"ALL of you are my HEROES for all you do. Thank you for my ‘life support!’"
When Mike Patterson learned he was in congestive heart failure, he asked his wife to drive him to Centra. He was aware of Centra’s reputation as a leader in heart and vascular care, made possible in part by donor support. While he was expecting great care for his heart, he was not prepared for the high level of what he calls “person care, not just patient care” — attention to detail, unfailing kindness and a listening ear “from every single person, including the person who checked me in, the nurses, the aides, the physicians, even the janitor.”
Mike Patterson’s care journey began with a single symptom he thought might indicate pneumonia: shortness of breath.
At an urgent care near his home in Arrington, the active 74-year-old, who is a retired research and development engineer manager, retired United States Coast Guard licensed master captain, commercial balloon pilot, submarine pilot and licensed open water scuba diver, was surprised to learn the cause was likely heart failure.
“I told my wife to take me to the Emergency Department at Centra Lynchburg General Hospital,” Mike recalls. “Even though we live a good 45 minutes away, I trusted the Lynchburg group. And it turned out to be a great choice, too.”
Mike knew the health system as a leader for heart and vascular care in the region, although he did not know it was recently named one of the top 100 in the country for heart attack care. Other accolades include 10 consecutive platinum awards from the American College of Cardiology.
“After my experience, I’m not surprised,” he says, adding that he was especially impressed by the compassionate, patient-centered care and attention to detail from each Centra Caregiver he encountered.
He sums up his initial experience this way: “Three days, 100% service and kindness — from every single person, including the person who checked me in, the nurses, the aides, the physicians, even the janitor. Without fail, every person was smiling, kind, understanding and considered all my needs and questions. Total support for my feelings and health. Everyone on my side at all times while professionally serving the issue. The level of care was amazing.”
Gratitude for excellent follow-up care and the TAVR procedure
According to Mike, the same level of high-quality care and expertise continued after he was discharged through “calls and great follow-up services.”
About two and a half months after his initial visit, he received a TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) procedure at Lynchburg General.
The procedure helps patients who are candidates for it avoid open-heart surgery, long hospital stays and an extended recovery. After the procedure was approved by the FDA a little over a decade ago, the Centra Foundation provided funding to send a Centra cardiologist to receive training. The first procedure was completed at Lynchburg General in 2016.
In addition to funding advanced training and education for clinicians, the Foundation supports heart and vascular care in other ways such as funding advanced technology, facility upgrades and vital programs. The Foundation recently committed funding to support cardiac PET/CT services at Lynchburg General, which will be available to patients later in 2026.
Before, during and after the TAVR procedure, “everyone was as attentive as they had been during the emergency visit,” Mike says. “I have to give my cardiologist, Dr. Supawat Ratanapo, a lot of credit. He did an awesome job. But, again, part of what really stood out to me at the hospital and in each visit to Centra Medical Group Heart & Vascular Institute Lynchburg is that every person across two facilities went above and beyond to show kindness and care to both me and my wife.”
‘Doing great now’
Mike will return to Lynchburg for his “final inspection” soon and then for a follow-up visit once a year. He is happy to report that he is getting back to his active lifestyle.
“I’m doing great now and everything is working properly,” says Mike. “I’m breathing well again. I want to tell all of my Caregivers and the leaders of those facilities that throughout everything I really felt like a person, not just a patient. It was person care, not just patient care. ALL of you are my HEROES for all you do! Thank you for my ‘life support!’”
Photo submitted by Mike Patterson
Have you or a loved one received excellent care at Centra? Saying ‘thank you’ and expressing your appreciation by sharing your personal words of gratitude can uplift your dedicated team of Caregivers, be a powerful part of the healing process, inspire generosity and impact patients.
