Dameron Hospital | Health Outlook | Spring 2019

8 HEALTH OUTLOOK BY most accounts, Hazel Kerner was the picture of health. As a very active 84-year-old who continues to work as a real estate agent, Kerner seems many years younger because of her positive energy, enthusiasm and zest for life. Kerner strongly believes in taking responsibility for one’s health, and routinely performs her recommended self-exams. One such exam led to the discovery of a lump in her breast that was confirmed as cancerous. During the preparation for its removal, her surgeon identified potential cardiac health issues and recommended she see a cardiologist immediately. After consultation and testing with Daren Primack, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Pacific Heart & Vascular, Kerner learned she had significant blockages in the arteries of her heart. Dr. Primack confirmed that a coronary artery bypass was clinically appropriate and referred Kerner to Maria Currie, MD, a cardiac surgeon with the Stanford Cardiac Surgery Program at Dameron Hospital. ‘I’m like the Energizer Bunny’ Kerner wanted to have the procedure done as soon as possible. “I’ve always been active and healthy my entire life,” says Kerner. “I grew up on a farm, and we learned at an early age that the key to success is hard work, determination and high energy— and that describes me perfectly. I’m like the Energizer Bunny—I don’t like to sit still.” “I was caught off guard and completely shocked upon learning I had a heart condition in addition to the cancerous lump,” she recalls. “I really didn’t feel as though I was being held back in any way, but if I was headed for trouble in the future, I told myself that we just need to get it out of the way so I could continue to enjoy my life to its fullest.” A kindred spirit For Kerner, the idea of having heart surgery was daunting. “At first, I was so nervous and apprehensive about the surgery because I had never had a need for anything like this in my life,” she says. “But when I met Dr. Currie, I immediately Grateful and going strong Back to an active life, thanks to the top-notch teamwork at Dameron had a very good feeling about her. Her demeanor, her professionalism, and her warmth and compassion touched my soul. I felt like we were kindred spirits and I could trust her with my life, so I told her I wanted to get this surgery done as soon as possible.” Dr. Currie; surgeon Eric Cornwell, MD; and anesthesiologist Zeest Khan, MD, took Kerner into the operating room for coronary artery bypass grafting with physician assistant Cory Davenport and the Dameron operating room staff assisting. Following the successful procedure, Kerner recovered under the care of nursing staff in the Dameron Intensive Care and Cardiac Telemetry units. According to Kerner, her experience was excellent from start to finish. “It was clear that everyone involved in my care truly cared about me as a person,” she says. “Throughout the entire process, Dr. Currie, the members of her team and the hospital staff all made me feel as though I was the most important person in their lives. I feel fortunate and so grateful to have been cared for by this special group of people who took me under their wing to heal me. I will never forget them.” The picture of health—again After her recovery from the bypass procedure, Kerner also completed her cancer surgery and treatment successfully and