Patient Stories
An opened door: How one Cedar Rapids family helped a Haitian family in need of medical care
A series of connections and of good will that stretched across years and miles finally reached its culmination when two patients made their way into the surgical wing of Mercy. But, the circumstances that brought 41-year-old Berthony Ceneliant and his 14-year old son Lens Wogger Ceneliant was beyond a typical patient’s journey to care. Read more from The Gazette, May 21, 2018.
Coming Home to Mercy
Harold "Red" Drew, 59, had a swollen lymph node on his neck in June 2016. Two rounds of antibiotics later, it was still there and more had popped up. When his dentist raised concerns, Red decided it was time to switch physicians. Read more on page 12.
Marking the End
When 35-year-old Krista Barnell discovered a lump in her breast during a self-exam, she initially wrote it off. The healthy mother of two never imagined it was cancer. Read more on page 14 (PDF).
My Dad Has Cancer
Sixth-grader Codie Lyman enjoys sports, hanging out with her friends and spending time on her phone. But, unlike most other kids her age, she’s dealing with the emotional impact of having a father with cancer. Read more.
A Friend for Life
Nancy and Tom Lackner knew Deb Sedlacek, RN, was a Mercy parish nurse at their church, First Presbyterian Church in Cedar Rapids. But they didn’t really understand what she did – until they needed her. Read more.
Beating the Odds
Deb Peska has a spring in her step and a smile on her face. She also has breast cancer, which her mother and her grandmother also had. But the 53-year-old Toledo woman credits two key allies since her diagnosis. Read more.
Celebrating Life Cancer-Free
Kevin Boge, 32, attributed his sporadic stomach pain to his cheeseburger-and-fries lifestyle. The pain wasn’t always in the same place and fluctuated in intensity. But one night, the pain was so bad he woke his wife, Martha. A registered nurse, she put her foot down and said it was time to call the doctor. Kevin also had occasional night sweats and blood in his stool once. Read more.
