The Mayo Clinic experience and patient stories Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care like they've never experienced. See the stories of satisfied Mayo Clinic patients. Thriving, not just surviving, after bariatric surgeryA trip to Disney World in 2023 was an eye-opener for Katie Crow. It wasn't the rides, parades or immersive activities that caught her attention but that she struggled to have the energy to go to the amusement park every day. "It wasn't the experience I wanted it to be. That's when I knew I finally needed to do something about my weight," says Katie, an endoscopy nurse with Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse,… 'I'm so happy we're here:' An unexpected diagnosis saves Rich Bugay's lifeRich Bugay had an appointment with the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, on a Monday, where he had hoped to get answers and relief for what he thought was refractory acid reflux — until his doctor discovered a heart murmur. The next morning, Rich was told he had congenital heart disease and a severely dilated aorta that could rupture. Just two days later, Rich underwent lifesaving heart surgery. After… Sally Blackwell 'no longer on the sidelines' after life-changing surgery for rectal cancerSally Blackwell with her husband, Christopher Blackwell. Sally Blackwell was pregnant with her second child when she began noticing symptoms she initially brushed off as nothing. She was experiencing constipation. She wasn't gaining weight during the pregnancy. She figured the lack of weight gain had to be because she wasn't doing the daily Chick-fil-A runs she did during her first pregnancy. It wasn't until after her daughter was born in May 2021 that the symptoms became… A newborn's twist leads to emergency surgeryCaring for a newborn is full of twists and turns. Feelings of joy and contentment one moment can turn to fear and worry the next. That's how Nicole and Corbin Burkard of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, felt after their third daughter, Ellie, was born in February. "She was just perfect and looked like her older sister," says Nicole. "She just fit right in." The new family of five was settling into a routine at home when Nicole… Living in the moment: Susan ParrottAs someone affected by chronic liver disease, Susan Parrott knows how it feels to live in uncertainty. But every few months, the anxiety and doubt that shadow her life fade when Mayo Clinic Laboratories test results confirm her condition is in check and she can continue living life on her own terms. Every three months, Susan Parrott, who has liver cirrhosis, breathes a sigh of relief. Gone is the weight associated with having a diseased… More adventures thanks to advanced cancer care, robotic surgeryStacy Weisensel and her husband Joshua had a goal: to take their daughters to as many national parks as possible. But in the summer of 2021, while trying to enjoy the breathtaking views of Yellowstone National Park with her family, Stacy was distracted by a nagging pain in her esophagus. Over the next few months, Stacy’s symptoms grew worse and ultimately led to a frightening diagnosis — stomach cancer. A life-changing diagnosis In July 2021,… Jerry Costello starts life after public service with new liverJerry Costello holds his first great-great-grandchild, Colt Keen. Jerry Costello has spent a lifetime serving his community and country. After retiring, the southwestern Illinois native was looking forward to a new chapter. He started his own business and enjoyed more time at home with his family. But in 2017, Jerry noticed weight gain without a change in diet. "I went to my doctor for my annual physical and underwent a series of tests, but had… Request an appointment ResearchCosts & insurance Nov. 07, 2024 Share on: FacebookTwitter Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, has been recognized as the best Gastroenterology & GI Surgery hospital in the nation for 2024-2025 by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about this top honor Gastroenterology and HepatologyDepartmenthomeSectionsOverviewTests & proceduresConditions treatedDoctorsDoctors by location and specialtySpecialty groupsExpertise & rankingsClinical trialsResearchPatient storiesCosts & insuranceNews from Mayo ClinicReferrals SectionsRequest an AppointmentOverviewTests & proceduresConditions treatedDoctorsDoctors by location and specialtySpecialty groupsExpertise & rankingsClinical trialsResearchPatient storiesCosts & insuranceNews from Mayo ClinicReferrals ORG-20308333 Medical Departments & Centers Gastroenterology and Hepatology