Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute
Patient Stories
Donna - Open heart surgery after stroke and heart tumor
The first sign that something was wrong with Donna happened after one of her marathons. “I felt unusually sick,” she said. “I’m always tired after marathons, but this was different.” Since she has been healthy and extremely fit her entire life, 44-year old Donna dismissed her feelings as an isolated reaction.
About a year later, Donna got the second sign that something was wrong. “It was a really hot day,” Donna described. “We were barbequing. I was running around to get everything ready for the meal. Then I became extremely dizzy and sick. I told my son to get my husband since I thought I was about to pass out. It was awful. I collapsed on the couch.”
Donna spent the next couple days resting. She felt wiped out and hoped she had the flu or some sort of bug she’d get over. “I was a little scared to go the doctor,” she admitted. “I didn’t want to find out something was really wrong with me. But I was slurring my words and running into walls; so, I made an appointment.”
Because she had an outstanding record of health, the nurse practitioner at her doctor’s office thought it might be vertigo. But Donna’s symptoms continued. Her physician referred her to a neurologist and scheduled her for an MRI. The scan confirmed that Donna had a stroke. The news surprised everyone, including her neurologist. “I was fit and healthy, the doctor didn’t know why I had this stroke,” she explained.
Donna was then referred to Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute for an EKG, which showed the cause of her stroke: she had a large tumor on her heart. “It was a lot to deal with. I was in shock,” she said. “Of course, I was relieved they pinpointed the cause, but was scared when they told me I had to have open-heart surgery as soon as possible.”
Donna’s anxiety was somewhat relieved when she went to see her heart surgeon, Dr. Michael Ingram. “It was little things,” she said. “His office was expecting me, everyone knew my name – it was a nice personal touch. And Dr. Ingram was wonderful. I felt like everything was going to be ok after talking with him.”
The surgery went well. Donna was in the cardiac wing of Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento for seven days. “Every single person who works there was outstanding,” she said of the nursing unit. “They were personable, I felt like they each took an interest me. And, as far as I’m concerned, Dr. Ingram is the best cardiovascular surgeon. He really knows what he’s doing. I knew I was in very good hands.”
To help her heart heal, Donna did cardiac rehab for a few months after the procedure. She also had physical therapy to counter the effects of the stroke. “That was extremely therapeutic, on several levels,” she explained. “I was fixing my body. And that made me feel better about everything.” Donna’s experience in physical therapy had quite an impact on her. She made a career change and now works for a physical therapist. “I’m considering completing the two-year program to become an assistant physical therapist,” she said. “I see how it much it helps people.”
Donna still enjoys running. “I’m training for a half marathon right now,” she said. “My stroke slowed me down a little. But not for long.”