"A bolt out of the blue..."
The pain startled Eloise Deihl out of a sound sleep. "It was about 3 a.m. when I felt strange pains on the left side of my chest," says the retired beautician from Dilworth, Minn. "Not crushing pain exactly, but certainly it was uncomfortable. It felt like somebody had karate chopped my windpipe." Eloise got up, took a couple aspirin then went back to bed. When she woke up a few hours later, the pain had subsided, but she knew she needed to see her doctor.
That morning's visit to Dr. Michael Sand at MeritCare Moorhead began the path toward the diagnosis of a serious heart problem and treatment, including advanced heart surgery at MeritCare. "I likely had a mild heart attack that night, but fortunately we caught the problem early enough to treat it," says Eloise. Read more about Eloise Deihl.
Waking up, starting over
"The summer after my senior year was going to be great. I had so many plans, like going to college at NDSU in August. Little did I know my plans would take a drastic change one day, and nothing would be as I planned."
Electronic Medical Records
When Sally Maruska visits her doctor at MeritCare Bemidji, whether it's for herself or one of her kids, she knows she won't see the traditional medical record – a file folder with a stack of papers inside.
MeritCare Reproductive Medicine
For ten years, MeritCare Reproductive Medicine in Fargo (formerly MeritCare Fertility Clinic) has been providing quality reproductive care, specializing in treatment for infertility, endometriosis and menopause.
Minimally invasive hip surgery makes a maximum difference
Like many people in need of hip replacement surgery, Jeff Ficek of Fargo put it off just as long as possible. But unlike most who need this procedure, he's young – 39 years old.
Three times the love
Sherry and Graydon Bell of Wahpeton, N.D., knew they might be in for a challenge. Two weeks into their pregnancy, they learned they'd have triplets. At 17 weeks, Sherry started having labor pains, prompting 15 weeks of strict bed rest and medication to control contractions.
New Parkinson's treatment restores active life
Last fall, Carol Wika canned tomatoes without help while visiting a friend in Hillsboro, N.D. That might not sound so remarkable, but consider Carol has had Parkinson's disease since 1984 and in recent years the severe symptoms have immobilized her.
An unbelievable gift
When Scott Ellingson describes his health today, two aspects he no longer includes are failing kidneys and diabetes – a disease he'd had since childhood. "I received a gift of incredible proportion and I'm just so thankful for it," says the 48-year-old husband.