For years, I felt like a puzzle with missing pieces.
I’m a 41-year-old mother and wife from St. Clair, Michigan, and back in 2021 I was just another patient at the cardiologist presenting with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
I had a previous history of hypertension which was controlled with diet and medication. Once my divorce was finalized and I was able to maintain a healthy diet with regular exercise, my blood pressure returned to a normal range. At that point, I discontinued hypertension medication. I began noticing problems again with my blood pressure after accepting a higher position within the medical office I worked for.
On February 17, the truth came to light—a 90 percent blockage in my left main coronary artery, the infamous “widowmaker.”
I felt a big mix of emotions; relief that I wasn’t crazy, but also fear for what could have been.
I learned that I wasn’t a candidate for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) due to the size of my artery and the location of the blockage.
That’s when my doctor proposed a cutting-edge solution—a Protected PCI procedure with Impella, a tiny heart pump.
Yes, I was scared of having surgery, and so was my family. My doctor explained that the procedure was minimally invasive and that I would most likely have a quicker recovery compared to if I had an open-heart surgery. This helped put me at ease, along with my family.
In February 2023, she implanted the Impella CP heart pump to allow my heart to rest while placing a stent. This procedure was a beacon of hope amidst my health turmoil.
Two days after the procedure, I returned home to my family, carrying a new sense of life. The pump thankfully recovered my heart.
The journey, however, left deep scars. I kept wondering how a condition so serious went unnoticed for so long.
Read the full coverage: The Doctor Brushed Off My Symptoms. He Missed a Life-Threatening Problem
