Chris

Throughout his successful career as a professional photographer, Chris took the time to donate his talents in support of a wide variety of community causes and philanthropic work. The 50-year-old father of two experienced heart problems unexpectedly when, on a photo shoot, he was next to someone who unknowingly had strep, a highly contagious illness. Chris became infected, with permanent damage to his mitral valve. Unable to work, he was denied coverage and was running out of options when Dr. Murphy of Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta joined forced with LKCF to provide the care that saved his life. Chris had a robotic mitral valve repair, a minimally invasive procedure that dramatically reduces recovery time. “They could have just replaced the valve, which would have meant I would have had to take cumadin for the rest of my life. But Dr. Murphy made the extra effort to repair the valve, and four days after my operation I was back to work and back to my life.”

Efundem

As a young girl growing up in Cameroon, West Africa, Efundem experienced migraines, often accompanied by blackouts. Her parents took her to specialists, who could not detect anything wrong. After moving to the United States to attend graduate school, her blackouts returned. During a general check-up, her doctor discovered she had an abnormally slow heartbeat. He performed an EKG, which detected a hole in her heart. Efundem's older sister learned the news and began researching heart disease on the Internet where she discovered The Larry King Cardiac Foundation. Knowing that her sister was without insurance, she sent a letter to Larry King pleading to save her sister’s life. Her information was send to Dr. Gerard Martin to review and her case was accepted. The 26-year-old student underwent interventional cardiac catheterization at Children’s National Medical Center to correct her congenital heart disease. Her recovery was quick and she was released from the hospital on the same day. Today, she is completing her graduate studies at West Virginia University. She is grateful to The Larry King Cardiac Foundation for making her surgery possible, and making her dream of finishing her Masters degree in Petroleum Engineering possible. active, healthy life.

Cristina

One month after her life-saving surgery, Cristina celebrates her return to good health. Cristina, from Queens, was the first patient at New York Hospital Queens to receive life-saving surgery with the help of funds from The Larry King Cardiac Foundation.

Michael

Forty-three-year-old Michael walked into the George Washington University Hospital Emergency Room complaining of chest pain. The Washington D.C. handyman had no health insurance but was not eligible for any financial assistance programs.

When emergency room doctors saw their patient's abnormal electrocardiogram and blood enzyme evidence of a probable myocardial infarction (heart attack), Michael underwent immediate cardiac catheterization performed by Dr. Richard Katz and Dr. Jon Reiner which showed narrowings in two of his three arteries. Both arteries were opened with Cypher Cordis (Johnson & Johnson) stents.

Michael is recovering well and is grateful to The Larry King Cardiac Foundation for providing financial assistance and to Cordis for its donation of stents to The LKCF which were used in his treatment. Today, he is back at work.

Sheena

When Sheena came to the United States, the 14-year-old was feeling reoccurring chest pain and could not participate in physical activity without growing tired. Without corrective surgery, doctors at Children's National Medical Center knew Sheena would probably not live past the age of a young adult. Sheena had the hole in her heart repaired with cardiac catheterization, an interventional procedure. Just 24 hours after going into the operating room, Sheena was released from the hospital. Today she looks forward to a normal life expectancy home in Uganda.

Faizel

This 5-year-old Ugandan boy was experiencing shortness of breath and growing tired after even minor exercise. These are common symptoms of an atrial septal defects or holes in the heart. The Larry King Cardiac Foundation provided the needed funds for the closures of the septal defects. Faizel was able to leave the hospital 48 hours after his procedure. He has returned to Uganda, has joined his friends in school and in play. This active Ugandan child is now expected to live a normal life.

Steve

When 49-year old Stephen collapsed while waiting for a Metro train at 5:30 am outside Washington D.C., a passenger caught him before he hit the ground. The part-time window display dresser/student knew he wasn't going to make it to work that autumn day. Metro officials called an ambulance and Stephen was taken to the emergency room at George Washington University Hospital.

He told doctors about feeling tired and sleeping for three-four days straight when not working or taking classes or caring for his father who was recovering from a stroke. An echocardiogram (a sound wave picture of the heart) was performed and doctors discovered a tumor the size of a potato in the heart (atrial myxoma). He was told he needed to prepare for open heart surgery as soon as possible. He told doctors he was between careers and had gambled he'd be able to do a year or two without adequate insurance until he could get a new job.

On the night before surgery was scheduled, Stephen learned his small insurance policy was canceled. George Washington University Hospital cardiologists Dr. Richard Katz and Dr. Gregory Trachiotis went to work making phone calls and arranged to have The Larry King Cardiac Foundation step in and provide the needed financial assistance. Surgery took place on October 24th (a month after the fall at the Metro stop) and today, Stephen is continuing his study of Geographic Information Science. “To everyone who has provided money to The Larry King Cardiac Foundation, I say thank you,” he says, “and I want each of you to know I'm excited about knowing what it's like to have energy to do things again.”

Claire

This three-year-old child has suffered from a ventricular septal defect or a large hole in her heart - as well as a patent ductus blood vessel that did not close after her birth. The result was significant limitation in exercise tolerance as well as an inability to gain weight. She also developed numerous infections. Claire came to Children's National Medical Center to have these cardiac problems corrected. She was able to leave the hospital after just three days. Her family in Uganda is grateful to The Larry King Cardiac Foundation because, had this surgery not been performed, it was estimated that Claire would probably not have lived beyond the age of 10.

Matthew

He successfully underwent surgery at Children’s National Medical Center where Dr. Stanley Beder and Dr. Lorraine Schratz repaired a large hole in the young boy’s heart. The Larry King Cardiac Foundation stepped in to assist Matthew’s family when insurance failed to cover the cost of treating his serious medical condition. Matthew’s family, from Gaithersburg, Maryland, is looking forward to celebrating their child’s first birthday -- and many more to come.

Ben

Louisiana resident Ben had reason to worry when he started experiencing chest pains. Heart disease figured prominently in his family’s medical history and, as a self-employed flooring installer, he was uninsured. He suffered a heart attack on July 4 and was hospitalized at St. Helena Parish Medical Center. From there, it was determined he would need a triple bypass. He was transferred to LSU Medical Center in New Orleans where he was scheduled for the surgery on August 29, his 40th birthday. That’s the same day Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, and one day later, the hospital was flooded. After four long days of waiting, Ben was evacuated to Atlanta’s Saint Joseph’s Hospital, where he was examined and underwent surgery to successfully open up a 95% blocked artery. Funds and services derived from The Larry King Cardiac Foundation/Saint Joseph’s Hospital partnership paid for all of his medical care.