Bobby Griffin knew heart disease ran in his family—his father died of a heart attack at just 47. But it wasn't until age 50 that Bobby got serious about his own heart health.
A proactive test revealed a dangerous blockage in his heart. Before his scheduled catheterization, Bobby felt chest pain at home, took aspirin, and called 911—smart, life-saving steps he learned from his care team. After emergency treatment, Dr. Lindsey A. Cilia guided him through cardiac rehab, nutrition changes, and medication management.
As a retired Coast Guard captain with 28 years of service, Jeff Karonis has faced plenty of scary scenarios, from navigating 30-foot seas to intercepting drug smugglers. But being told within the span of 30 minutes that he had a life-threatening aortic aneurism and stage 3 blood cancer was one of the most terrifying experiences he’s ever had.
A specialized echocardiogram ordered by the Virginia Heart team revealed that Vycky Lara’s debilitating shortness of breath had nothing to do with her lungs, but was due to valvular heart disease. Following surgery to correct the issue, Vycky is golfing again and enjoying life fully.
When a young college student's life was threatened by a stubborn virus that attacked his heart, several Virginia Heart doctors worked together using their specialized expertise to save their patient. Read our story to learn more.
Thanks to the world-class care Charles Sarahan II received from Virginia Heart’s interventional cardiologists and entire care team, he survived a serious heart attack and cardiogenic shock and is now back to living a more balanced and appreciative life, spent with his family and friends.
Kevin W. of Alexandria, Virginia postponed his plans for a dream vacation in Hawaii based on the expert advice of a Virginia Heart cardiologist – advice that may have saved Kevin’s life. Less than a year after emergency coronary bypass surgery, Kevin was able to climb Diamond Head with his family – and with a healthy heart.
