The year 2022 would begin the most difficult season my wife and I have ever faced. It had been a long five years of research, testing, and procedures leading up to the point where we would finally have a diagnosis and the direction needed for the best treatment plan for my wife. It was determined that my wife had a hereditary gene that increased her risk of cancer by 70%, with most patients being terminal by 45 years old if not treated properly. We were shocked, of course, but grateful to have a diagnosis so we could take the proper next steps to save her life. It was within the next couple of months that my wife's health began to deteriorate, and major surgery to remove the affected organ was the only option to save her life. The next part of this story is very long, spans over two-plus years, and is still currently active, but we decided it’s important for others to hear our story to give others hope.

My wife was immediately scheduled for surgery in early 2023. The initial surgery and hospital stay were successful, and a week later, my wife returned home. However, two days after returning home, my wife began to have severe complications, and I rushed her to the hospital emergency room. In a brief twenty minutes in the emergency room, it was determined that my wife was near death and needed emergency surgery. My wife was taken for what would be a lifesaving three-hour surgery.

Afterward, my wife would have to spend the next six weeks fighting for her life. She spent nineteen days on a ventilator in the ICU, nearly dying multiple times from further complications. Thankfully, after nineteen days in the ICU, my wife began to turn a corner and slowly, over the next five weeks, began to recover and was able to come home. However, over the rest of 2023, my wife would continue to experience further complications along with multiple hospital stays and an eventual complete revision of her initial surgery in early 2024.

Thankfully, since the complete revision of her surgery in 2024, my wife has continued to take positive steps toward a full recovery. There have been multiple Mayo Hospital medical professionals who have been a part of our story and saved my wife's life. However, there has been an individual who has been with us through most of this process and helped manage the most challenging time of our lives; her name is Angela Lewis, and she is the Director of the Mayo Hospital Complex Care Team.

There are no words my wife and I can use to fully express how grateful we are for Angela helping us to manage this season of life. Angela always went above and beyond in everything she did to make sure our family was taken care of. Even after my wife had completed her time in the Complex Care Team, we still spoke with Angela on a regular basis to give her updates on my wife's recovery because of how invested Angela was. My wife and I work in the medical field as well and know how hard it can be at times. However, in our opinion, there is no greater reward than investing your time into impacting and changing lives!

Angela, you are Amazing! Your commitment to investing in the lives of others is Inspiring! Thank you for all the lives you are touching each day. Thank you, and God Bless.