On April 2, 2023, Sandra Roberts' world changed forever. She was at home with her family when she experienced a heart attack. The Registered Nurse and HealthWorks Health Coach went from caregiver and employee to patient in a flash.

Sandra and her husband Dale, an HH Chaplain, quickly rushed to the Emergency Department, was admitted to Dr. Shi-Chi Cheng, and scheduled for a diagnostic heart catheterization. Up until this point, Sandra’s only medical history and hospitalizations were giving birth to four children, ages 18, 16, 13 and 10.

Sandra thought she knew what was happening, but she had no idea why. She got the answers and lifesaving care she needed over the coming days, thanks to the incredible HH Health team.

The heart cath on Monday did not go as anyone expected. Dr. Jacqueline Green injected a small amount of contrast into Sandra’s coronary arteries, and she could see a small flap that was loose.  Sandra experienced severe chest pain, which was the last thing she remembers as the artery tore. She had a spontaneous coronary artery dissection -- an immediate medical emergency.

Sandra’s right femoral artery was accessed with a sheath and a heart pump was placed in her left ventricle to assist with blood circulation; she was intubated. She was too unstable to even go to the OR.

The team continued to work at the bedside, and Dr. Green was able to place two stents in the dissected arteries. Blood flow was restored and Sandra was stabilized, put on bedrest in CCU1. The next day, she went back to the Cath Lab to have the sheath removed and a blood clot was found in her right femoral artery. That evening, Dr. Fred Stucky did surgery to repair the right femoral artery with a bypass graft.

Through this terrifying medical emergency, Sandra was diagnosed with a vascular disorder called fibromuscular dysplasia -- a rare blood vessel disorder in which some of the strong, flexible cells of arteries are replaced with cells that are more fibrous. Despite being young and otherwise healthy, this was a life-changing diagnosis for Sandra. She is now armed with the treatment and information she needs, thanks to the HH team.

This month, she said "thank you" to the HH team that saved her life. Sandra expressed her gratitude by honoring each of her caregivers as Care Champions!

“I knew at some point I wanted to come back and say ‘thank you’ verbally to the folks who helped me,” Sandra said. “It just took me a few months to heal physically and emotionally from all that our family went through. I'm excited to present these amazing Care Champions. They represent the best of Huntsville Hospital.” >>

• Thank you, Dr. Shi-Chi Cheng, for managing my care from admission to discharge.
• Thank you to the Cath Lab team and Dr. Jacqueline L. Green for working so hard to keep me alive. I was truly in the perfect place at the right time. You were under such intense pressure! I am so grateful for your expertise, steady hand and calm spirit as you worked to place the stents.
• Thank you, Dr. Fred Stucky, for restoring blood flow to my leg.
• Thank you also to my nurses in CCU1. You are all amazing! Each one of you was an advocate in my care. Each time you came into the room, which was often, you took the time to talk with me. These conversations were as much a part of the healing process as getting any medication, having a procedure or surgery. They helped to occupy my mind during a very scary situation.

Learn more about HHF’s Care Champion program and honor your caregiver by clicking here!