Patient Stories

First in Iowa to implant third-generation heart device

heart patient in clinic with doctor
Using a recently approved update to a device called a MitraClip, surgeons at University of Iowa Heart and Vascular Center repaired the heart of an 82 year old who was a poor candidate for traditional repair of a leaky mitral valve.

Giving Kiersten hip care to keep an active life

Sprinter in starting blocks
External Source: 
UI Stead Family Children's Hospital
“I told Dr. Willey I had a goal to get back to dance, do track, and play softball. He was great to me. He told me if I followed his orders, I would get back and do those.”

Shilo’s thyroid cancer surgery story

Shilo Dahlgren as an inpatient
"I just knew in my heart this was where I was supposed to be by the way she explained things and reassured me."

Bill's liver was failing due to hepatitis C

Bill Klahn with his 2016 Transplant Games medal
Bill's liver was failing due to hepatitis C and liver cancer. After awaiting a liver donation for quite some time, Bill received a liver transplant that changed his life.

Terrell is making the most of his gift of life

Terrell Jordan Sr. playing basketball
One morning Terrell began to feel sick. He visited the emergency room to find out that he was having a heart attack. After being diagnosed with myocarditis, he was placed on the transplant list. After a few weeks, he was told they had a heart for him and Terrell underwent a life-changing surgery.

Cooper's hero is his uncle

Cooper Vozza runs in the 2016 Transplant Games
Cooper was born with Smith-Magenis syndrome, a developmental disorder that results in some level of intellectual disability and delayed speech and language skills. He was also born with just one kidney, which was small and in renal failure. Doctors knew he would need a kidney transplant as soon as he was old enough and big enough for the surgery.

Preventing falls, Mae moves forward

Mae portrait
Mae Schatteman, 96, shows no signs of slowing down. But she is careful to watch her step along the way. UI Health Care's Stepping On addresses the importance of walking and other low-impact exercise to keep ankles and other parts of the body stable.

Honored to be a 2018 Fan of the Year winner

Portrait of Traci McCausland
During her treatment for breast cancer, Traci McCausland says: “Coach Fran and Margaret McCaffery were incredibly supportive of us. We were so grateful for the support from the entire Iowa Athletic Department and UI Center for Advancement.”

Carley Neustel

External Source: 
University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital
Carley was rushed by helicopter to UI Stead Family Children's Hospital in September 2015 after a farm accident nearly severed both of her legs below the knees. She had also sustained a broken arm and a large cut on her scalp.

Kevin’s limb preservation story

Kevin Nahnsen from Waterloo, Iowa experienced compound fractures required three surgeries to correct his leg.

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