When Cheryl White arrived at NCH earlier this year, she unknowingly faced a heart attack, and with it, two major life-threatening complications that gave her a minimal chance of survival: less than 15 percent (a 100-percent chance of death if nothing was done).
“I had been putting nose drops in two days earlier, when I heard a snap and thought something was wrong with a neck ligament, but then, I got extremely weak and started intensely sweating; I fully rebounded with some rest and cold compresses, but then had a strange feeling in my chest during the next night and decided to go to the NCH emergency department,” explains Cheryl. “The doctors found two holes in the bottom of my heart.”
Deploying a multidisciplinary-team approach, NCH Rooney Heart Institute clinicians led by Doctors Brian Solomon, Dee Dee Wang, Thomas Caranasos, Mazen Albaghdadi, Stephen D’Orazio, Gaston Cudemus and Robert Cubeddu got to work immediately on a novel way of addressing Cheryl’s holes – a ventricular septal rupture (VSR) and contained free-wall rupture. They used advanced imaging and a 3D-printed replica of Cheryl’s own heart to tailor a specific surgery and treatment strategy just for her. The doctors held a “think tank” session and reviewed the case extensively over several days. Then, they developed a unique, minimally invasive, hybrid approach that would go on to save her life. The combined technique that incorporated surgical and advanced transcatheter skills – never done before – turned into a miraculous success.
Cheryl says, “I had told my husband, ‘Don’t you worry at all. I am going to make it.’ I said a prayer, and lo and behold, I woke up.”
After about four weeks in the hospital and some time at rehab, Cheryl went home to her thrilled family and friends. She’s been using a walker and getting stronger and stronger. The whole thing was really surprising to someone who had never been to the hospital for anything but giving birth to her children.
“I thought everybody at NCH was wonderful, including Nurse Valeri Acierno, who was absolutely the most wonderful nurse in the world; I get teary because I don’t think I’d be here without her,” says Cheryl. “I’ll never forget the compassion and expertise of the entire heart team that came together to save my life.”
Dr. Cubeddu, president of the NCH Rooney Heart Institute and the Brynne and Bob Coletti Endowed Chair, says, “The collaborative spirit and expertise of our multidisciplinary makes us unique and allows us to deliver best-in-class care.”
We’re currently building a new home for the NCH Rooney Heart Institute, ranked Top 50 in the nation for cardiac care by Money Magazine. The new R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center in downtown Naples will bring together cutting-edge technology, modern equipment and these nationally recognized physicians, all under one roof, to provide seamless, top-quality care for all patients. To learn more or contribute, please call (239) 624-2000 or visit NCHmd.org/donate.
