Stories of Gratitude
Read the inspiring stories from the people who tell it best – patients.
Donald Sens: Coronary Artery Disease
Donald had life-threatening blockages in his coronary arteries. In early 2020, a team at the Minneapolis Heart Institute under the leadership of Dr. Brilakis went to work to open his arteries and save his life.
Larry Walters: Mitral Valve Replacement
Larry had a mitral valve regurgitation, which is caused by a leaky mitral valve so it couldn’t pump blood and oxygen efficiently through his body.
Paul Lewis: Coronary Artery Disease and Heart Attack
Paul Lewis tells people that his life was saved by COVID. In March 2020, at age 52, he not only suffered a massive heart attack, but also cardiac arrest and a minor stroke.
Kevin Manion: Heart Transplant
Kevin received a heart transplant and a second chance at life through a research study evaluating the “Heart-in-a-Box” technology.
Craig Nickelbein: Bypass Graft Aneurysm
After developing a rare aneurysm (an abnormal bulge) on one of his bypass grafts, Craig was excited to find Dr. Emmanouil Brilakis, who had the expertise needed to treat it.
Andrea Rose: Aortic Valve Replacement
Andrea feels younger and more energetic than ever after having an aortic valve replacement in the summer of 2020 through MHIF’s Valve Science Center.
Diane Nimmer: Mitral Valve Replacement
Diane developed mitral stenosis, an obstruction of blood flow across the mitral valve from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
Ed Peitso: Heart Attack, Heart Failure
Despite having a diagnosis of heart failure, Ed feels good and said he’s able to live “a fairly unrestricted life.”
Shelly Schierts: Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVD)
Shelly Schierts’ journey to finding the cause of her chest pain and unusual fatigue was anything but easy.
Give the Gift of Hope to Patients