Paola Ferguson
Vistage
We never thought going to Mayo could be so easy or that the physicians and staff could be so caring.
Forty-six days without being hospitalized for a headache … to me that is a milestone I thought I never would reach. For fourteen months I struggled with debilitating headaches. It was at the point that I felt that my doctors failed to take me seriously or look me in the eye. I felt like I was a nuisance to them; yet I still was suffering beyond belief. The Executive VP of my company, Tim Greene is a Vistage member, and when he noticed how sick I was, he mentioned I should call Vistage Healthnetwork.
My husband Michael is also a Vistage member. Because I was sick so often, he was missing meetings. Joe Fife, his Vistage Chair, had been encouraging him to take advantage of the Vistage Healthnetwork benefit as well. After having exhausted many local options, we decided to investigate leveraging the network to explore our treatment options within the country’s top tier institutions. Joe immediately helped us get in touch with the right people and my life changed for the better.
I spoke with Pat, the Medical Coordinator at Healthnetwork; she was so sweet and caring. She connected me to Julie, the Healthnetwork Liaison at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. From there, our journey took off. Julie took care of everything for us – including scheduling me with Dr. J. Taylor Hays to quarterback my care and several other specialists while I was there.
With schedule in hand, we went to the airport to get the flight to Minneapolis. A huge snowstorm quickly sidelined our plans. Flights were canceled. I was nervous to begin with and felt like giving up. I thought the complications were a sign and talked myself into believing that I may never get better. My husband took charge and calmly assured me that “We are going to Mayo.” And that is just what we did.
We were so thankful just to be at Mayo. Everyone was so nice. My physician sent me to a neurologist, Dr. Fred M. Cutrer, who is so compassionate. He is a headache sufferer, as well. He treated me so kindly; I felt his care and concern. He even called me at home to check on my progress.
Incredibly, my husband was able to see a few specialists while we were at Mayo, too. I don’t know how you did it; but it meant the world to us to meet with all these specialists.
Taking this trip meant missing a few Christmas traditions with my children. Yet what I came home with was so much better – I now had hope for my future. I had answers and a treatment plan that is having positive results.
Healthnetwork and Mayo – you gave me back my life. If I can inspire Vistage Members to reach out to you then I will be happy. I want to tell everyone the story of how my life was changed so dramatically. I have accomplished more work in the last month than I did in the last year.
Paola Ferguson
spouse of Michael Ferguson
VP and General Manager, SubscriberMail, A Harland Clarke Company
Lisle, Illinois
Vistage Group #814