CLEVELAND – For Alana Burns, 44, type 1 diabetes was part of her daily routine. The Las Vegas resident was accustomed to frequent self-administered blood tests and a constant use of an insulin pump attached to her right side. However, in the fall of 2018, her condition worsened, and her physicians began discussing the need … Read More

CLEVELAND – Lifelong runner Joyce Chisar, 55, always dreamed of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. But to make the cut, she needed to rank among the fastest runners in her age group. In September 2018, the Willowick, Ohio, resident signed up for a marathon in Erie, Pennsylvania. “I was feeling really good last summer,” she said. … Read More

CLEVELAND – At just 3 years old, Grace Rosian, has faced a number of challenges. Grace was born two months early, with Down syndrome in October 2016. Within her first days of life, her parents learned she did not pass the newborn hearing screening test. Typically, infants with impaired hearing have surgery, within their first … Read More

CLEVELAND – Being a new mom is especially sweet for Brittney Rinella of Willowick, Ohio. Four years ago, breast cancer almost derailed her plans to start a family. “I was terrified; not only do I have to deal with this diagnosis at 26, but now I have to worry about possibly not having children, so … Read More

CLEVELAND – A talented soccer and basketball player, 10-year-old Sophia Pecjak had been complaining of pains in her chest and a rapid heartbeat. Trips to her pediatrician and the emergency room revealed she had likely contracted a form of myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle usually caused by a viral infection, such as influenza. Pecjak … Read More

CLEVELAND – Stephen Sroka, 76, knows how to captivate an audience. A public speaker and adjunct assistant professor, Sroka, devotes his time to teaching others about the ‘Power of One’ – how one person can make a difference. But, after suffering from sudden cardiac arrest during a speaking event, Sroka was on a medical transport flight … Read More

CLEVELAND – A nagging reaction to a suspected bug bite is what initially sent Mike Balla, 46, of Rocky River, Ohio to seek emergency care. Swollen, red and painful, the top of Balla’s foot kept getting worse, despite two rounds of antibiotics from previous visits to an urgent care facility and his family doctor. But what … Read More

CLEVELAND – In June 2017, 2-year-old Simon McKenzie was a bubbly toddler who could count to 20 and loved to sing nursery rhymes. But, by September of that same year, his parents, Mark McKenzie and Autumn Ziemba, noticed Simon had become much quieter. He rarely interacted with other children, and barely acknowledged his beloved grandparents when … Read More

CLEVELAND – When Rachel Parker, 39, a marathon runner, learned she needed to have a liver tumor removed, she was concerned about how long her recovery would keep her from training. Diagnosed with perivascular epithelioid cell neoplasm (PEComa) – a rare and usually benign tumor which forms in the soft tissue of the stomach, intestines, lungs … Read More

Download Text Web Story CLEVELAND – B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), is a rare form of cancer that strikes only about 6,000 Americans annually. When Jud Logan, 60, was diagnosed with ALL in 2019, the four-time Olympic athlete, and longtime track and field head coach for Ashland University was undaunted. “I’m built for this,” said Logan. “If anybody … Read More