A Picture of Health
At 63, Christine was an active runner and boating enthusiast. The Bayville resident had no cardiac risk factors, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. So it was a shock when Christine collapsed in her office in Toms River on January 4.
"I opened the office door, said 'Happy New Year,' and the next thing I knew, I was on the floor," Christine says. Fortunately, Christine works with her husband, Howard, a former paramedic. He gave her CPR and called 911. An ambulance whisked her to a nearby hospital, where she was sent for cardiac catheterization — an emergency treatment for a heart attack.
During the procedure, Jay Stone, M.D., an interventional cardiologist, couldn't find a blockage. Stunned, he performed a test called an aortogram and found an extremely rare growth called a papillary fibroelastoma on her aortic valve.
This growth was blocking the left main coronary artery in Christine's heart, causing it to stop over and over again. She needed to be transported to a hospital that offered lifesaving open-heart surgery.
A Valve Problem
Dr. Stone shared the images of Christine's heart electronically with the experts at Jersey Shore. Within 60 minutes, Christine was transported to Jersey Shore for surgery. On the trip there, her heart stopped three times.
"We weren't sure if we were going to be able to remove the growth and keep Christine's valve intact," says Richard Neibart, M.D., a board certified thoracic surgeon. "If the valve had had to be removed, Christine would have needed a mechanical valve." But in the operating room at Jersey Shore, Dr. Neibart was able to completely remove the tumor while sparing Christine's delicate valve.
Christine spent a week in the hospital and then returned home.
Slow but Steady Healing
After several weeks of cardiac rehabilitation and with the support of her husband and son, David, Christine was able to return to work in the spring. At press time, she was eager to get back on the water again.
Most of all, she is happy to be alive to tell her story. "I feel lucky that it was Dr. Neibart waiting for me at Jersey Shore," Christine says. "And the ICU nurses at Jersey Shore were terrific. They were so on top of everything. These people saved my life."
About the Doctor
Richard M. Neibart, M.D.Board certified in General and Thoracic Surgery
Neptune | 732-776-4618
