A New Beat

Without experiencing any symptoms – other than excessive sleepiness – 26-year-old wife and mother of two Cortney Moles was told by doctors she was born with a serious leak in her heart and needed to have valve-replacement surgery.

This news came as quite a shock for Moles.

"I think I cried in his office that first time," she said. "I couldn't believe it, I was 26, and I'm going to have open heart surgery."

Moles’ operation was a success, however, and came at a good time. She became one of the first patients to recover from heart surgery in the new 8th-floor dedicated cardiac unit at Community Regional Medical Center in downtown Fresno. The new unit offers many high-tech comforts, including flat-screen TVs in each room and a quiet recovery environment.

Kimberly Pope, director for critical care services at Community Regional, said the patients love the new unit.

"The first day, when we moved up people, they were in awe because it's a beautiful floor," she said. "They were very excited, it was very nice. It's quiet up here."

Moles is now back home, and is getting stronger every day. She's glad to have recovered in an environment that allowed her peace and quiet.

"I was happy to be up there," she said, "because my family got to be up there with me the whole time."

This story was reported special by Clare Frederick. She can be reached at MedWatchToday@communitymedical.org.

Monday, July 14, 2008