Patricia Wasson

A Hidden Condition, a Healing Journey: Tricia’s Story

Tricia never imagined that a quiet dinner with friends would lead to a life-changing diagnosis. At 75, she had no known heart issues—until a mini stroke revealed a hidden condition that required urgent care. Thanks to the swift and compassionate team at St. Elizabeth, Tricia underwent totally endoscopic minimally invasive heart surgery and is now living with renewed energy and peace of mind.

From Stroke to Discovery

In November of 2024, Tricia was enjoying dinner with friends when she began to feel “a little off.” She decided to skip the movie they had planned afterward. One of her friends, a former home health aide, noticed something wasn’t right. “She asked me to raise my arm and to smile,” Tricia recalls. “She recognized I was having a stroke.”

As Tricia stood to leave, she couldn’t stand up straight. Her friends took her across the street to St. Elizabeth, where doctors confirmed she had experienced a mini stroke. She was kept overnight for testing.

That hospital stay marked the beginning of a deeper investigation into her health. In January, Tricia met with Dr. Travis Huffman, a Cardiologist at St. Elizabeth, who shared surprising news that Tricia was born with a bad heart valve. “I’m almost 76, and I didn’t even know.”

A Complicated Road to Surgery

Tricia was scheduled for an angiogram, but the day before the procedure, the nurse at her Primary Care office called with urgent instructions. “She said, ‘You need to go to the emergency room right now. Your hemoglobin is 4.6,’” Tricia says. “They couldn’t believe I was still standing.”

She was admitted to St. Elizabeth to receive iron injections and blood transfusions. After recovering, she underwent gallbladder and hernia surgery—both necessary before her heart valve could be repaired.

In May, Tricia met with Dr. Mario Castillo-Sang, a Cardiac Surgeon at St. Elizabeth. “He showed me on the screen what he had to do,” she says. “I also saw a video of someone who had the procedure, which makes you feel so much better.”

Ready and Remaining Calm

Despite the seriousness of heart surgery, Tricia felt surprisingly calm. “After I met with all the doctors and saw the video of the procedure, I wasn’t worried at all,” she says. “When people say, ‘We have to operate on your heart,’ that’s scary. So when someone explains it in terms you can understand, that’s really important.”

Dr. Castillo-Sang’s approach helped her feel confident. “He explained everything in detail and even gave me a card saying, ‘If you have any questions, call me.’ That meant a lot.”

Tricia underwent totally endoscopic minimally invasive mitral valve surgery, which required only small incisions. “I was really happy that I didn’t have to have everything cut open,” she says. “Medical advances are so great.”

She spent six days in the hospital and was impressed by the care she received. “The nurses were great,” she says. “I was really pleased.”

Dr. Castillo-Sang emphasized the importance of patient education. “Knowledge is power,” he says. “I’m a firm believer that for patients to do well, they really need to understand the process of what is wrong and why we’re doing this. Understanding the whole picture is important to heal.”

A New Outlook and a Message of Hope

Today, Tricia feels stronger and more energized. She’s grateful for the minimally invasive approach, which made recovery easier. When talking about the quality of care at St. Elizabeth, she wants others to know that “Everyone is there for you from the very start.”

To learn more about Heart Surgery at St. Elizabeth, visit our website or schedule a consultation with Dr. Castillo-Sang or another member of our expert cardiac surgery team by calling (859) 301-9010.