Patient Stories
Ron feels fortunate to have a second chance
Ron D’Ambrosi of Watertown had been experiencing high blood pressure for a little over a decade. While he was taking his medications and was physically active, he was still experiencing heart issues. One day, he arrived at the Waterbury Hospital Emergency Room with what he describes as a “heavy heart.” Within 24 hours, he saw Dr. Raghuraman Vidhun, an interventional cardiologist, who performed an angioplasty opening two major blockages in Ron’s heart. After staying in the specialized cardiac intensive care unit, Ron continued his recovery and rehabilitation at Waterbury Hospital’s Cardiac Rehab Program.
Ron says this was a real wake up call for him. He’s lucky, he says, to have a second chance. Throughout his experience, Ron says he feels like he was in good hands! “All the doctors and professionals worked as a team,” he said. “They were competent, confident, cool, and relaxed.”
She never stops moving!
Hedwig Jeannette of Naugatuck had a serious problem: she was diagnosed with a blockage in her coronary arteries and scheduled for surgery with the Cardiac specialists at Waterbury Hospital. It was to be a routine procedure, but during surgery doctors discovered that she had significant cardiac disease that required immediate life-saving implantation of a cardiac defibrillator.
“My case was very complicated,” says Hedwig. “Dr. Ansari told me my condition was one in a million. I’m lucky to be alive.” Dr. Ehsan Ansari and the integrated team of cardiac clinicians at Waterbury Hospital deal with complicated cases every day. Today Hedwig’s leading a happy, healthy life and her husband says; “she never stops moving!”
Rick now walks 3-4 miles a day
81-year-old Rick Orrichio was never a guy to slow down. In fact there was hardly a day he wasn’t at the family business, Waterbury Industrial Supplies. Until the day his heart stopped. Rick was rushed to Waterbury Hospital’s Emergency Room where he was treated and quickly evaluated by our Cardiac Care team. Suffering from congestive heart failure, Rick underwent a lifesaving cardiac stent procedure and later, pacemaker implantation performed by Dr. Ehsan Ansari.
Today Rick’s feeling just fine. He still works (although his wife and family are trying to slow him down-just a tad.) Access to world class cardiac care allowed Rick to live life to the fullest.