Heart Patient Stories

Meet some of our heart and vascular patients, and read about their life-changing experiences. Sharp is proud to help make stories like these possible.

 Crisamar's hypertension story

Crisamar Anunciado, Overcoming Hypertension
Crisamar Anunciado, a diabetes nurse practitioner at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, overcame hypertension and shortness of breath through healthy living. Read Crisamar's story.

Debbie Kinney, Heart Transplant Survivor

 Debbie Kinney, Heart Transplant Survivor
Debbie Kinney was first introduced to San Diegans through Sharp HealthCare's television documentary, "Stories of The Sharp Experience," as she waited to learn if she would be eligible for a heart transplant. Follow her amazing story through the documentary and as she chronicles her experiences in her own journal. Read Debbie's heart transplant journal.
Patient Story Dr. Harvey Brown, Minimally Invasive Mitral Valve Repair
Dr. Brown lives an active lifestyle — spending lots of quality time outdoors with his young family. Slowing down wasn't an option for Dr. Brown, who needed mitral valve repair surgery to fix his heart. Learn how doctors at Sharp Memorial Hospital got Dr. Brown back on the campgrounds with minimal downtime. Read Dr. Brown's story.
John Merrill

John Merrill, Heart Pump Implantation
Following a harrowing plane crash while serving in the U.S. Air Force, John incurred numerous injuries that not only ended his career in the skies but also caused lifelong heart problems. Though he wasn't a candidate for a heart transplant, his cardiac team gave him and his weakened heart a new start with a heart pump that has given him the opportunity to return to his favorite hobbies. Read John's heart pump implantation story.

 Mark Griffin, cardiac explant

Mark Griffin, Cardiac Explant
To date, only two cardiac explants have been performed in Southern California. They both took place at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Here is the amazing story behind one of them; the story of 41-year-old Mark Griffin. Read Mark's cardiac explant story.
 Norma, cardiac rehab Richard and Norma, Cardiac Rehabilitation
Richard and Norma Flores do nearly everything together in their 48-year-long marriage, including taking care of their heart health in Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center's Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, which helped to improve both their lives. Read Richard and Norma's story.
 Thomas's cardiac explant story Thomas Martin, Cardiac Explant
Just one year after implantation, Thomas underwent a rare surgery to remove the implantable heart pump — a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) — that kept him alive for more than a year. Read Thomas's cardiac explant story.

Find a San Diego Cardiologist
To find a Sharp-affiliated doctor, search for a San Diego cardiologist or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm.

For More Information
To find general information about heart and vascular care, visit Cardiovascular Diseases in Adult Health or read the Heart and Cardiovascular News archive.