Moments after experiencing chest pain, Terry suffered a cardiac event and was swiftly transported to an area hospital on the South Shore via ambulance. Terry was in critical condition when she arrived.
Fortunately, Navin Kapur, MD, Tufts Medical Center's Executive Director of the CardioVascular Center for Research + Innovation, happened to be on call that day.
Dr. Kapur immediately responded and successfully opened the blocked artery. Dr. Kapur knew that the next 24-to-48 hours would be critical for Terry and that her progress would need to be monitored very closely. He advised his partners at the local hospital that if Terry's condition deteriorated, to let him know. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened and Dr. Kapur responded quickly.
Dr. Kapur and his team placed a minimally invasive pump in Terry's heart, a small device that helps the heart pump blood throughout the body following a cardiac event. Terry was then immediately transferred to Tufts MC where the cardiologists reassessed and provided necessary care that ultimately led to her recovery. Among other life-saving measures, Terry was put on ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, to provide prolonged cardiac support and to stabilize her further. ECMO, more commonly known as life support, is often a last resort to help keep the sickest patients alive.
Thus began Terry's long and thankful road to recovery.
Terry spent weeks in the Intensive Care Unit. Throughout her time at Tufts MC, her husband Mike, their children and Terry's sisters were always by her side. Day by day, Terry's health improved. Mike and Terry felt cared for by the entire Tufts MC team and expressed their sincere gratitude.
After her recovery and hearing from her family about the excellent, compassionate care she received, Terry expressed her gratitude, stating, "I just can't express how grateful I am for the staff – for everyone. They made [us] feel like we were part of their family." said Terry.
Mike actively participated in Terry's care by joining the morning rounding sessions with her care team. These sessions comforted him by demonstrating the extraordinary talent and commitment of the people taking care of Terry. Over time, Terry regained her strength and is now back on her feet, living her best life.
Michael Kiernan, MD, MS, MBA, Associate Chief for the Division of Cardiology at Tufts MC, expressed joy and pride at the treatment Terry received: "To be able to witness how committed the team was to helping her get better, even when she had bumps in the roads and some serious complications… we were all there for her."
As an expression of their tremendous gratitude for the exceptional care provided by Dr. Kapur and the Tufts MC team – and wanting others to have the opportunity to achieve and celebrate similar results – Mike and Terry decided to make a generous gift to support cardiovascular research.
Dr. Kapur's research group aims to improve outcomes for patients through cutting-edge research and groundbreaking clinical studies, saving more patients like Terry.
Your contributions can make a meaningful impact, ensuring that patients like Terry and their families have the opportunity to live their fullest lives.
