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Inside Story: Canadian Woman Cut in Half to Save Her Life [Mayo Clinic Groundbreaking Surgery)
People/TodayShow Video ^ | September 24, 2010 | By Alison Schwartz

Posted on 09/28/2010 9:29:20 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay

For Janis Ollson and her husband Daryl, wedding vows have taken on an entirely new significance.

"In sickness and in health" was a promise made on their wedding day – and a promise they revisited just four months ago when they renewed their vows after 10 years of marriage.

But as Ollson walked down the aisle this time, she leaned on a cane for support and had a prosthetic leg. It was, in many ways, a miracle she made the walk at all.

It's been about three years since Ollson, who lives in the Canadian province Manitoba, went under the knife during a groundbreaking operation in which her body was cut in half – a first in medical history.

"Recovery has been long and slow," Ollson, 31, said on the Today show Friday morning. "We've been continually moving forward."

The mother-of-two was diagnosed with the bone cancer chondrosarcoma while she was pregnant with her second child three years ago. Because the cancer was untreatable by chemotherapy, doctors in Toronto proposed a cutting-edge operation which had, before Ollson, only been performed on cadavers.

To get to the tumor, surgeons from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., would need to remove her leg, her lower spine and half her pelvis. Then, they would put her back together again.

Documentary Video

(Excerpt) Read more at people.com ...


TOPICS: Canada; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: cancer; healthcare; janisollson; mayoclinic
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America's Mayo Clinic saves life of young Canadian mom with "ground breaking" cancer operation. Canadian Hospitals vs Rochester's Mayo Clinic.
1 posted on 09/28/2010 9:29:28 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay

This will, of course, be covered under Obamacare. What with it being a pre-existing condition and all.


2 posted on 09/28/2010 9:33:29 AM PDT by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: fight_truth_decay; Jeff Head

This is similar to the surgery that Freeper Jeff Head faced, though his did not result in loss of limbs.

How are you doing, Jeff? Thoughts and prayers still with you.


3 posted on 09/28/2010 9:34:04 AM PDT by CedarDave (Ten-year anniversary - proudly Freeping since Aug 17, 2000)
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To: fight_truth_decay
Yep - it takes an American hospital with American doctors to do what the socialists in Canada could not...

But that's ok - right around the corner, our medical system will achieve the same lofty quality and capability as our socialist Canadian neighbors....


4 posted on 09/28/2010 9:34:45 AM PDT by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
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To: Jeff Head

You may find this of interest, Jeff.


5 posted on 09/28/2010 9:39:19 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner (Sarah Palin has crossed the Rubicon!)
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To: fight_truth_decay

Canadian universal health care vs private health care in the US....

Has the Health Care Bill addressed those patients of other countries who wish to avail themselves of our care after the Health Care Law kicks in?

Will Canada’s patients be refused...they sure should be as we will be rationing care to our own population and we sure can’t take it on ourselves to extend the life of a non American while meting out care here.


6 posted on 09/28/2010 9:47:02 AM PDT by Dudoight
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To: fight_truth_decay

I saw this in a magic show once.


7 posted on 09/28/2010 9:47:06 AM PDT by Last Dakotan
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To: TheBattman

I’m glad it worked out for her. I would hate to be looking at those kind of bills though.


8 posted on 09/28/2010 9:47:41 AM PDT by DonaldC (A nation cannot stand in the absence of religious principle.)
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To: fight_truth_decay

Mayo is an awesome place. Without them, I would not be here today.


9 posted on 09/28/2010 9:49:43 AM PDT by Keith in Iowa (FR Class of 1998 | TV News is an oxymoron. | MSNBC = Moonbats Spouting Nothing But Crap.)
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To: fight_truth_decay
"Gentlemen, we can rebuild [her]. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic [wo]man. [Janis Ollson] will be that [wo]man; better than [s]he was before. Better, stronger, faster."
10 posted on 09/28/2010 9:53:42 AM PDT by NonValueAdded ("It's amazing, A man who has such large ears could be so tone deaf" Rush Limbaugh 9/8/10)
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To: Last Dakotan
I saw this in a magic show once.

That's easy.

Putting the halves back together?

Not so much...

11 posted on 09/28/2010 9:55:35 AM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 616 of our national holiday from reality. - 0bama really isn't one of US.)
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To: Puppage
The diagnosis, and the fact that Janis Ollson’s doctors in Canada said that they still did not have a plan on how to put her back together, was not seen as a dead end, though. A doctor in Toronto decided to consult with experts from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and said: “We’ll see if we can come up with a plan so you can see your children grow.”

Ollson and her family had to play the waiting game, and in the meantime, she focused on her new baby and her family.

A social event was held by Ollson’s family and friends for her benefit, in order to raise money to cover their travel and living expenses for the duration of her 52-day stay at the Mayo Clinic. They were able to raise $20,000

Source Home Testing

The Mayo clinic this year received, in just one case, a $43 million dollar donation from an Indiana woman. Yes they get grants but should are the best at what they do--ongoing research is needed!! Canada did not have the "means and way" do fully complete the surgery, the Mayo clinic did the job.

I actually hope preexisting is left in the plan for ability to "but health care coverage"--an accident in youth has left a working individual (2 jobs) with company health care in need of 1 knee and 2 ankle replacements. He would like to buy insurance supplementary. He has had recently a double - (same leg)knee and ankle at age 33. Insurance will not pay, but for the knee, so is paying on a plan taking out of paycheck, the other ankle will be due next year. That was repaired 10 years ago and is worse, an inner metal box) then all again in 20 years. New technology. He would like to buy supplemental health insurance on preexisting. The preexisting coverage may have just come about, have not checked to verify, but told by professional. Insurance companies, I am told, have been quiet on the timeframe.

Health care costs and coverages, to deter abuses & fraud, do need a careful overhaul, but not a "bull in a china closet" solution.

12 posted on 09/28/2010 9:56:11 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay

She’s now been hired by “Jenny Craig” to advertise how she became half the woman she used to be ...


13 posted on 09/28/2010 9:58:28 AM PDT by silverleaf (The lesser of two evils is still evil.)
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To: fight_truth_decay

Fabulous story, she’s living and thriving, two beautiful kids, a devoted husband who is her “rock of strength” and who has seen her through it all— Thank God for the doctors’ awesome knowledge and skill, and the whole team’s courageous devotion to life!


14 posted on 09/28/2010 9:59:56 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Amen.)
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To: Keith in Iowa
I am glad you are here today, first off. :)

Mayo Clinic researchers to get $16.6 million 9/13/2010 Comments (30) By Jeff Hansel, The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

Charities are important, I wish Obama understood where much of it comes from.

"Under the plan announced in Obama's budget in February, tax deductions for charitable contributions from people earning $250,000 a year or more would be limited to 28 percent, down from 35 percent. Charity groups worry that the change will reduce giving at a time when demand for their services is rising because of the recession. Obama said it would simply bring the tax benefits for the wealthiest 1 percent of Americans in line with everyone else who gives to soup kitchens, medical research groups and other charities. "It's not going to cripple them. They'll still be well-to-do," he said.

15 posted on 09/28/2010 10:06:04 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: fight_truth_decay

Another reason to REPEAL OBAMAKARE!


16 posted on 09/28/2010 10:08:54 AM PDT by Don Corleone ("Oil the gun..eat the cannolis. Take it to the Mattress.")
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To: DonaldC
Often times in ground breaking/teaching/research many of the fees are waved. That's why the grants, the charitable donations. Hospitals will sit go over family budgets and work accordingly.

Life is precious, far beyond gold.

17 posted on 09/28/2010 10:10:42 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: Don Corleone
Another reason to REPEAL OBAMAKARE? ...am lost.

You must mean donations, charities an/or giving will continue to save lives, HOSPITAL OR CARE CREDIT payment plans, preexisting supplements to company supplied or personal consumer insurance will be a care all.

18 posted on 09/28/2010 10:17:01 AM PDT by fight_truth_decay
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To: Mrs. Don-o

Her story is perfect for that TV show which does home makeovers for those in need. This Lady and her family could probably use a complete kitchen and bath makeover. Watching the video, I found it poignant because of my own wheelchair issues with kitchen counters and bathing facilities. Fortunately, I’m not in as difficult a situation as this Lady, but that home makerover creww could do a lot for this woman, like lowering her counters and creating open space beneath them, and spring loading her upper cabinets and ... well, you get the picture.


19 posted on 09/28/2010 10:29:54 AM PDT by MHGinTN (Dems, believing they cannot be deceived, it's nye impossible to convince them when they're deceived.)
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To: MHGinTN

We-all don’t watch TV and thus I’m not familiar with the show you’re talking about. But it sounds like a great idea. Is it possible to “nominate” somebody for this kind of help?


20 posted on 09/28/2010 10:39:17 AM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
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