Patient Stories
The tiny town of Faith, South Dakota, is perhaps best known as the location of the discovery of the most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton yet found, nicknamed Sue. But there […]
Patient Stories
Monument Health physicians and caregivers are committed to delivering high-quality care that makes a difference in our communities. That’s why when a nurse at the Heart and Vascular Institute went […]
Patient Stories
As first contact caregivers, Intensive Care Unit nurses rarely get the opportunity to find out how their patients ultimately fare. When Dillon Robbins, a grateful patient, returns to thank the […]
Patient Stories
Pat Baumann is no stranger to a challenge. As an avid endurance runner, formidable circumstances are kind of his thing. Last year Pat found himself dealing with an unfortunate, unforeseen […]
Patient Stories
It started with macaroni and cheese. At least that’s the way Kili Cole tells the story. At age 11, Kili was a healthy girl who loved playing tennis, painting and […]
Patient Stories
For Rapid City-area real estate agent Nick Dupont, friendship with an orthopedic surgeon eventually led to a new outlook on long-persisting injuries and a trusted source of care for a […]
Patient Stories
Simultaneous double knee replacement surgery is a big commitment, but Clint Petersen had the guts and a burning desire to return to his active lifestyle. More than a year later, […]
Patient Stories
It was just another day at work for Danny Morris. The Monument Health valet supervisor was at his usual place near the entrance to Rapid City Hospital, greeting people and […]
Patient Stories
Jim Phillips has probably spent as much of his waking life outdoors as indoors. He coached baseball, track and swimming in the Lead-Deadwood area. Now retired, he loves biking, kayaking […]
Patient Stories
Competing in a half-marathon takes grit, determination and dedication — these are all traits Leah Nixon embodies. She’s also an artist, a mom and an entrepreneur. If a picture is […]
Patient Stories
Some people have a certain charm about them — people say that they light up a room, that their smiles are contagious or that they’re just fun to be around. […]
Patient Stories
Like a lot of high school seniors, Morgan Geppert doesn’t have much to say about herself. “I like to work, and I like to read sometimes,” she said. “I love […]
Patient Stories
For Rapid City-area real estate agent Nick Dupont, friendship with an orthopedic surgeon eventually led to a new outlook on long-persisting injuries and a trusted source of care for a […]
Patient Stories
In our inaugural issue, we introduced you to Carter Berlin (One Tough Ten Year Old, Spring 2021), a young man who lives with a rare chronic autoimmune disorder. Three years […]
Patient Stories
Lori Allen has struggled with breathing and other health issues all her life. Eventually, she was diagnosed with a heart condition that could only be corrected with surgery. As part […]
Patient Stories
The Wagners are proof that genetics play a big role in type 1 diabetes. They also prove that the disease is not just a young person’s affliction. “That’s one of […]
Patient Stories
For most people, a hospital stay isn’t a great time in their life. It can be scary and uncomfortable, often coming as an unpleasant surprise. However, there are things that […]
Patient Stories
When people suffer catastrophic illness or injury, sometimes they recover in ways that defy expectations From bad to worse When long-haul trucker Don Wood got sick while on the road […]
Patient Stories
Whitney Driscoll started biking with an ulterior motive. “I really, really like to ski,” he said. “So, I started mountain biking to stay in shape for skiing.” But as he […]
Patient Stories
With help from Monument Health Hospice staff, a Hill City patient fulfills a lifelong dream. Norma Henderson had a long, adventurous life filled with great memories. Born in 1931 in […]
Patient Stories
Everyone has something that they hope for, that they look forward to. Holding onto a dream, of one kind or another, helps us stay hopeful. It makes the good times […]
Patient Stories
Sgt. Thomas Keller thought he had only cracked his rib after dropping a barbell on his chest, but the situation was much graver than he thought. Fortunately, quick action by […]
Patient Stories
The path to better health can be a challenging one. For David and Darlene, the key to success was taking it together. David and Darlene Fickbohm have embarked on a […]
Patient Stories
Growing up, a lot of young people have posters on their walls of athletes and individuals they idolize. They dream of competing with them some day, and in that way, […]
Patient Stories
Sam, 15, is the kind of guy with whom you want to be friends. He’s smart, cheerful and fun to be around. He’s an athlete, a good student and just […]
Patient Stories
Brox Hunt of Piedmont is a thriving 5-year-old who loves watching his older siblings play sports, dancing, playing with friends, going to church and everything related to baseball – especially […]
Patient Stories
Though he may have been born of tragic circumstances, Ben Ericks has had a great life. If you were to ask him what kept him from being a victim of […]
Patient Stories
A surprise birth defect could have cost Linkin his life, had it not been for Jonathan Bigwood, M.D. Kennedi Springstun had what most would consider a normal pregnancy. Other than […]
Patient Stories
Mention Brady Thompson to pretty much anyone in Buffalo, and they’ll respond with a smile. Everybody knows this pint-sized 7-year-old, and they agree he’s a character. Brady lives on the […]
Patient Stories
A Physician Assistant, Registered Nurse and a Patient Access Specialist who doubles as an EMT are meeting the health care needs of South Dakota’s most isolated county. Mention Brady Thompson […]
Patient Stories
Mary McLaughlin didn’t know if she would ever walk without pain. Orthopedic surgeon Richard Little, M.D., gave her what she needed most: hope. It’s not uncommon for patients to fear […]
Patient Stories
Colin Gholson started his life with ARPKD, a genetic disease that often leads to kidney failure. As the 2020 and 2021 Children’s Miracle Network Champion, one thing is clear — […]
Patient Stories
Leah Nixon has an edgy sense of humor, which comes in handy when writing and designing a line of greeting cards. But humor was an absolute necessity during her long, […]
Patient Stories
The cowboy is an American icon, a legendary figure woven into the history and culture of South Dakota. If you’re looking to find one, Bob Lantis looks and sounds the […]
Patient Stories
Gordy Pratt is no stranger to being in the spotlight. The singer-songwriter was inducted into the South Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017. He brings his own brand […]
Patient Stories
Sometimes winning the fight against cancer starts with a promise. Kate Frye is the kind of grandmother that any child would be lucky to have. When she talks about her […]
Patient Stories
Katie Young collapsed at a bowling alley; luckily, nurse Amanda Gunter was nearby. No one ever knows exactly what the future holds. That’s part of what makes life exciting. People […]
Patient Stories
When Steven Austin’s heart gave out on him, his physicians and caregivers wouldn’t let him give up. The heart is an amazing piece of organic machinery, pumping blood through the […]
Patient Stories
Don Gray was hospitalized for 51 days, but he was victorious over COVID-19. It was the Friday after Memorial Day when Lana Gray returned from work to find her husband, […]
Patient Stories
Patient Stories
After her diagnosis, Carol Engel turned to the experts at the Monument Health John T. Vucurevich Cancer Care Institute. Working together, they’ve defied the odds against stage IV lung cancer. […]
Patient Stories
Carter Berlin’s autoimmune disorder diagnosis means he’s had to deal with more in the last six years than most do in a lifetime—but he’s one tough ten-year-old. Carter Berlin was […]
Patient Stories
Recovering from a brain tumor and radiation, Grayson Chapeau can once again enjoy ping pong, dancing – and life. In October 2014, Grayson Chapeau of Spearfish was diagnosed with an […]