Great Benefit: The empathetic ripple effect of Mayo Clinic Connect

@schmerdloff Absolutely! I love being able to provide a direct link to an appropriate Mayo Connect discussion when they are dealing with a health issue. I just did it yesterday for a friend dealing with an issue related to her Parkinsons medication.

The reliability of Connect information and the safety of our support groups is what brought me here over eight years ago, and keeps me coming back as a volunteer.

Please keep sharing our resource whenever you can!

PS We have over 300,000 members, many who just come to read and listen, so you reach is far broader than you can imagine. We have great leadership in Colleen and the other moderators, and are fortunate to have the financial, technical and policy support of Mayo Clinic.

To @shmerdloff That is a great post. I agree. Because of the community we have here at Connect, I believe my attitude towards others, even those who aren't a part of this community has improved. I understand better how to empathize and understand better what others are going through. So, this experience has helped me no doubt. I only hope I have helped others, even a tiny bit. We never really know. We can only hope.

@sueinmn Great volunteer mentors like yourself really help us make the best of reading the often excellent and helpful posts here. Thank you to the max !

Good points above. When I’m at the gym and I observe various people there exercising, who have obvious physical ailments or disabilities, I see them in a different light, realizing what they may be experiencing. It really gives me a certain perspective about people who are managing health issues. I have more empathy and I try to show them encouragement and kindness. The strength and drive I see in them is amazing and an inspiration to me.

If it wasn't for being on "Mayo Connect" I would not have found the ideal treatment for my prostate cancer and I had it at Mayo/Rochester a little over a month ago!

@mikead63 Thank you for sharing, Mike!
Ginger

@gingerw You are very welcome! I was unaware of the procedure provided by Mayo. I met with a number of "experts" in the Twin Cities who promoted their plans and/or procedures, some of who I trusted from previous visits. None of them mentioned the option provided by Mayo. None of them. I am so happy to have found out about it because I was the perfect candidate for the Mayo procedure! Next week I will be at Mayo again for another medical evaluation for another medical situation and I know that I will be in good hands.

@shmerdloff: I see you've been a long time member and contibutor here at Mayo Clinic Connect. You've truly demonstrated the concept of "pay it forward" through your discussions and mindset. The encouragement is much appreciated and I believe deeply shared throughout the community! Thank you for putting the sentiment into words.

This platform has been a wonderful venue for three of us who have undergone the PeriCut EFS for HFpEF. A great way to share.

@mikead63 Your post points out how good it is when we find a doctor who "plays well with others." By that, I mean that they seek out and discuss what may be a perplexing situation to get other opinions along with researching the latest literature. I remember that a couple of weeks after my septal myectomy at Mayo, I developed an electrical problem in my heart that caused me to have many, many arrythmias. I was home in Upstate NY and I remember the "parade of cardiologists" when I was hospitalized, everyone trying to figure it out. (They did)