Transplant Programs at Mayo Clinic

Patient Stories

Bone Marrow Transplant

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  Wendy Hamilton

  While hiking on a trip with her daughter, Wendy Hamilton often had to stop and rest. She attributed it to higher altitudes and middle age, but Hamilton was diagnosed later with stage 4 peripheral T-cell lymphoma. A bone marrow transplant got her back on the right path. Read Wendy's story.

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  Greg Nelson

  A difficult-to-diagnose cancer brought Greg Nelson to his knees, literally. But a bone marrow transplant put him back on his feet. Read Greg's story.

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  Elijah Poolman

  Today 10-year-old Elijah Poolman and his family have a lot to be thankful for. Elijah has battled a rare form of leukemia — and won. Read Elijah's story.

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  Sue Stein

  Sue Stein believes everything happens for a reason, including her seven year battle with cancer and the stem cell transplant that helped her win. Read Sue's story.

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  Wendy Zins

  Long-term cancer survivor who had a bone marrow transplant gives others hope. Read Wendy's story.

Heart Transplant

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  Bob Aronson

  "The first five weeks were difficult, but then one day I woke up and suddenly felt like I needed to do something — clean the house, work in the shop, just be busy. I felt better then I had in 15 years." Read Bob's story.

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  Gary Blinn

  Gary Blinn lives life to the fullest after a heart transplant at Mayo Clinic. Read Gary's story.

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  Ruben Delgadillo

  A tiny cardiac device kept Ruben Delgadillo going until his new heart arrived. Read Ruben's story.

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  Tom Dollins

  When Tom Dollins visits Mayo Clinic, he likes to stop by the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and visit with young people who are waiting for heart transplants. Read Tom's story.

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  Chuck Fisher

  Chuck Fisher continues to share his time and talents, thanks to a heart transplant at Mayo Clinic. Read Chuck's story.

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  Priscilla French

  Priscilla French vows to 'make them all proud' by protecting her new heart. Read Priscilla's story.

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  Joe Hasse

  Joe Hasse was a typical 16-year-old, until he became the youngest heart transplant patient in Phoenix. Read Joe's story.

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  Ardell Lien

  Ardell Lien is a man on a mission after the life-changing gift of a heroic organ donor. Read Ardell's story.

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  Robert McGuire

  A heart transplant added ten years to Butch McGuire's time with his family. Read Robert's story.

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  Oscar McKnight

  A ventricular assist device supported Oscar McKnight's heart while he waited for a transplant. Read Oscar's story.

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  Colter Meinert

  For Colter Meiner, a heart transplant when he was six weeks old offered the chance for a normal life after being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Read Colter's story.

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  Gina Neeld

  Even if you don't know the expression "steel magnolia," you'll understand it when you meet Gina Neeld. Read Gina's story.

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  Stefani Pentiuk

  Stefani Pentiuk is back on the basketball court after her heart transplant. Read Stefani's story.

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  Eric Peterson

  Eric Peterson is not the average college guy ... and he has the scars from a heart transplant to prove it. Read Eric's story.

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  Mary Jo Renner

  Recently Mary Jo Renner walked up the bleachers to watch her son's basketball game. That may not sound remarkable, but Renner did it without experiencing chest pain — a major accomplishment for a woman who received a new heart in August 2002. Read Mary Jo's story.

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  Pete Thalmann

  Pete Thalmann's Thanksgiving blessing came in the form of a heart. Read Pete's story.

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  Rylie Weigel

  Twelve hours after Rylie Weigel was born in Thief River Falls, Minn., she started turning blue in the face and had difficulty breathing. She had a severe form of HLHS and would needed a heart transplant. Read Rylie's story.

Kidney Transplant

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  Bobbie Bartz

  An innovative transplant technique at Mayo Clinic makes Bobbie Bartz compatible with her new kidney. Read Bobbie's story.

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  Ann Beasley

  Ann Beasley was only too willing to donate one of her kidneys to her husband, but their blood types were incompatible. A procedure at Mayo Clinic called ABO incompatible kidney transplants made her gift possible. Read Ann's story.

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  Fred Breier

  A living donor kidney transplant from Rita Breier to her husband, Fred, was a special Christmas gift. Read Fred's story.

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  Harris Cander

  Alan and Harris Cander grew up sharing everything from toys to music. When the need arose, Alan also shared part of himself — a life-saving kidney. Read Harris' story.

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  Manny Comstock

  Manny Comstock prepares for a long life after receiving a living donor kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic. Read Manny's story.

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  Andrew and Mariah Doehling

  Andrew and Mariah Doehling, the youngest children of their family, both suffered from rare kidney disorders as infants, which resulted in kidney transplants for both. Read Andrew and Mariah's story.

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  John Greller

  John Greller was a hero in the pool at the National Kidney Foundation Transplant Games. He gave his medals to his real heroes — his wife, his (donor) son, and the Mayo Transplant Team. Read John's story.

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  Hasan Hosein

  Hasan Hosein calls Minnesota a "magical white paradise" — and plans his post-kidney transplant visits from Trinidad and Tobago so he can see the snow. Read Hasan's story.

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  Scott Jablonow

  Scott and Ellen Jablonow's marriage of 30 years results in true 'bonding' through wife-to-husband kidney transplant Read Scott's story.

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  Blair Juniper

  The Juniper family said they would do it all over again for their son, Blair, who has had three kidney transplants. Read Blair's story.

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  Ardell Lien

  Ardell Lien is a man on a mission after the life-changing gift of a heroic organ donor. Read Ardell's story.

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  Katie Margolis

  Hope, in the form of a kidney, came when Katie Margolis least expected it. Read Katie's story.

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  Charlotte Markle

  Charlotte Markle is healthy and strong 40 years after being one of Mayo's first kidney transplant patients. Read Charlotte's story.

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  Will Martin

  Will Martin struggled with diabetes since age 4. At 20, he began to lose his sight. A kidney/pancreas transplant gave him back his future. Read Will's story.

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  Laura Matthews

  For Jodie and Laura, it was the Ultimate Thanksgiving. Laura Matthews received a kidney from her daughter, Jodi Mennie, who returned from Afghanistan for the surgery. Read Laura's story.

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  Brance Modin

  Brance and Kathy Modin haven't just been compatible as husband and wife over the last thirty-plus years — it was Kathy who provided the compatible kidney to save her husband's life with a transplant at Mayo Clinic. Read Brance's story.

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  Edward Richmond

  A kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic helped Skip Richmond get back to normal. Read Edward's story.

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  Ed Robertson

  Ed Robertson is proof that you are never too old to keep living. Read Ed's story.

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  Tomi Roinila

  A living donor kidney transplant keeps Tomi Roinila on the ice with his young sons. Read Tomi's story.

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  Mary Schmidt

  Mary Schmidt gave birth to her son, and he gave life back to her with a living donor kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic. Read Mary's story.

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  Sara Sheeran

  After a kidney transplant at Mayo Clinic, Sara Sheeran helps other children facing transplant. Read Sara's story.

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  Thomas Spagnolia, M.D., Ph.D.

  After successful kidney and then pancreas transplant, life has fundamentally changed for Dr. Thomas Spagnolia, who is no longer at the mercy of diabetes. "I'm ecstatic," he says. "Things have reversed. It's a totally new situation." Read Thomas' story.

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  Gil Staus

  Strangers become fast friends after a living donor kidney transplant. Read Gil's story.

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  Pamela Swanson

  Mayo Clinic is "just around the corner" for Mississippi's Pamela Swanson. A kidney transplant and pancreas transplant cure her diabetes. Read Pamela's story.

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  Lauren Trembley

  Lauren Trembley was a healthy, active teenager until a hidden disease shut down her kidneys. A kidney transplant at Mayo helped her regain her active lifestyle. Read Lauren's story.

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  Cory Watt

  Some dads give their sons their names. Others give their sons their old baseball gloves. Shayne Watt gave his son Cory one of his kidneys. Read Cory's story.

Liver Transplant

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  Shirley Beltz

  Shirley Beltz enjoys being a grandmother. And a liver transplant has given Shirley more time to spend with her grandson. Read Shirley's story.

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  Baron Bluhm

  A liver transplant, and the second chance it brought him leave Baron Bluhm grateful for those who provided his care - and still searching for words to express his gratitude for the donation that saved his life. Read Baron's story.

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  Mary Jane Bollinger

  Transplant recipient becomes transplant volunteer. Read Mary Jane's story.

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  Christine Chapa

  A new liver makes "normal" toddler experiences possible for Christine Chapa. Read Christine's story.

• Karima Edmonds

  Karima Edmonds is sometimes a little tired. She's not sure if it's due to the new baby or the new liver, both of which came during the same week. Read Karima's story.

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  Richard Feist

  Like most men his age, Richard Feist says he needs to watch what he eats and keep active. Life is pretty much back to normal since his liver transplant. Read Richard's story.

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  Carolyn Johnson

  Jay and I both decided that if anything is ever wrong with us, we're going back to Mayo Clinic. Read Carolyn's story.

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  Simuel Millwood

  Tina Millwood and her son Simuel the day before his liver transplant. Read Simuel's story.

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  Charlie and Brandie Myers

  Charlie Myers and his granddaughter Brandie have a lot in common. They share a love of family, a great sense of humor and — since the summer of 2003 — a liver. Read Charlie and Brandie's story.

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  Bruce Schwartau

  A liver transplant for primary sclerosing cholangitis brought new strength to Bruce Schwartau. "It's a joy to be able to play [golf] and walk. To many people, that doesn't mean much. But I know what it's like to be weak." Read Bruce's story.

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  Aaron Segedi

  "I will never forget [my Detroit physician] telling me that his hospital doesn't transplant to a patient who has bile duct cancer. My doctor of over 14 years could no longer help me." Instead, Aaron was referred to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Read Aaron's story.

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  Trevor Tompkins

  Quick action and teamwork give newborn a second chance after beating the odds and a life-threatening illness. Read Trevor's story.

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  Doug Yaus

  Doug Yaus says you have to be involved in your care — and never give up hope — even when your options seem to have come to an end. Read Doug's story.

Lung Transplant

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  Bob Lumaye

  New lungs carry runner across finish line 17 months after transplant. Read Bob's story.

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  Hazel Roby

  Valentine's Day 2002 was like no other for Hazel Roby. She received a very special heart that day, not chocolate in a gold box, but a gift of life, packaged neatly with two donor lungs. Read Hazel's story.

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  Tom Terrill

  At 73, a lung transplant has meant a return to golfing, travel, and volunteer work for Tom Terrill; the oldest lung transplant recipient at Mayo Clinic. Read Tom's story.

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  Bobbie Wilson

  A double lung transplant means freedom to Bobbie Wilson, who has made the happy adjustment to life without oxygen cords. "When I did my lung capacity tests for the first time after transplant, I cried because it was so effortless." Read Bobbie's story.

Pancreas Transplant

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  Diane Knowles

  Diane Knowles now lives without seizures and diabetes, thanks to a pancreas transplant at Mayo Clinic. Read Diane's story.

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  Will Martin

  Will Martin struggled with diabetes since age 4. At 20, he began to lose his sight. A kidney/pancreas transplant gave him back his future. Read Will's story.

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  Thomas Spagnolia, M.D., Ph.D.

  After successful kidney and then pancreas transplant, life has fundamentally changed for Dr. Thomas Spagnolia, who is no longer at the mercy of diabetes. "I'm ecstatic," he says. "Things have reversed. It's a totally new situation." Read Thomas' story.

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  Pamela Swanson

  Mayo Clinic is "just around the corner" for Mississippi's Pamela Swanson. A kidney transplant and pancreas transplant cure her diabetes. Read Pamela's story.