Patient Stories
A Sudden Heart Attack Forces Life-Altering Reality Check
Her doctor called 911 when he didn't believe she would really go to the ER, and thankfully he did. Never in a million years did Susan Roberts think she would hear the words 'emergency double-...
A True Globe Trotter
The CardioMEMS system remotely monitors bill’s heart failure while he travels the world.
A Vision of Comfort
Darla Rogers and her service dog, Huck, add a special touch to NKCH's comfort rounding team. Her experiences as a rehabilitation services counselor and a former North Kansas City Hospital pat...
An Ounce of Prevention
For Yvonne Nance, a free health screening turned out to be a lifesaving investment. After unexpected open heart surgery that required six bypasses, Yvonne is thrilled to be back to her regula...
Aquablation Ace
For treatment of his enlarged prostate, Ray Demes looked to aquablation for its long-lasting relief and low complication rates. Now he is back to fulfilling his life’s passion — fitness.
Back to Life
Brian's decision to have bariatric surgery resulted in a happier and healthier life. Hearing the words, "you'll be dead in 5-10 years" was the catalyst he needed to change his unhealthy lifes...
Brandon Go, Go Gadget (video)
Brandon Smith was alone and far from home when he ended up in a New York City hospital Emergency Room. It was there, while on a work trip, he learned his kidneys were failing. He was 26. ...
Cancer Rehab Helps Young Dad Fight Head and Neck Cancer
Cancer rehab helped William maintain his quality of life during intense cancer treatment.
Cancer Rehab Reenergizes Young Breast Cancer Survivor
Cancer rehab helped Ashley regain her energy to teach first graders and chase after her young sons.
Climbing High with Move Plus
Kathie could barely walk without extreme pain. She didn't understand how moving more would be helpful, but the Move Plus program got her walking, climbing and feeling strong.
Donna Feisty and Fearless Against Breast Cancer (video)
Like everyone who moves to a new city, Donna and Marvin Brooks had grand plans when they relocated to Kansas City from St. Louis two years ago. They moved to be closer to family and looked fo...
First Female TAVR Patient
Hilde Zitzwitz, 92, doesn’t regret for an instant being NKCH’s first female TAVR patient. “Before the TAVR procedure, I felt very tired,” Hilde says. “I wasn’t able to do the thin...
From Heart Failure to Six Miles a Day
Tim Baldwin came to the NKCH Emergency Department with congestive heart failure. After losing 100 pounds in 14 months, Tim is climbing mountains and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.
Hernia Repairs Go High-tech
Art Stratman, MD, a retired family physician, enjoys playing a few games of pool each week, and even finds time to mix in some Mexican Train dominoes. But, when his bilateral inguinal (groin) hernia flared up, the pain made routine activities difficult to
In a Heartbeat
Just 14 weeks into her second pregnancy, Angela discovered her aortic stenosis, a heart condition, had progressed, placing her and her unborn daughter, Hazel, in serious danger.
KC’s Rocket Man Undergoes TAVR for Severe Aortic Stenosis
Learn how TAVR saved this popular KC radio personality when he was in heart failure.
Live the Sweet Life With Type 2 Diabetes
Strawberry-rhubarb pie may seem like an odd milestone marker, but for Gladstone resident Richard King, passing on pie more than 20 years ago was his first step toward living well with Type 2 ...
Living Successfully With Heart Failure
After being diagnosed with heart failure at age 45, Brandon could only think of one thing, "how long do I have to live?" Brandon's cardiologist recommended the Heart Care Clinic where he lear...
Loosening Stroke's Grip
After a stroke, Virgil lost the use of his right arm and hand. Ten years later, an innovative treatment plan is helping him improve his quality of life. The Botox® injection for post-stroke ...
Movin' & Groovin' Move Plus Physical Therapy (video)
Katey’s constant energy makes it easy to forget she’s battled debilitating back pain for the better part of 30 years. Watch how Move Plus helped her with the pain.
People With Parkinson's Get a Fighting Chance
Reclusive, depressed, anxious and insecure. That’s how Kent Galloway, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, four years ago, described himself just 10 short months ago. Blow by blow,...
Pitch Perfect Pianist Fights Hearing Loss With Oxygen Therapy
Sudden hearing loss led Chris Madden to NKCH, where hyperbaric oxygen therapy helped him regain his hearing.
Saving Gracelyn
After being born at just 30 weeks and three pounds, NKCH's Level II NICU set Gracelyn Eichhorn on her path to thrive.