Patient Stories

Grant in Action: Quality Project Competition

SIU residents and fellows showcase research

Our generous donors allow the Foundation to continually invest in the future of healthcare.

Sean Lynch

Radio Personality Credits Memorial with Lifesaving Heart Care

Sean didn’t think anything was seriously wrong the afternoon of his massive heart attack. He’s alive today because of a comprehensive approach to heart care.

Mary Cohen

Lung Volume Reduction Patient Tackles Emphysema, Fight for Air Climb

A year ago, Mary relied on inhalers to get through the day with emphysema, COPD and asthma. This year, she's taking on the American Lung Association Fight for Air Climb: 32 floors, 532 steps.

Donor Spotlight: Spreading Joy!

Patients in Family Maternity Suites receives heartfelt donation

Three days before Christmas, 10-year-old twins Gavin and Carter Simmons stopped by Memorial Medical Center to donate two dozen brand-new stuffed animals to our patients in Family Maternity Suites.

Whitney Devine

'Depression Can Impact Anyone'

Whitney wasn’t feeling like herself and wasn’t sure what was wrong. She was constantly tired and lost her motivation to do things she used to love. By seeking help, Whitney was diagnosed with depression and started her path to recovery.

Betty Dudleston

Valve Replacement without Open-Heart Surgery

When 89-year-old Betty Dudleston found out she needed surgery to replace an aortic valve, she followed the advice she always gives to others: “Don’t let fear interfere with your health.” Thanks to a less-invasive procedure known as transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR, she was able to return to her normal routine within days.

Larry Stack

Memorial Volunteer Experiences Great Heart Care

Larry Stack, 79, enjoyed an energetic lifestyle that included volunteering at Memorial Medical Center and attending his grandchildren’s activities. That changed just before Thanksgiving in 2016. Larry was at home with his wife, Judy, when suddenly he lost consciousness, and Judy dialed 911.

Erma Tester

Finding the Right Tools Helps Erma Regain Her Life

“Overwhelming” is how Erma Tester, 80, described the grief she experienced when Everett, her husband of 63 years, passed away in the fall of 2012. She cried for seven months straight and couldn’t sleep at night. Senior Life Solutions provided resources to help Erma manage the anxiety and depression.

Mindy Pearse

Nurse Navigator Leans on Personal Cancer Journey to Help Others

In her role as a nurse navigator at Memorial Medical Center, Mindy Pearse, BSN, RN, has guided many women through their battles with breast cancer. It’s a battle Pearse knows well. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago, when she was a 30-year-old mom of two.

Malory Jefferson

Special Newborn Practices Focus on Health and Bonding

Passavant's leading-edge practices for newborns, including waiting to bathe and “rooming in”—a model in which babies remain alongside their mothers rather than staying in a nursery—promotes emotional and physical well-being.