Optimism & Heart Valve Replacement Help Corvallis Woman Thrive

At 88, Patricia Fields has overcome numerous health challenges including a broken hip, stroke, cancer and, most recently, heart valve replacement surgery.

“My doctor told me I work harder staying alive than anyone he knows,” Fields said.

After retiring from a lengthy career in education at age 75, Fields moved to Corvallis to be closer to her daughter. Despite the trials of life — including the deaths of two husbands, her daughter’s cancer recurrence and her own health struggles — Fields remains deeply grateful for the life she’s built.

After she had a stroke, her primary care physician, Eric Sharp, DO, at Samaritan Family Medicine – Southwest, recommended a heart evaluation. This led her to seeing Ashwat Dhillon, MD, an interventional cardiologist at Samaritan Cardiology – Corvallis.

After thorough testing including an echocardiogram, CT scan and cardiac catheterization, Fields was told she needed a new heart valve. This could be done using a minimally invasive procedure known as TAVR, which stands for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Using high-tech imaging equipment, a new prosthetic valve is used to replace the old damaged aortic valve. This is usually done with percutaneous access, meaning no incision or stitches are necessary. With TAVR, the patient is under less anesthesia and the recovery time is much faster than traditional open-heart surgery.

“I didn’t want a lot of options. I just wanted to get it fixed,” she recalled.

Following a successful procedure, Fields attended cardiac rehabilitation and recovered quickly. She resumed her exercise routine averaging six hours a week, including swimming in a warm therapy pool, working out on a recumbent cross trainer, walking on a treadmill and riding an indoor bike. She also remains active, caring for her two dogs and maintaining her household.

“I accomplish as much as I used to, though I give myself breaks,” she said.
Fields’ resilience is rooted in her belief in looking for the good in every situation. She embraces life with optimism, whether navigating personal health issues or social differences.

“The most important thing is to look for the good and accept that people have different views,” she said.

Her positive attitude has been strengthened by her faith, a deep appreciation for medical advances and the lessons learned from her late husband’s heart transplant. Reflecting on her own heart procedure, she said, “Having gone through that with him, my heart problem seems so simple.”

Fields credits her doctors and Bryan Miller, PA-C, at Samaritan Cardiology – Corvallis, for helping her regain health and vitality while guiding her through her health challenges.

“I work at staying alive, and I like living life,” she said. “I would recommend TAVR to anyone who needs it. It has been really good for me.”

For more information on Samaritan’s heart program, visit samhealth.org/Heart.