It had been raining on Sam Grewe for hours. His shoes were soaked. The custom-made prosthetic leg below his right thigh was beginning to fail. And the massive Olympic stadium, which usually was filled with fans shouting their encouragement, was ghostly quiet under pandemic restrictions. And yet, as Sam stood contemplating his third and final… Continue reading Sam’s Michigan Answer: A medical school that sees him as a champion
Few moments eclipse the joy of discovering that you’re pregnant with twins. But for 37-year-old Merrick and 37-year-old Mychal, the news that they’d be having fraternal girls with an expected delivery date of Christmas Day 2020 made the news even more exciting. “I couldn’t think of a better Christmas present,” recalls Merrick Smith of Ypsilanti,… Continue reading Merriah and Melliah’s Michigan Answer: From Premature Birth to a Bright Future
What do you do when you know a disease is reversible, even curable, and yet each year millions of people still suffer from it? For Amy Rothberg, M.D., you find a whole new way to help people not only lose weight, but in some cases even reverse a diabetes diagnosis. Obesity and diabetes constitute a… Continue reading Dr. Rothberg’s Michigan Answer: Reversing Type 2 Diabetes
In February 2018, Amy and Nick Winkler welcomed their healthy twin boys, Logan and Connor into the world. Amy recalls “feeling a huge sense of relief when both boys were born healthy and without any complications. Nick and I were just really excited to be parents and to move forward with this next chapter in… Continue reading Logan’s Michigan Answer: A living donor liver transplant at just 15 months old
It was December 2017, and Chris Connolly was four months into medical school, when he discovered it was difficult for him to hold onto a cardiology stethoscope when reaching across a patient’s hospital bed. It was time to take a trip to the hardware store. “Before I started medical school, I worked with occupational therapists… Continue reading Chris’s Michigan Answer: Creating a way for himself and others
Imagine being 200 feet underwater on a shipwreck that very few people have seen. Now, picture yourself weaving in and out of a centuries-old shipwreck with the pressure of a Michigan Great Lake upon you. For 53-year-old Meredith Hoag, these adventures were not just real, but a source of pure joy. “Scuba diving and technical… Continue reading Meredith’s Michigan Answer: Getting Back to Her Greatest Passion.
The speed. The rush. The adrenaline. Since birth, 34-year-old Michael Asher was always known for being a daredevil. “I’ve just always loved speed,” Michael says with a smile. “Sometimes too much.” The Detroit, Michigan native had a special reputation for riding motorcycles with a lead foot. But that need for speed caught up with Michael on September… Continue reading Michael’s Michigan Answer: A Prosthetic Leg Built for Speed.
What happens when you’ve had four major heart surgeries by age 26, yet your heart continues to worsen and your doctor tells you that you now need a heart transplant? If you’re Candice Tarter, you get a second opinion from Michigan Medicine. “I had my first open-heart surgery at 16,” recalls Candice, now 30. “And… Continue reading Candice’s Michigan Answer: A Second Opinion. A Second Chance.
At 10 years old, Akylah Marshall was your typical preteen. Playing basketball and softball, dancing, watching TikTok and hanging out with friends were just some of her passions. She even discovered a newfound interest in volleyball that she was looking forward to pursuing. But in November of 2019, life had different plans for Akylah. After… Continue reading Akylah’s Michigan Answer: The Fastest Response for the Rarest Cancer
Most aspiring physicians study medicine with the hopes of saving lives, being on the cutting edge of research, or developing the latest therapies and technologies. For Dr. Valeria Valbuena, it was all of the above, plus one additional life-affirming goal. I want to play a leading role in promoting and organizing a diverse workforce in medicine.… Continue reading Dr. Valbuena’s Michigan Answer: Being Empowered to Empower Others
