Brian Johnson

For more than 12 years, Riverwood patient Brian Johnson battled relentless heartburn, relying on daily medication that never truly brought relief. He knew there had to be a better solution.

When Brian began exploring treatment options, the Minnesota Reflux and Heartburn Center at Riverwood Healthcare Center stood out. The advanced reflux procedures, proven surgical expertise, and reputation for compassionate, patient-focused care made the 80-mile drive from Proctor to Aitkin an easy choice.

After consulting with Riverwood’s reflux specialist team, surgeon Dr. Andrew Loveitt recommended a Toupet fundoplication—a minimally invasive procedure that partially wraps the esophagus to prevent acid reflux. Confident in the plan, Brian moved forward with surgery.

The results have been life-changing. Since his procedure in April, Brian says he feels like a new person. “I don’t remember what heartburn feels like,” he shared. “The relief is a miracle.”

Brian’s experience at Riverwood exceeded expectations. He credits the combination of expert care, friendly staff, and top-tier facilities, calling Riverwood “a little gem out in the woods.” He’s grateful he made the trip —and so are we.

As we celebrate GERD Awareness Month, Brian’s story is a powerful reminder: you don’t have to settle for heartburn. At the Minnesota Reflux and Heartburn Center at Riverwood, fellowship-trained specialists, personalized care, and quick appointments and no referral needed make expert solutions closer than you think.

Dawn Britney Shockency

Attending a Riverwood seminar on solutions for reflux and heartburn put Dawn Britney Shockency of Coleraine on the road to recovery from gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

“I had been struggling with worsening acid reflux symptoms for the past three to four years,” Dawn explains. “I was having a lot of acid reflux at night. It got to the point where I could hardly eat at all and I felt nauseous all the time.”

After attending the March 2017 seminar, Dawn decided to see if they could help her at the Minnesota Reflux and Heartburn Center at Riverwood Healthcare Center in Aitkin—the town where she grew up and graduated from high school.

An EGD exam, which offers a view of the inside of the upper digestive tract, revealed that in addition to a hiatal hernia, Dawn had ulcers in her esophagus. A special medication was prescribed that cleared up the ulcers in about a month.

The MRHC reflux specialist who examined and treated Dawn recommended that she have a Nissen fundoplication procedure to treat her severe acid reflux disease in December 2017.

“At age 79, I was worried that I was too old to have this surgery,” Dawn adds. “But my decision to go for it was the best decision in my whole life! I have no heartburn and I can eat pizza and spaghetti again. I haven’t felt this good in ages. ”

Steve Kaskinen, Minnetonka

Steve Kaskinen, 42, an Information Technology Manager of Minnetonka, had bad asthma, coughed incessantly, nasal rhinitis, extreme allergies and would become short breathed just walking up a few stairs. For more than 10 years, he was in and out of hospitals and clinics in the Twin Cities attempting to be treated. Because of the breathing issues and coughing, he was treated by a pulmonologist for several years. After trying several medications and treatments with no success, the specialist determined he had a reflux problem and prescribed medications. He felt better initially but then a couple weeks later, Steve’s problems got worse. He developed hernias and needed operations. He wasn’t getting any oxygen and couldn’t even get up from his sofa without being out of breath and experienced a burning sensation just walking around his home. At that point, he was referred to a gastroenterologist who conducted a Bravo test and learned that Steve had really bad reflux; that the acid in his throat was causing all of his problems. The specialist gave him three options:  take medications the rest of his life and eventually develop esophageal cancer, undergo a fundoplication which has lots of side effects or undergo the LINX procedure. He chose the LINX procedure because it had no side effects and seemed so simple—a magnet would be inserted to close his throat so it would work normally and not allow stomach acid to reflux. He learned that his health insurance would not cover LINX but because his wife is a medical professional, she knew how to research the procedure and learned that there were trial procedures being done in Crosby. He agreed to be part of the study at Cuyuna Regional Medical Center so he could help change coding and encourage insurance companies to pay for the procedure so others would not suffer. Immediately after the procedure as Steve was recovering in his hospital room, his family and friends were startled that he was no longer coughing. Acid was not flushing into his throat. He said it was uncomfortable to eat about four weeks after the procedure but that the trade off was well worth it. He startled himself when he ran up the stairs of his home and walked down the hallway with no heavy breathing. He no longer needs the anti-acid or asthma medications, his chest doesn’t hurt, the sensitivity to smells is gone and his allergies are better. Steve says without the surgery, he would not have been able to handle caring for Zane, his six-month-old son, and now his wife, Jill, who just underwent surgery. “It was a great experience, if you are having some of the same asthma and cough problems I did, then I would really recommend the Minnesota Reflux & Heartburn Center in the Brainerd Lakes Area. The procedure has made a massive change in my life, the facility was great and the care I received was exemplary.”