
Jody Emerson, 50, assumed her heart was healthy. She didn’t have hypertension or diabetes, and no one in her family had heart disease. She knew her cholesterol was a little high, but she wasn’t on medication. And yet, when Jody felt an odd sensation in her jaw, it was unusual enough that she mentioned it to a friend.

Everything happens for a reason in Danielle Kijak’s world. However, she didn’t know why she got cervical cancer at age 31.

Abby Snyder had done hundreds of flip turns in swim practice and at meets. But one turn during practice in 2021 not only landed her in the emergency room, it sidelined her from sports activities for weeks.

Terry Beatty, Milford, appreciates the care he’s received over the years from the vascular specialists at Goshen Hospital. “They’re great people. Top notch. They’re not only experts in their field. They show a great deal of concern for patients and their families. I’ve not met doctors quite like them. I’m grateful and impressed.”

Amy Schwartz couldn’t keep her mind from going to a worst-case scenario when she learned she had breast cancer. She was age 42 – decades younger than the median age of 62 for women at diagnosis. Her cancer was triple positive. That meant it was an aggressive form of the disease. She was Stage 2B. The lump she had found in her left breast during a self-exam was large – nearly 90 millimeters.

Sharonda “Shay” Eiler has never been one to take anything in life for granted. That includes her health and the well-being of everyone in her close circle of family and friends.

Pain in Mark Rody’s right hip was almost unbearable. The unrelenting ache had started in 2020 and eventually sidelined him from most of the activities he loved. Biking, walking – even elliptical training – were out of the question.

Constant knee pain and swelling finally forced David Bonham to say, “enough.” It was time for a specialist to take a look at his aching joint.

Pat Rice thought she was on the right path to recover from a total knee replacement in November 2020. She wanted nothing more than to be out of pain and back to her regular routine.

A diagnosis of prostate cancer brought Jeff Alwine to his knees. Nearly every member of his family had died from cancer, including his father. Now he faced the disease on an even more personal level.

Brenda Murray, Bristol, started her cardiac rehabilitation program in March 2021 after having a stent placed. Once she completed the 36 sessions, she continued with the maintenance program offered at Goshen Heart & Vascular Center.

Tim Emely, Ligonier, had a heart attack on Jan. 2, 2003. Then in 2011, he had terrible pain in his legs.