Patient Stories
Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute
Polly – Finally Beating Atrial FibWhen Polly was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation her early sixties, she was shocked. "I was pretty healthy; at least I thought I was. I used to be a runner and was still physically active. My family, my job, and my life kept me busy and happy. I was very surprised when a physical exam showed I had a heart condition".
Continue reading...
Frank - You never think you'll be the one to have a heart attackThe day Frank had a heart attack was an ordinary day just like any other. The retired deli-liquor store owner woke up, showered and shaved, made a few phone calls, then did a few minor chores around the house. By 11 a.m. he noticed an odd feeling in his chest. The feeling wasn't painful, rather light and fluttery.
Continue reading...
Emilie - Smallest baby in the world to undergo a balloon pulmonary valvuloplastyBorn three months premature and weighing only one pound, 15 ounces, Allison fought for her life in the Special Care Nursery. The isolette next to Allison which held twin sister Emilie, was empty. Weighing a mere one pound, seven ounces, Emilie had been born with critical pulmonary valve stenosis.
Continue reading...
Betty and Jim – a testament to true heart careRodgers and Hammerstein's hit musical Annie Get Your Gun has been a popular production for theatre companies since it first played on Broadway in 1946. It's no wonder that Sacramento residents Betty and Jim Saggs were excited when they saw the production listed at their local community center. So excited, that Betty wasn't going to let a little shortness of breath and a slight pain in her neck keep her from seeing the show.
Continue reading...
Linda – Healthy Heart, Happy LifeSince her twenties, Linda felt like she had the word "smoker" tattooed on her forehead whenever she'd see a doctor. Her symptoms – shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue – were always chalked up to her smoking habit. "Of course, I knew that my smoking contributed to my symptoms.
Continue reading...
Mark – New Doctors, Better LifeFive years ago, things were not looking good for Mark. The then 73-year-old was connected to an oxygen tank and ran out of breath by doing simple things like crossing the room. As a formerly active person, Mark was getting frustrated living with his congestive heart failure.
Continue reading...
Steve – Heart Transplant … Just in TimeSteve was out of breath and tired...a lot. He knew his heart failure was like a ticking time bomb. "We knew it may happen eventually," said Steve, 50, who finally landed in the intensive care unit after collapsing at home. Gravely ill, and knowing it was the only option to save his life, Steve got on the list for a heart transplant.
Continue reading...
Bruce – Tiny Device, Big Change"Interesting," said Bruce. That was the only word he could come up with as he reclined in the cath lab and watched the screen that showed his heart being poked with a device while the doctor repaired two damaged vessels.
Continue reading...
