Bobby's Story- Coronary Artery Disease

Bobby Griffin grew up with a painful reminder of the importance of heart health—his father died of a massive heart attack when Bobby was just eight years old. Despite this early loss, Bobby didn’t fully understand the role that family history plays in heart disease risk. In his younger years, he led an unhealthy lifestyle, including poor diet, smoking, and lack of exercise.

It wasn’t until he turned 50 that Bobby began to seriously consider his genetic predisposition to heart disease. "I realized I had been gambling with my health for too long," he said. That realization drove him to take control and reach out to a cardiologist to assess his risk.

Bobby’s doctor ordered a coronary calcium scan—a non-invasive test that can help detect early signs of coronary artery disease. The results were shocking: a score of 1,560, far above the threshold for concern. Rather than ignoring the warning signs, Bobby advocated for himself and requested a follow-up CT coronary angiogram. That test confirmed a 75% blockage in his left anterior descending artery.

As a result, Bobby was scheduled to proceed with a catheterization two weeks later. However, fate intervened in the interim. Before the catheterization could be performed, Bobby experienced chest pain at home. Remembering the advice he had received, he took aspirin immediately and called 9-1-1. That quick action likely saved his life. At Virginia Hospital Center, Virginia Heart’s Dr. Eric D. Pauley inserted a stent to restore blood flow to Bobby’s heart.

What happened next is a testament to what’s possible when a patient and doctor work as a team. Virginia Heart interventional cardiologist, Dr. Lindsey A. Cilia worked closely with him to develop a comprehensive cardiac rehab plan that included medications, nutrition, and physical activity. Over the following year, Bobby lost 54 pounds, significantly reduced his A1C levels, and improved his overall cardiovascular health.

“Bobby is a great example of how understanding your family history and taking action—before a crisis—can change the outcome,” Dr. Cilia said. She went on to say, “he didn’t wait for another emergency. He became an active partner in his care, and it’s made all the difference.”

Today, Bobby credits his health transformation to a mix of personal commitment and the strong relationship he built with his care team. “I’ve never felt more confident in a doctor than I do with Dr. Cilia,” he said. “She helped me see that a second chance only matters if you do something with it—and we did it together.”