“But now I feel better than ever. I was absolutely treated like a king while I was at Deborah, and between the screening and my surgery, I can’t say enough nice things about the hospital.” As to his fellow firefighters? Durand is urging all of them to take advantage of the screening program. “Everyone on the shift is coming up now to schedule screenings. I’m walking proof that early detection and screening can help save your life.”

Deborah Outreach Screening – A Life Saver

 Patricia Shaw of Turnersville, an active mother, grandmother, and school nurse never gave a second thought about feeling tired and short of breath while chasing her granddaughter around. At 48, Shaw was in good health, with no history of hypertension or obesity. Granted, in her early 20s she had been diagnosed with mild mitral valve prolapse, but really hadn’t worried about it since she had been symptomless, and so never considered it a problem.

Once chance encounter
Then in the fall of 2006 Ms. Shaw went to the annual NJEA Convention in Atlantic City. While there, she visited the Deborah Heart and Lung Center booth and had a free set of health screenings. She discussed her subtle symptoms with the Deborah nurse. “She stressed to me the importance of seeing a cardiologist since I had a heart history, even though it had been stable to this point,” said Shaw.

Taking Deborah’s advice, Shaw saw a cardiologist. “Imagine my surprise when the cardiologist told me that my mitral valve looked okay, but my aortic valve was diseased and leaking, causing my shortness of breath. I then learned I had a congenital condition called bicuspid aortic valve.” Fortunately, Shaw’s condition was discovered before there was additional heart damage and she had successful heart surgery.

A return visit
This past November she stopped at the Deborah booth again at the NJEA Convention. This time it was to say, “Thank you!”

“I can say without reservation that if I had not had the screenings at the convention the year before and talked to the nurse who advised me to see a cardiologist, I don’t think I would have gone to the doctor with the subtle symptoms that I was experiencing. Early detection was very crucial to the success of my surgery. I have Deborah to thank for steering me in the right direction. I am now happy to report that I am feeling fantastic and am chasing my 2-year old granddaughter, Emma, everywhere!! I have Deborah to thank for steering me in the right direction.”