Heart patient credits recovery to Hendrick Health team

Listening to his body and taking his chest pain seriously saved Corey Patterson’s life in late 2024.

“I just didn’t have a lot of risk factors for heart disease,” said Patterson. “So that’s why it was so hard to believe that something could be wrong.”

After initially brushing off a few episodes of slight chest cramps while exercising, the day he moved a sofa began a health journey both Patterson and his wife, a cardiac nurse, never expected.

Patterson’s chest pain returned after helping move a couch, and he knew something wasn’t right. After a visit with his cardiologist at Hendrick Clinic Cardiology, a stress test was ordered as a precaution.

His test results were so abnormal that he was immediately admitted to Hendrick Medical Center until he could undergo a heart catheterization. He anticipated that at worst he would need a heart stent. Physicians instead told Patterson that they were able to see blockages of 99% in one artery and 90% in at least two others.

The news alarmed him.

“Once they came in and gave me the diagnosis that I would need a triple or quadruple bypass, I was a basket case,” said Patterson. “Me? I’m 54. This only happens to older people. This only happens to people who smoke. This only happens to people who are really overweight. Why me?

With support of family and friends and reassurances from his physicians, Patterson’s uncertainty transitioned to peace before undergoing surgery. During an almost eight-hour procedure, blood vessels from Patterson’s arm and leg were removed and grafted to his heart to bypass the blockages. He spent 24 hours in the intensive care unit and continued recovery in a cardiac unit, where he spent Christmas.

After discharge and two weeks at home, he began a 12-week program at Hendrick Cardiac Rehabilitation. The program focuses on exercise, education and emotional support. Three times a week, he exercised while wearing a small heart monitor. Staff checked his blood pressure regularly and answered his questions.

“Cardiac rehab empowers you to feel safe,” said Patterson. “… Not only does your heart get stronger, but your mind gets stronger as well because you feel courageous enough to do things outside of cardiac rehab.”

He returned to work full-time a few weeks after beginning the program.

“I feel better today than I have in probably 10 years,” said Patterson. “I did not realize how tired I was. I did not realize how out of shape I was. I did not realize I wasn’t sleeping. I’ve lost close to 25 pounds. My sleep apnea is practically gone. I don’t get hungry between meals. It’s just a whole life change that happens when you get 100% of blood flowing to different parts of your body.”

Patterson is grateful for all of the healthcare professionals who cared for him along this journey.

“We have incredible surgeons here in Abilene,” said Patterson. “…I tell people that you don’t have to go elsewhere. …We have stellar programs here. Hendrick is a great hospital. They take such good care of you.”