Rheumatic fever damaged Susan’s aortic valve

Rheumatic fever in Susan’s childhood left her with a damaged aortic valve that required monitoring. Susan put her trust in cardiologist William Nitzberg, MD, and the nationally ranked TotalHeart Team at Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute. A cardiac catheterization in Memorial’s TotalHeart Cath Lab confirmed that she needed an aortic valve replacement. “I am really blessed because I could have had a massive, fatal heart attack, but they caught it in time,” Susan said. “I prayed that a super team of doctors and nurses would surround me, and I had just that. My prayers were indeed answered.” Dr. Michael Cortelli, Memorial’s chief of adult cardiac surgery, performed Susan’s valve replacement surgery in Memorial’s TotalHeart Cath Lab. “Susan’s surgery went extremely well and she had a smooth recovery,” he said. “Her positive outcome took the effort of the Memorial TotalHeart Team—from the people who help keep the hospital clean, to the therapists, technicians, nurses and doctors. At Memorial, everyone embraces patient- and family-centered care.” For more of Susan’s story and to take your personal TotalHeart Risk Assessment, visit MemorialCardiac.com/TotalHeart.