Patient Stories

Chuck B.
Heart attack patient

At about noon on a typical fall day, Chuck was working on his lawn when he started to feel weak, had palpitations and pain similar to "a large knife being stabbed in the center of my chest." He stopped to rest, and the pain disappeared. Around dinner time, Chuck felt sick to his stomach and was perspiring heavily. He knew something was wrong.

He called the medical help line that's provided by his insurance company. They advised him to call 911 immediately. He was brought by ambulance to North Memorial's Heart Center that evening.

While in the hospital, Chuck underwent tests that determined he experienced a heart attack while at home. He also had a diagnostic test called an angiogram that showed that one of the arteries that feeds his heart was 80 percent blocked. By using a balloon catheter and a stent, Chuck's blockage was opened. He was ready to get on with his recovery.

While Chuck was in the hospital, he started to learn ways to change his lifestyle and decrease his likelihood of another heart attack. The professionals in the Heart Center's Lifestyle Management Services introduced him to these objectives, which included a focus on exercise, a proper diet, ways to cope with stress, and smoking cessation. He also enrolled in cardiac rehabilitation, which helped him regain his strength and endurance to do the activities he did before his heart attack.

"The nurses, doctors and staff at the Heart Center are very professional and caring. They explained what had happened to me, and informed me of the options for my treatment. My questions were answered and my wife and I knew what to expect."

Chuck is lucky that his heart attack wasn't more serious. He hopes that with the instruction on a new lifestyle and taking care of himself, he will reduce his likelihood of having another heart attack. "I had a great experience at North Memorial," he says, but he hopes he can put his heart troubles in the past.

Virginia L.
Heart surgery patient

Virginia had a tough choice to make. She knew that she could not wait any longer to make the decision of whether to have a serious heart surgery.

Over the years, Virginia's heart disease had become increasingly worse. Starting in her late 70s, she suffered a heart attack, underwent four balloon angioplasties, and developed congestive heart failure. To complicate matters, she also had a history of hypertension, high cholesterol, and she was an ex-smoker. To manage her conditions, she was on several medications. All of these issues had taken a toll on her body. Now she was faced with another invasive procedure.

After another episode of chest pain, Virginia went to her cardiologist at North Memorial's Heart Center. Through an angiogram, he determined that Virginia had more coronary arteries that were in danger of closing completely, and that one of the valves in her heart was not working properly. Her doctor suggested open heart surgery that would bypass the diseased arteries with arteries from her leg. At the same time, the heart valve would be replaced. It was Virginia's choice whether to have the surgery. If she did not undergo the procedure, her condition would continue to worsen over time.

After much thought, Virginia decided to have the valve replacement and bypass surgery. It was not an easy decision, but it was the right one. After the procedure, her health improved significantly. "The staff of North Memorial's Heart Center are made up of dedicated and competent human beings who do their best to provide state-of-the-art treatment and care to their patients," Virginia said. "After my first heart attack, the nurses and Lifestyle Management Services staff were a lifeline for a patient totally unprepared for such an event. The Heart Center presents a complete regimen for healthy living with medical care, diet and exercise advice. One just has to follow the healthy-living rules!"