Charting her own path at Essentia Health

By Louie St. George III

After years of enduring chronic pain, Lynsie Radovich needed some relief. Prepared to fight for herself, Radovich instead found an understanding ear in Dr. Michael Kassing.

An obstetrician-gynecologist at Essentia Health, Kassing listened to Radovich describe her struggles with pelvic pain. From the outset of their patient-doctor relationship in March 2016, he respected her goals and the destination she envisioned, helping her formulate a plan that not only would mitigate the pain, but bring additional health benefits to Radovich. They started with a laparoscopy to look for endometriosis.

Kassing presented several options.

“I was really impressed because he heard me as a person,” said Radovich, who coordinates human subject studies at the Whiteside Institute for Clinical Research in Duluth. “It’s sometimes hard to advocate for yourself, and I never felt like I needed to struggle to do that. It was just accepted that I know what I have in mind for myself, what my goals are and what I would like to do to pursue them.”

Radovich had her fallopian tubes removed in December 2017. Benefits included less discomfort and reduced risk of ovarian cancer. Pelvic pain lingered, though finding time for another procedure was a challenge. That’s because the active Radovich wasn’t keen on foregoing her favorite hobbies during recovery. An avid recreational softball player who also aims to spend at least 100 hours fishing Lake Superior each summer, that season was out of the question. Radovich also loves to ice-fish, so winter wasn’t ideal either. And she didn’t relish the thought of missing an extended period of work.

Finally, with life slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic, Radovich relented. She had a state-of-the-art, robot-assisted hysterectomy in October 2020, which she said went “flawlessly.” She was at home recovering the same day. Her pain has subsided.

At her post-operation exam in December, Radovich told Kassing she “felt like a million bucks.”

“The procedure itself was fantastic,” she said. “Dr. Kassing prepared me very, very well for what to expect before, after, how long the procedure would be. His whole surgical team was fantastic.”

Kassing and his team delivered something else: peace of mind.

“It’s incredibly freeing to not have concerns about having to do cancer screenings and regular gynecological checkups and things like that,” Radovich said. She knows many women her age would be devastated by the thought of a hysterectomy, but she didn’t plan to have children. The surgery didn’t disrupt her life plans, making acceptance less complicated.

Lynsie Radovich worked with her obstetrician-gynecologist at Essentia Health, Dr. Michael Kassing, to make sure she received a personalized care plan that would help her reduce pelvic pain and bring additional health benefits.

Radovich, a 2000 graduate of Hermantown High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, a master’s degree in biology and a Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology. As diligently as she approached her education, Radovich was similarly steadfast about her health care. She knew what she wanted.

Kassing, whose straightforward but compassionate personality was a perfect fit for Radovich, is one of those doctors who “give you the driver’s seat but are ready to help you navigate at any point,” Radovich said. At one of their first appointments, Kassing used a story about ice-fishing to explain how he’d attack her problems — an appropriate analogy given his audience.

The chronic pain that initially prompted Radovich to meet with Kassing wasn’t debilitating. But it was enough to make her constantly uncomfortable.

Kassing acknowledged that Radovich knew her body better than anybody else. He would offer advice, he told her, but how they proceeded ultimately would be up to her. Radovich appreciated that he didn’t sugarcoat his assessments. At the same time, he was caring and empathic.

Radovich, all but pain-free now, made sure she got out on the ice before it disappeared. She’s turning her attention to another softball season and plying the waters of Lake Superior, which drew Radovich back to the Northland after she’d earned her Ph.D. from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo., and completed a postdoc at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.

“Growing up with Lake Superior in my back pocket, it’s very difficult to live anywhere else where you don’t have truly, like, an inland sea,” Radovich said. D have to compensate for the lack of strength,” Boone said.

In addition to the job being physically demanding, Boone said it takes an emotional toll as well. Tensions run high when she is hauling an oversized road. If something is not secured properly and flies off the trailer, Boone is responsible.

The lack of women in the field can also be tough, with very few people having had a similar experience to her. She is often pegged as the trucker’s wife instead of the trucker.

Despite these challenges, Boone has felt supported and welcomed within the company culture at Kivi Bros.

“I fit in with these guys 100%,” she said. “They’ve accepted me as one of their own. They’ve trained me and groomed me to move up in the company.”

The sense of accomplishment from a job well-done keeps Boone returning to the road. She said the feeling is only comparable to what she felt when she held her son for the first time.

“I have taken a product from one place to another safely. I worked my butt off. I’m probably covered in dirt from head to toe and smell really bad, but I did that and I did it all by myself,” she said. “I get such a feeling of accomplishment with what I do, and I’m proud of what I do.”

Boone loves the freedom of cruising down the road listening to music — from opera, to death metal, to country — and the solace of having her own space in the cab, which she sleeps in most nights of the week.

“This is my tiny little retreat,” Boone said. “Anybody who enters into my world here has to be invited. I can have complete and total relaxation right here in my own little world.”

Kivi Bros has been working to try to recruit more women drivers and is a member of Women in Trucking, a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging the employment of women drivers.

“I think we belong here,” Boone said. “Women belong out here, too.” D

Performance And Comfort

Samantha Roffers, a Moose Lake writer, believes it’s important to shop for things you love and feel comfortable in. Everyone’s style is unique and that’s what makes it so special.

By Samantha Roffers

Hellodear readers, I hope you are all well! I hope the sun is shining and the birds are chirping while you are reading this. With the recent warmer weather I can’t help but get excited for spring! Though I don’t care for the mud that comes along with our annual melt, I love watching our landscape green up and bloom again. The sun lingering later every day and warmer temps always feel incredible after a long Minnesota winter.

For this month’s issue, we headed to the Miller Hill Mall on a chilly day to see which stores were featuring their spring lines. While we were a bit early for the full spring launch, we were able to find some great stuff at Old Navy, Apricot Lane and Beyond The Barn.

As always, I hope you are able to learn a bit and find some inspiration for your own wardrobe. D

by Sam

1Our first stop: Old Navy. This first look was so fun — I saw the leather leggings on a mannequin and had to try them. I typically wear an XL bottom but was pleasantly surprised to find the large fit me. They were very comfortable and a fun change of pace from the normal pant material. I dressed them down slightly and paired them with a flowy cotton top, cheetah flats and gold jewelry. This is such a universal look, and can easily take you from the office to a dinner date and anywhere in between. The lining of the leggings provided warmth and comfort while the top was light and breathable. Perfect for spring!

2This next look was probably my favorite, though I did love those leather leggings. These yoga pants and light hoodie were so soft and comfortable. The salmon color is perfect for spring and adds a pop of color without being overwhelming. I threw on an oversized jean jacket and some sparkly sneakers to take the look from athleisure to more of a casual day to day outfit. This could be worn anywhere from the gym to a lunch date. It’s adorable, casual and best of all, so comfy! You probably know by now I’m a comfort gal above all else. I love that the pants and hoodie are moisture wicking as well!

Next we popped into Apricot Lane — the store was filled with gorgeous and unique accessories and apparel. After browsing around and picking up a few things, I realized everything I had matched perfectly, including this adorable hat and purse. It was effortless to put this cute little look together. They have a great selection of boutique items which is a nice change of pace from some of the cookie cutter selections you can get with a bigger retail store. I felt like I was shopping right off of Instagram. If you’re looking for a great spring outfit or wanting to refresh your accessories, Apricot Lane is a must.

4Our final stop of the day was my oasis, Beyond The Barn. They have a fantastic selection of outerwear, footwear, decor, accessories and apparel for the whole family. They also have plenty of items for the animal lover in your life. For this look I chose a beautiful and thick Kimes sweatshirt paired with Kimes jeans and Twisted X shoes. The Kimes hoodie and shoes had beautiful complimentary tones and really looked great together without being overly matchy. Kimes jeans are American made and built to withstand the toughest of conditions, all while staying fashionable and comfortable. The fit of these jeans is really fantastic — they feel broken in from the get go. I am also a huge fan of Twisted X shoes. Like their jeans, the shoes require very little break-in time and feel comfortable from day one. These shoes come in hundreds of different styles and last for many years.