When Karen found out she was suffering from uterine fibroids, she sought the advice of a physician to relieve the pain and discomfort associated with the illness. After consulting a physician, Karen was told she could either have a hysterectomy or try a procedure called cryomyolysis, a process of freezing the fibroids to block blood flow. She opted for the cryomyolysis. "Five months after the cryomyolysis the fibroids came back full size and my uterus was the size of a five-month-old pregnancy," she said.                                  
Not wanting to undergo the procedure again because it failed the first time, Karen came to UMass Memorial to book a hysterectomy. "I heard something on television that mentioned Dr. Ducksoo Kim did a new procedure," she said. With that, Karen contacted Kim and found she was a candidate for uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a procedure that blocks blood flow to fibroid tumors, causing shrinkage and disappearance over time.
"There is a 95 percent success rate," Kim said. "In less than one week patients can go back to work and continue normal living."

Since the procedure in 1999, the fibroids on Karen's uterus are completely gone. Along with the success of the UAE procedure, Karen has much more to celebrate these days: the birth of her new son, Ian Jacob. "It's just amazing he's even here after all I have been through," she said. "I have no health problems now whatsoever and no complications after the procedure." Ian Jacob is also a blessing to Karen's husband, Kenneth, as Ian is his first child.
Karen is one of six patients to successfully deliver a baby after undergoing the UAE procedure at UMass Memorial.
Kim said he is happy for Karen, who recently visited Kim with her new baby. "I have pictures of him holding the baby and he looks so happy and proud," she said.
"I think it's great that women have other options besides a hysterectomy for fibroids," she said. "It gives hope to women and hope that they can have children."

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