Pat Zerfas had learned to live with a heart that wasn't working quite right. She figured that was just how it would be. The 87-year-old retired nurse had tricuspid regurgitation, a condition causing blood to leak backward through one of her heart valves. The effects of her leaking...
If you're spending time outside today and it feels like your allergies are flaring up, that's likely the smoke drifting into our region from the Canadian wildfires. You might recall how hard we were hit back in late June 2023. The situation now is very...
[caption id="attachment_60494" align="alignleft" width="263"] Dr. Jerry Pratt, Beacon Kalamazoo[/caption] The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has put a spotlight on aortic dissection, a condition that can strike with little to no warning, even in people who seem perfectly healthy. It's the same condition that...
Rachel Brading saw it coming. It was nighttime and a car was speeding toward them, blowing through a blinking red light on a quiet rural road. In an instant, she knew it wasn’t going to stop. She and her sister, Emma, were sitting in the backseat when instinct took over. Rachel reached...
Every organ donation matters. But in January 2026, one made history. At 84, Fred Voorde of Elkhart became the oldest liver donor in the United States through Donation After Circulatory Death, or DCD. It's a process in which doctors recover the organ after life support is...
July 7, 2026 — Elkhart General Hospital today announced the expansion and renovation of its Emergency and Trauma Center, a project aimed at increasing capacity, reducing wait times and improving patient experience at one of the region’s busiest emergency departments. The $37 million project will move...
Beacon Health System is celebrating the one-year anniversary of its acquisition of Ascension Southwest Michigan, marking a year of growth, integration, investment and expanded care. The acquisition is creating a brighter future for our patients, associates and communities across southwest Michigan and northern Indiana, strengthening Beacon's...
Many patients walk into their primary care appointment with questions they intend to ask, only to leave without bringing them up. Sometimes it's because they're embarrassed. Sometimes they're worried their concern isn't important enough. Other times, they're simply unsure how to start the conversation. The reality is...
[caption id="attachment_60360" align="alignleft" width="347"] Donavan "DJ" Martin[/caption] An easygoing teen who enjoys video games and a variety of sports, 17-year-old Donavan "DJ" Martin seems too young for back problems. So when he felt pain several months ago, he and his family thought it was probably from...
At 93 years old, Tom Parisot is still doing things many people half his age don’t attempt — including hopping on his motorcycle for the occasional ride. Independent, energetic and forward‑looking, Tom credits his outlook on life to staying active and not letting health concerns...
