Heart and Vascular Care Patient Stories

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Every patient has their own story of strength, hope and healing. We invited a few of our patients to tell their stories about receiving heart care from our experts and about the adventures that life has taken them on since.

People helping people

Dan's story

When Dan found out he had an aortic aneurysm he chose to have a minimally invasive, endovascular stent procedure, which allowed him a quicker recovery and was less painful than traditional open aortic aneurysm surgery.

Hear more about Dan's story.

Jim's story

Jim loved flying planes. Still does, actually. That’s because he didn’t let varicose veins keep him grounded. Instead, he turned to the highly skilled team at St. James Healthcare. There, Jim received the highest level of vein care – including a customized treatment plan and an innovative procedure – without leaving home.

Hear more about Jim's story.

Leo's story

At 87, Leo figured his age was just catching up to him. His heart care team had another opinion - it was congestive heart failure. Because of Leo's age and the severity of his condition, open heart surgery wasn't an option. But thanks to a less-invasive alternative, now he's back to working the land he loves.

Hear more about Leo's story.

Louie's story

Staying active and enjoying the outdoors was important to Louie. But a heart attack during a run almost ended all that – and his life. The diagnosis: an enlarged heart with numerous blocked arteries.

Hear more about Louie's story.

Mike's story

Mike, 39, was in the driver's seat on his way to the hospital when he had a heart attack. Thanks to incredible timing and dedication, now he's back to being Dad.

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Ron's story

Ron had no idea how close he was to death. A ruptured aorta stopped his heart for seven minutes, but the team at Good Samaritan Medical Center didn’t quit on him. In fact, they turned Ron’s 1% chance of survival into 100%.

Hear more about Ron's story.