Kurt Alexander, 64, is big in stature, big in personality and big in heart. One day in early in 2020, the U.S. Navy veteran suddenly felt shortness of breath. He sought medical care and found out he had experienced a heart attack. After an initial stent and several additional stents, he still needed further intervention.
Alexander learned he had a faulty aortic valve and an aortic aneurysm, which was blocking blood flow to the heart and leaving him in danger of splitting the artery wall. In July, he underwent surgery to replace his aortic valve and a section of the artery.
Alexander said, “The first month of recovery was pure hell.”
He began walking, at first to the mailbox and then longer distances within his neighborhood. He added distance and steeper hills to his daily treks. Soon he was ready for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. Learn about his 12-week rehab program: Covenant Health News_Cardiac Rehab