Patient Success Stories

Let the cardiac experts at Ingalls "touch your heart"

When it comes to superior heart care, you're in good hands at Ingalls Memorial Hospital.

Our comprehensive cardiac care program boasts some of the most advanced services and technology in the South Suburbs, from prevention and early diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation.

Services include sophisticated open-heart surgeries, minimally invasive interventional procedures in one of the area's only digitized cardiac catheterization laboratories, 64-slice CT scanning for noninvasive cardiac imaging and comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation following treatment.

If you or a loved one needs cardiac care, let the experts at Ingalls touch your heart.

Gary Dingle of Homewood
As a competitive, nationally ranked power-lifting champ, Gary Dingle knew that a certain amount of aches and pains were part of the drill. But the discomfort he felt last summer while working out stopped him in his tracks.

"Right after cardio, I'd get pains in my chest," the 55-yearold computer specialist said. "I'm used to a certain amount of discomfort, but this pain was unusual."

Dingle found that when he walked on a treadmill for five or six minutes, the pain would start. When he stopped exercising, it would go away.

Dingle went to his doctor who recommended a cardiac catheterization. After two stent procedures, Dingle eventually underwent triple bypass at Ingalls in November. The surgery was performed by Bryan K. Lee, M.D., board-certified cardiovascular surgeon on staff at Ingalls. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation at Ingalls followed.

Today, the power-lifting champ is back on his feet and touts the benefits of exercise and eating right. "I'm not sure if I'll go back to power-lifting, but I will continue to exercise," he said. "My advice to others is to stay active, eat right and listen to your body."

Maria Salcedo of Chicago
Maria Salcedo is a busy wife and mother of three, who was diagnosed with gestational diabetes during one of her pregnancies several years ago. She later became a full-fledged diabetic and has also battled high blood pressure for several years.

Last November, Salcedo had difficulty catching her breath. Initially, her doctor diagnosed her with asthma and prescribed medication. When the condition worsened, her husband Enrique took her to the emergency department of a hospital near their Chicago home.

An angiogram diagnosed three blocked arteries, and doctors there referred Salcedo to the heart program at Ingalls for treatment. In November, Dr. Lee performed triple-bypass surgery. Less than one week later, Salcedo was recovering comfortably at home, and today, she's back to being a busy mom.

"I feel completely different," she said. "I can climb the stairs and walk four blocks to the grocery store and back without any problems. I'm so pleased with my experience at Ingalls."

Matthew Beck of Schererville, Indiana
When Hurricane Katrina hit in August of 2005, New Orleans resident Matthew Beck packed up his family and headed north. They first traveled to Dallas, then moved to his sister's home in Crete. It was a difficult time, with Beck having to give up his bicycle and lawn mower business.

Eventually, Beck, his wife and son settled in Schererville, Indiana, where he took a job with a large warehouse company. Soon after, Beck began having trouble sleeping. "I felt like I was being smothered," he said. "I had to sleep sitting in a chair."

Thinking it might be gastroesophageal reflux disease, Beck went to a gastroenterologist. But Beck's problem wasn't heartburn; it was his heart. A leaking valve and worn-out aortic root were causing fluid to accumulate in his lungs, making it difficult for him to breathe at night and during physical exertion at work.

Beck's cardiologist, Imtiaz Hamid, M.D., referred him to Dr. Lee for surgery.

Last October, Dr. Lee performed a complex aortic root replacement and valve repair on Beck with excellent results. Since then, Beck has been eating right and exercising.

"I dodged a bullet, so now I live the best that I can," he added. "My family and I are forever grateful to Dr. Lee and to Ingalls."

For more information about Ingalls Cardiac Program, call Ingalls Care Connection at 1.800.221.2199, or visit us on the web at www.ingallshealthsystem.org.

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