Get Care Now
Caleb Vasquez
At Carson Tahoe Health, every day presents us with a reminder of just how precious life is and how critical timely medical intervention can be. Today, we’d like to share a story that underscores the importance of heart health and the incredible impact our cardiac team has on saving lives.
Dave’s journey started with what could have been a tragic outcome but turned into a story of hope, thanks to our dedicated team of medical professionals. Last Thursday, Dave’s cardiologist, Dr. DiPaolo, scheduled him for an angiogram—a diagnostic test that helps us visualize the inside of the coronary arteries and assess any potential blockages. What Dr. DiPaolo found was alarming: three out of Dave’s four coronary arteries were 95-100% blocked. These arteries, responsible for supplying blood to the heart, were so severely restricted that his heart was barely functioning. As Dr. DiPaolo put it, “Frankly, I’m amazed he’s still here.” “I’ll never forget that” said Terri Riffle (Dave’s partner).
Realizing the severity of the situation, Dr. DiPaolo called in Dr. Chapman, who immediately admitted Dave to the Cardiac ICU. The following morning, Dave underwent quadruple bypass surgery—an extensive operation where all four blocked arteries were bypassed to restore proper blood flow to the heart. Dr. Chapman later remarked that Dave had been “a ticking time bomb,” and without this critical surgery, his heart could have stopped at any moment. In such cases, it’s unlikely that Dave would have been able to survive a sudden cardiac event.
The surgery was a success, and we’re thrilled to report that Dave is on the path to recovery. We are anticipating a full recovery for Dave, which is nothing short of a miracle considering the condition of his heart just days ago.
For Dave and his loved ones, this health event had been a whirlwind of emotions—shock, fear, relief, and above all, immense gratitude. As his family put it, “We have a long and tiring couple of months ahead of us, but we have that time. That and many more years of good life, time we will not take for granted.” It’s moments like these that remind us all not to take our health for granted and to treasure the time we have with the ones we love.
Stories like Dave’s serve as powerful reminders of why early detection and swift medical intervention are so crucial. Coronary artery disease is often called a “silent killer” because it can develop over years without obvious symptoms until it’s nearly too late. Dave was one of the fortunate ones who received care just in time, but his story underscores the importance of regular heart check-ups and paying attention to the warning signs—no matter how subtle.
The team at Carson Tahoe Health feels privileged to have played a role in Dave’s recovery. It’s not just about performing surgeries or administering treatments; it’s about giving people their lives back and giving families hope for a future they almost lost. “Thank you seems so inadequate, but thank you…” said Terri Riffle, but from all of us at Carson Tahoe Health, we want them to know that we are deeply honored to have helped. It’s our mission to provide this level of care to all of our patients, every single day.
As Dave’s story shows, heart disease can be life-threatening, but with the right care, it doesn’t have to be. We urge everyone to prioritize their heart health—whether it’s scheduling a regular check-up, making lifestyle changes, or speaking to your doctor if something feels off. It could be the decision that saves your life or the life of someone you love.
If you or a loved one are concerned about your heart health, don’t wait. Schedule an appointment with one of our cardiac specialists and take that first step towards prevention or recovery.
Thank you, Dave, for sharing your journey with us, and we look forward to seeing you fully recovered and thriving for many years to come.
