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One Grateful Patient Bill Sanders
However, the onset of acute heart problems, including an irregular heartbeat, greatly curtailed his physical activity. His health declining, Sanders was admitted to a south Orange County hospital in April 2008 after suddenly feeling exhausted, disoriented and weak. He was released after a single night of observation. Two weeks later, Sanders returned to the same hospital after experiencing a similar episode at a restaurant. Hospital physicians re-examined Sanders, and, given the seriousness of his heart condition, decided they needed to transfer him to UC Irvine Medical Center. The medical center, which features Orange County’s only university hospital, treats the most complex cases in the region. At UC Irvine, the ailing Sanders saw Dr. Jeffrey Milliken, chief of UC Irvine’s Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and a leader in the field. Milliken assured Sanders and concerned family members that his team would take good care of him. Milliken performed major open-heart surgery on Sanders. In addition to coronary artery bypasses, the heart surgeon replaced Sanders’ aortic valve and repaired a leaking mitral valve. Milliken also performed a complicated removal of abnormal muscle inside Sanders’ heart that had long blocked normal blood flow. Finally, he restored a normal heartbeat with another procedure. “We are privileged to serve as a resource for other hospitals and physicians in the area, many of whom send complicated or high-risk patients to UC Irvine for their care,” Milliken said. “We are grateful to be able to treat patients like Bill Sanders.” And Sanders is grateful to have received care from the likes of Milliken. “Dr. Milliken saved my life,” said Sanders, who has begun working out again and says he now feels “fantastic.” — Marc Ballon, Health Affairs Advancement
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University of California, Irvine • Irvine, CA 92697 |
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The 78-year-old retired financial planner from Mission Viejo watched his diet, worked out with weights and took walks several times a week. Nothing made him happier than hiking in Orange County’s foothills and, camera in hand, capturing nature in all its splendor.