When Lisa Clinedinst felt a sudden, sharp pop in her back, she had no idea her life was about to change. What began as one fractured vertebra in the summer of 2021 quickly escalated. Six more fractures followed, leaving this once-active woman barely able to get out of bed. Her endocrinologist at Augusta Health, Jessicah Collins, M.D., diagnosed severe osteoporosis but couldn’t find the underlying cause. Lisa needed answers, and fast.
That’s when her care team turned to an extraordinary resource: Mayo Clinic Care Network. Through this collaboration, Dr. Collins consulted directly with Mayo Clinic endocrinologist Victor Bernet, M.D., who recommended testing for a condition so rare that many physicians never encounter it in their entire careers: systemic mastocytosis. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis, giving Lisa clarity and a clear path forward.
With specialized treatment, including targeted injections, Lisa gradually reclaimed the life she feared she had lost.
Her story reveals the power of a network built on shared excellence, deep expertise, and commitment to patients. It shows how local care teams, supported by Mayo Clinic’s knowledge and specialists, can discover answers patients may never have had access to otherwise. Watch the video below to hear Lisa’s story.
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