Treating life-threatening heart valve infection—with confidence and kindness
St. Michael's Foundation
We support St. Michael's and Providence as they take on some of the world's toughest health challenges.
When bacteria make their way into your bloodstream, they can attach themselves to damaged areas of the heart—potentially leading to heart valve infection. This is known as infective endocarditis (IE).
If bacteria break down the heart valves, they can cause heart failure. And if clumps and cell debris break loose from the valve, they can cause stroke—which is why endocarditis is linked to high rates of illness and death.
Such was the devastating prospect faced by Terry Tait, a 60-year-old former NHL player from Sault Ste. Marie, who had triple valve IE and a hole in his heart. The condition brought Terry all the way to St. Michael’s Hospital, a leader in IE surgery, and Dr. Bobby Yanagawa , Head of the Division of Cardiac Surgery and holder of the newly established Professorship in Endocarditis at The Schroeder BRAIN&HEART Centre, made possible by donor Ky Luu.
Terry’s surgery was “extensive and risky,” Dr. Yanagawa says. In fact, 30 percent of endocarditis patients require this high-risk procedure, with up to a third of those dying, according to Dr. Yanagawa. But thanks to St. Michael’s dedicated, multidisciplinary IE team, Terry’s surgery had an “excellent outcome.”
Terry and his wife Chantal say they were struck equally by the heart team’s confidence and kindness during their time at the hospital. “They knew what they were up against (surgically), but weren’t afraid to take on the challenge,” Terry says.
Chantal adds that Dr. Yanagawa went “above and beyond,” even reaching out to her by phone, the night after her husband’s surgery, just to let her know that Terry was doing well and starting on the road to healing.
Today, Terry’s heart valve infection is under control, and he is completing his rehab back in Sault Ste. Marie. Though he no longer strives to be “as strong as can be,” he is intently focused on his cardiovascular fitness. “I just have to remember I now have physical limits—where and how far I can go,” Terry says, adding that he looks forward to resuming his favourite pastime: river fishing in northern Ontario.
Looking back at their experience at St. Michael’s—from the critical IE surgery to day-to-day nursing support—Terry and Chantal say “no dollar is better spent than what is spent on cardiac care at the hospital.”
Contact Ashley Downey at [email protected] to learn more about what St. Michael’s is doing to advance world-class cardiac care.
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11 个月If you want to financially support Dr Bobby Yanagawa, you can send directed donations towards his Professorship in Infectious Endocarditis through St Mike's Foundation, Toronto! (lump sum or regular contributions) He is the head of cardiac surgery at St Mike's Hospital in Toronto but the IE is program is separate. Dr Yanagawa also leads the DONOR SUPPORTED infectious endocarditis (IE) program. He saved my life. I'm shamelessly asking for financial support for his projects so he can continue to find better ways to save countless others. He is focused on saving lives and financial matters take a back seat. However, strong financial support will help him and his teams achieve more. I was off work for only six days due to a triple bi-pass operation he performed on me! He operated on a Thursday; I was sitting at my desk the following Wednesday. He probably can't share because of confidentiality, but I can! He's brilliant, humble and full of ideas. Him asking for money might not be allowed, so I'm asking. Forgive me if you find me too direct, crass, rude for asking but it's for a good cause. If you can, Please send donations to Dr Yanagawa's IE program through St. Mike's Foundation in Toronto.