Heart Disease
With a family history of heart disease -- his Dad had quadruple bypass surgery twice -- 33-year-old high school football coach Audie Johnson thought he might be at risk one day, but not yet.  After all, he was young and even though his busy lifestyle didn't allow for exercise and often meant fast food in a hurry, heart disease wasn't in his playbook.
 
After experiencing shortness of breath and a lingering pain in his left arm, Audie listened to a friend and visited the Texas Heart® Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, where emergency test results revealed elevated cardiac enzymes—a marker for heart-muscle damage. The team rushed him to the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, where cardiologists diagnose and treat heart disease. There, a stent was inserted to relieve a 90 percent blockage in an artery.  To Audie’s amazement, the whole procedure was done through a small incision in his wrist, which allowed for a faster recovery.
 
Over the past year, Audie has used his experience to create better lifestyle choices for himself, his wife and even his fellow coaches.  His actions include regular exercise,  which some of the other coaches join in, and healthier eating at home and at school during lunch.  His wife has lost weight as have the other coaches, all due toAudie's influence. 
 
Thanks to the outstanding care and guidance he received from Texas Heart Institute at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Audie has lost more than 80 pounds and now exemplifies a gridiron spirit of health to his team.

STEMI-Heart Attack Survivor
Believing that a 3-hour bike ride had left his body dehydrated and in need of fluids, 37-year old Greg Bauer decided to go to the St. Luke's Community Emergency Center (CEC) at Holcombe.  He had been a patient there in 2005 and remembered having a wonderful experience.

Only after being initially seen and evaluated at the CEC, did Greg complain of arm and chest pain. With no previous family history of coronary heart disease, no risk factors and after living a healthy lifestyle, he was shocked to learn from the emergency physicians that he had a totally occluded Left Anterior Descending Artery and was having a ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI-heart attack).  Greg was transferred and directly admitted to the CATH lab at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital for angioplasty, the repair of a blocked artery. 

Thanks to the experienced staff and technology at the CEC, Greg can get back to riding his bike every weekend.


Heart Attack Survivor
As an active nurse, Renee Revis-Robinson was trained to recognize heart attack symptoms in others.  After having shortness-of-breath for a few days, Renee determined that a trip to the emergency room was needed for her.

Fully aware that timing was critical, Renee drove just 3 minutes from her home to the St. Luke's Community Emergency Center (CEC) in Pearland. Because the CEC is equipped with the technology and board-certified physicians needed to deal with an emergency like Renee's, she was immediately given the treatment necessary to sustain her while being transferred to the CATH lab at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital for stent surgery. 

After the quick service and professional care she received at the CEC, Renee is thankful for each day that she can help others.