Last fall, the Centra Foundation received a $360,000 grant from The Al Stroobants Foundation to meet an increased need in the region for echocardiograms. The grant funded two new state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound machines and contributed to an expansion that came just in time to help Hugh Bragg receive the timely monitoring he needs after his heart attack.
Hugh Bragg vividly recalls the day that derailed his entire year as well as the compassionate and excellent care he received afterward.
“I remember coming in from working in the garage,” he said. “My chest was tight. I didn’t feel great, but I didn’t think anything was seriously wrong. I watched some TV that evening and went to bed early. I thought I would wake up the next morning feeling fine.”
When that wasn’t the case, his family called for help. The rescue squad took him to Centra Lynchburg General Hospital, home to Centra Stroobants Heart Center and Stroobants Cardiovascular Pavilion, a national benchmark facility for cardiac care.
“I had a 99% blockage in my main artery and needed a stent,” he said. “They also found four other blockages.”
The discovery was “a little surprising” for someone who enjoys working in his yard, restoring old cars and staying active. The timing was also disappointing. His family was getting ready to go on a trip that had been years in the making.
“Obviously not something I wanted to have happen, but the care was great,” he said. “The nurses were great and my doctor, Dr. Huffman, was also great. I also appreciated Dr. Morford, who did my catheterization.”
Now Hugh needs regular checkups to monitor the function of his heart.
Fortunately, Centra recently expanded care to meet an increased need in the region for echocardiograms, which can assess both the structure and function of a patient’s heart. In December, the Centra Foundation announced a $360,000 grant from The Al Stroobants Foundation and contributed to the expansion with the purchase of two new state-of-the-art cardiac ultrasound machines for Stroobants Cardiovascular Center, a part of the Centra Heart & Vascular Institute.
With the expansion, “people in our region have access to more timely cardiac imaging which is critical to making diagnoses and clinical decisions,” said Jim Warner, MD, EdD, FACC, executive chair of the Centra Heart & Vascular Institute. “We can perform more outpatient tests each day.”
As someone who worked on cars before working in insurance, Hugh knows the importance of timely checkups. With monitoring, he is slowly and safely returning to the hobbies and work he enjoys. His heart function has improved significantly.
“I saw Dr. Huffman not too long ago,” he said. “The recovery is going well. I feel good. I’m going out to work in my garage now, even if it’s just for a couple hours each time.”
Close to the one-year anniversary of his heart attack, Hugh was even able to take the trip he had planned with his family.
“Centra has a great Heart Center. I don’t think there’s one better anywhere,” he said. “Everyone was extremely helpful. They’re thoughtful of your needs and really supportive. I’m grateful to be where I am now.”
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