“The Penthouse of Care”: Lorraine’s Story of Lifesaving Heart Surgery Close to Home
Sixteen years ago, Lorraine received news that would shake anyone to the core: she had a triple heart blockage. She was 58 years old. It’s the kind of diagnosis that stops you in your tracks.
Her care team moved quickly, using a heart-lung machine to stabilize her and perform life-saving surgery. “It was amazing, truly. You think they’ve done everything possible for you. And just when you think the worst is behind you, you look back and realize how lucky you were to be right here, at home, in New Brunswick.”
What stood out to Lorraine wasn’t just the advanced medical treatment; it was how she was made to feel every step of the way. “When I got in there, the care was exceptional. The team joked that the cardiac unit was the ‘penthouse,’ and honestly, it felt like it.”
Lorraine’s appreciation is rooted in personal experience. As a young woman, she watched her father go through a similar heart scare. He was only 55 at the time and needed urgent care, but back then, there was no local cardiac surgery program. He had to be flown to Halifax for the procedure. “That was very costly for our family,” she says. “People don’t realize how fortunate we are today to have the New Brunswick Heart Centre right here. I’ve seen both sides of it.”
Now, 16 years later, Lorraine is thriving, and she’s never forgotten the care that gave her a second chance at life.
Her story is a powerful reminder of how far health care in New Brunswick has come, and how the New Brunswick Heart Centre continues to save lives, bring families peace of mind, and offer world-class treatment, close to home.
