Journal of Medicine. While he was in the hospital, media outlets hyped the potentia...

Many of us, while aging ourselves, are also caring for aging parents. And, as we watch them age, we hope and pray that they will make it through their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond in relatively good health, with maybe a few aches and pains here and there but nothing more than that. But it doesn't always work out that way. Linda received the worst possible news a daughter could ever hear: Her mother had stage IV renal cell (kidney) cancer--the most advanced stage. And, because Linda's mother only speaks Chinese, she was also given the difficult job of having to translate everything the doctors were saying about her mother's condition. And it wasn't good. The cancer was not only in her mother's kidney, it had spread into the vein that leads up to the heart (inferior vena cava) and was very close to the heart. Linda and her mother met with medical oncologist Shane Dormady, M.D. of El Camino Hospital's Cancer Center. After carefully examining Linda's mother and taki...

New Year’s Eve will forever be a day of remembrance for me, for the rest of my life. In addition to ringing in a new year; I celebrate my second chance at life. It was 2002, a day like any other. I was a starting sophomore guard on the women’s basketball team at the University of Washington and in the prime of my athletic career. Being a young athlete in my early 20’s with no prior medical history, I felt invincible to medical hardship; oblivion to what would nearly kill me in the blink of an eye. A new reality in the journey of my life had just completely changed who I would be forever. Being New Year’s Eve, I had eight teammates at my house. We were just watching movies, eating junk food, and apparently looking through my high school yearbooks. I have no recollection of what takes place next, but I have amazing friends (I call them my sisters) who took over a situation that transcends my comprehension. It was 11:15pm, I had gone upstairs to brush my teeth,...

My name is Deena Hanke and I am a stroke survivor.  I have actually survived two strokes. My first stroke was in 1998 when I was only 50 years old.  I was paralyzed on my left side, but my symptoms reversed when I was given IV heparin at Harborview Medical Center.  While I was in Harborview they discovered that I have a calcified aneurysm deep in my brain.  They believe the stroke was caused by bits of calcium breaking off and clotting with my platelets and these clots blocking off arteries in my brain.  They decided that my aneurysm is so deep in my brain that doing surgery for it would not be worth the risk.  They sent me home on aspirin antiplatelet therapy.  I was lucky enough to have no residual symptoms and the aspirin therapy prevented my having another stroke for 15 years. In April of this year, I had another stroke.  I was paralyzed on my left side again and I was taken to Harborview Medical Center.  They think this stroke had the sa...

What if you were told that a tumor was growing in your bile duct and liver, and the chance of surviving five years or more was only 7 percent? Would you give up hope? Tom didn’t, and today, more than four years after his diagnosis, he is back to work, running global operations for a public company. Here’s his story. In August 2007, Tom was working in Japan when he felt such fatigue he began to think his heart wasn’t working properly (heart disease runs in Tom’s family). He returned to the U.S. and later received a shocking diagnosis: Tom had bile duct cancer. Bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma) occurs when a tumor grows in the bile duct. A rare cancer, it affects only about 4,000 Americans each year. Tom’s tumor was a Klatskin tumor, which means it was in the upper part of the bile duct. Successful treatment of a tumor such as Tom’s requires an extremely complex operation involving many internal organs. “When they first looked at my tumor, the...

"I was very scared," recalls Geeta, who called her mother in India to ask for her advice. They decided it was too serious to wait, so she immediately went to see Prasanna Menon, MD, who performed a breast biopsy. The lump was, in fact, breast cancer, but fortunately it was confined to just one breast. Geeta was then referred to Shane Dormady, MD, medical oncologist at the Cancer Center at El Camino Hospital. "Dr. Dormady already had a plan in place when I met with him," says Geeta, who recalls how Dr. Dormady's kindness and warmth helped to ease her fears about treatment, which certainly would be more complicated given her pregnancy. Geeta had four cycles of chemotherapy during the last few months of her pregnancy, and then had her baby at 35 weeks. Given that he was born early, Geeta's son was small at birth — just 5 pounds — but was otherwise healthy, with no ill effects from the chemotherapy. "He was completely normal," says Geeta, who recalls t...

On August 6, 2010, I was homeAneuryism patient with fish I had no other symptoms of any kind — no abdominal pain, no indication of anything seriously wrong. I felt I was very healthy and had kept my records of blood pressure, cholesterol, PSA, etc., continually up to date through periodic visits to my doctors at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. I also was in good shape, not overweight, as I weighed 185 pounds at 6 feet, 2 inches. I didn't smoke or drink much alcohol. I have my own consulting practice. (I am a graduate civil engineer and a professional mechanical engineer, and hold a real estate broker's license and an inactive general contractor's license). I was on the phone with an architect about a project when I began to faint. I hung up the phone and thought if I could just lie down this would pass and I would be fine. I started down the stairs to our bedroom and on the way collapsed onto the first floor. I managed to crawl to my bedroom and get to the phone. Thankfully i...

One of the wonderful things about medical treatment today is that we can survive many illnesses that would have killed us decades ago. Cancer is one of those illnesses. Just ask Bill: He was diagnosed with both bladder and prostate cancer in his 70s, and although he survived the treatment, he was left with numerous other problems, from urinary incontinence to erectile dysfunction. “I lost my manhood,” says Bill. “And I leaked terribly.” So, in 2010, Bill was referred to urologist Edward Karpman, MD, medical director of the Men’s Health Program at El Camino Hospital explains Bill. The procedures were a huge success. “I am back to ballroom dancing,” says Bill, who cuts a rug with the ladies several times a week at the Santa Clara Senior Center and venues hosted by groups such as the Moose Club, Elks Club and American Legion. When asked how he felt about the treatment, Bill says happily, “I don’t have any problems anymore.” Since ...

I have been running on a very regular basis for about 5 years now. Leading up to my cardiac arrest on November 7 th , 2012 I was training hard for the Seattle Marathon (which would have been my 3 rd  after Winthrop in 2010 and NYC in 2011). Just a few short weeks before, I was in the Enchantments on a 21-mile loop. When I think about where I was when my cardiac arrest happened and the fact that it didn’t happen when I was in the middle of the Enchantments, I truly believe that everything happens for a reason and there is a reason I am still here. I find it a little bit funny to be the one writing about my story, because I don’t actually remember any of it, but through those who were there the evening of November 7 th , 2012, I have been able to put together the puzzle pieces and the events that took place. After work that day I agreed to meet my dad and my good friend Jef for a training run going from my apartment on Capitol Hill, down to Lakeview Blvd, up a long stairc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXK530ou3G0 Heart disease can hide behind even the fittest of people. Take Nickhil, for example. He never thought it could happen to him. But he dealt with it, head on This story is about Nickhil—entrepreneur, soccer player and at 43, a man in good health. During a regular checkup, Nickhil’s physician explained to him that, because of his South Asian heritage, he was at a higher risk for heart disease. After a bit of encouragement from his wife, he underwent a comprehensive risk assessment. When the results came back, he was stunned. Nickhil was told he was at high risk for heart disease and already had coronary heart disease. His calcification level in his arteries was in the 98th percentile. He thought to himself, “how in the world could I possibly have heart disease?” He doesn’t smoke and stays away from alcohol and soda. At 6 feet tall and 164 pounds, he had an optimal Body Mass Index of 22. As difficult as the news was t...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxAtv4cJgpA Being a mom and an entrepreneur are two of Lisa’s proudest accomplishments. She is also thankful to have won an intense battle with postpartum psychosis This is a story about Lisa—an entrepreneur, runner and a mother. She was as excited as any new mother at first. But after a few weeks, her energy gave way to anxiety and insomnia, and she found herself crying often. “I was feeling very overwhelmed,” Lisa remembered. She couldn’t process much of what was going on. A single visit with a therapist didn’t seem to help. Her symptoms worsened quickly, and she started having suicidal thoughts. She felt as though she was losing her mind. Lisa’s family became concerned, to say the least. Her husband recognized some of the warning signs of postpartum depression. Eventually, he convinced her to go to an emergency room for treatment for her growing anxiety and paranoia. Lisa spent 10 days receiving inpatient psych...

My name is Helena Kovacova and I am 61 years old. I was born and raised in Slovakia, and moved to the Seattle area 30 years ago. I have a son and a daughter, and two adorable grandsons who are six and three years old. I am a Skin Care Therapist and I have worked at Gene Juarez for 26 years. On May 27th of this year I had a heart attack. I had just returned from a vacation visiting my family in Slovakia where I was already feeling some chest discomfort that was radiating into my left arm. I told myself that I would call my doctor first thing when I returned. When I explained my symptoms to the nurse she said that I needed to go the Emergency Room right away because I might have something going on with my heart. In the ER, after a few tests, the cardiologist told me that I was having a heart attack. I was shocked. I couldn't believe it because I had always felt healthy and in good shape. I was taken urgently to the cardiac catheterization laboratory which revealed a 100 percent closu...

From diagnosis to remission, Michelle stood tall in the face of uncertainty This is a story about Michelle and her determination, grace and unwillingness to let anything get the best of her. It all started when the lump became too painful to ignore. When she went in for a mammogram and an ultrasound, the results were alarming: it was cancer. “I was just shell-shocked,” remembers Michelle. Her particular type of breast cancer was fast-growing, and in the past, it would have been considered especially serious. Thankfully, the latest chemotherapy protocols proved to be effective on Michelle, and her body responded well. That’s not to say that her chemo experience was easy by any means. It took a toll on her physically and psychologically, and it also made a big impact emotionally on her children and husband. “I think spouses need a lot of support too,” said Michelle, when recalling her family’s experience. If every dark cloud has a silver lining, then Mi...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKUOsgDirsQ You don’t always see it coming. Just ask Greg, a grandfather, golfer and prostate cancer survivor who beat it thanks in part to regular health check-ups Greg’s story is one about the value of keeping up with your health. For most of his life, Greg had only a little experience with healthcare: regular checkups and no major illnesses. After a routine physical exam in 2011, his PSA score came back at 24.8, an indicator of prostate cancer. He hadn’t had high readings before, so he was surprised to say the least. Upon learning he did in fact have a tumor, Greg said, “mine was a little aggressive, in fact I had an 8 Gleason score so it was pretty big.” It was time to take action. Greg knew he couldn’t wait very long, but he wanted to seek other opinions. He reached out to his primary care physician and friends for input. Several times, he was directed to Dr. Frank Lai at El Camino Hospital. “He went through...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooItnIy2hz4 Dorothy has travels awaiting and can’t be slowed down by her chronic vascular leg condition. With help from El Camino Hospital, she can stay focused on her next destination. This story is about Dorothy—a world-traveling nonagenarian who doesn’t have time to be slowed down by Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a narrowing of the arteries that limits blood flow. PAD can cause cramping, pain and tiredness—symptoms all experienced by Dorothy. People with PAD also have a much higher risk of heart attack or stroke, and without the right treatment, it can lead to serious complications. Over the course of five years, Dorothy underwent seven procedures, but nothing seemed to work. She was getting discouraged: frequent appointments without the results to show for it. So, in 2010, she took matters into her own hands and started searching for a vascular surgeon and a better approach. Dorothy found an osteopathic doctor and cardiologi...

My name is Bonnie Sawyer and I am 70 years old. I am a retired teacher and my husband and I have three sons, and have been blessed with 5 beautiful grandchildren. I first realized I had a heart problem in 2000. I was teaching at an elementary school in Kent and it was close to the end of the school year. For about three weeks, I had experienced shortness of breath, and my heart was fluttering and skipping beats. I thought it was just because the end of a school year is always busy and I was tired. I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and was put on metropolol, a beta blocker. This controlled my atrial fibrillation for 11 years with only a few episodes. One night in 2011, I thought I was possibly having a heart attack. I had shortness of breath and I pain between my shoulder blades. I knew that women experience a heart attack differently than men do, so we headed to the hospital. I was not having a heart attack, but an echocardiogram showed that my aortic heart valve was getting bad...