Something afoot

Jerome Hill thought a nagging callus on his left foot was the least of his health issues.

The 70-year-old Jacksonville native, who has diabetes and high blood pressure, never imagined there was something critically wrong with his cardiovascular system.

“I wasn’t experiencing any obvious symptoms like chest pains or shortness of breath, so I didn’t think anything of it at the time,” he said.

Fortunately, the retired truck driver shared his foot concerns with his family physician, Tra’Chella Johnson Foy, MD, of Baptist Primary Care.

Dr. Johnson Foy initially referred Hill to a podiatrist who recommended surgery to remove the callus, typically a last resort for severe or chronic cases. But before surgery could be scheduled, Hill needed to have an ultrasound performed on his left leg to measure blood flow levels.

“When the test results came back, it showed that one of the arteries in my leg was blocked,” Hill said.

Surgery versus stents

Dr. Johnson Foy immediately referred Hill to Salil Patel, MD, FACC, an interventional cardiologist with Baptist Heart Specialists and chief of Cardiology at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville, who focuses on treating cardiovascular disease through catheter-based procedures such as angioplasty and stenting, both of which open narrowed or blocked blood vessels.

Dr. Patel advised Hill to undergo a diagnostic heart catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure to investigate his overall heart function, including possible blockages in any of his three coronary arteries.

Hill and his wife, Gail, agreed to the procedure, even if it meant that immediate surgery might be required, depending on what Dr. Patel found.

“Jerome was mentally prepared for surgery,” said Gail Hill. “After performing the heart cath, Dr. Patel told us stents wouldn’t help Jerome in the long run. He needed open-heart surgery because all three of his arteries were blocked, including two that were at 100%.”

Three-vessel disease

After speaking with the Hills, Dr. Patel consulted Nathan Bates, MD, FACS, a nationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon with Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgical Associates and chief of Cardiac Surgery at Baptist Jacksonville.

As fate would have it, Dr. Bates had an opening in the operating room that week.

“I had already been admitted to Baptist Heart Hospital, so I told him to go ahead and schedule me,” Hill said. “It was a blessing to know that I had one of the top heart surgeons in the area taking care of me.”

During Hill’s open-heart surgery, Dr. Bates performed a triple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), during which he used healthy blood vessels from Hill’s body to “bypass” the blockages. He also placed a special device on a chamber of Hill’s heart where blood clots often form to reduce the chances of post-operative stroke due to atrial fibrillation (AFib).

“What’s extraordinary about Baptist Health and what I believe is one of our biggest strengths is the collaborative approach between cardiologists and surgeons,” Dr. Bates said. “We always do what’s best for the patient. Mr. Hill had three-vessel disease, meaning disease in all three vessels of the heart, and outcomes are far better with open-heart surgery than with stents.”

Sunrise stroll declaration

Following successful open-heart surgery, Hill, whose father died of heart disease at age 52, started walking every day in his neighborhood. Less than a month later, he celebrated his new lease on life by walking on the beach at sunrise with his wife.

“I wanted to give God the praise for seeing me through triple bypass surgery,” Hill said. “My aim now is to heal my heart and live a healthier life.”

Gail Hill said she's proud of her husband for heeding the advice of his entire care team and for getting regular medical check-ups.

“Following up with his primary care physician about the callus is what saved his life, because he could have easily just put a band-aid on his foot and kept walking,” she said.

Dr. Johnson Foy, who has been treating Hill for nearly 20 years, said she’s thankful he was able to receive lifesaving surgery before major damage to his heart could be done.

“As Baptist Health physicians, our mission is to get you to the care you need and deserve, when you need it,” she added.

The Heart Hospital at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville has received a three-star rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, placing it among the elite for heart bypass surgery in the United States and Canada. To schedule an appointment with a cardiologist with Baptist Heart Specialists, call 904.723.8714.