Terry Greenwood was mowing his lawn one afternoon when he noticed something was not right. He got dust in his throat and lungs and had a bad coughing spell. “I couldn't catch my breath anymore,” said Greenwood, an Altru Heart and Vascular Center patient. “I couldn't stop coughing, and I couldn't breathe.”
The coughing continued for a couple of days, so he eventually went to the hospital. Doctors confirmed an unusual buildup in his body. “It was fluid in the lungs and fluid in my heart,” Greenwood said. After removing the fluid, the Heart and Vascular team had a solution to stop this problem before it started. “They presented me with a device. I'm so grateful that I was a candidate.”
Lifesaving Technology
Doctors determined Greenwood was a great candidate for the CardioMEMS™ HF System to manage heart failure.
“Implanting a CardioMEMS device is a minimally invasive procedure,” said Dr. Tea, a cardiologist at Altru. “A miniaturized, wireless monitoring sensor is implanted into the pulmonary artery. This system will transmit pulmonary artery pressure data to us. This system can help reduce the risk of hospitalization and may even warn us before a patient has a cardiovascular event.” Greenwood’s CardioMEMS device was installed in a matter of a few hours.
“I thought it went quite well,” Greenwood said. “I didn’t feel any pain. I was awake for the entire procedure and just had to rest for a few hours after.”
Enriching Lives Through Health
Greenwood is one of Altru’s greeters. He decided to volunteer at Altru after his wife passed due to cancer. “When my wife was very sick, many nurses here held me in their arms when I was bawling,” Greenwood said. “I'm just trying to give it back.” His volunteering with Altru’s Volunteer Services provides him with a connection to his community.
“It gives me a purpose in life,” said Greenwood. “I can go to bed at night and know that I have something meaningful to do the next day. I try to let people know they’re more than just a dollar sign,” Greenwood said. “We have to be very caring and a loving person.”
Another Chance at Life
Anyone visiting Altru Hospital is likely to see Greenwood in the lobby. He’s escorted more than 3,000 patients to their appointments over the last few years. Thanks to his CardioMEMS™ HF System, he is hoping to keep serving his community for as long as he can.
“It’s a blessing,” Greenwood said. “I’m healthy enough to handle it. It’s going to prolong my life. Hopefully I’m working at the hospital 10 years from now.”
To learn more about Altru Heart and Vascular Care and determine whether you are a candidate for CardioMEMS™, call 701.780.6236