In January 2024, I was involved in a motor vehicle accident in which my car was totalled. I walked away from it – kept teaching dance, fitness, Zumba, and chair yoga – and figured the shoulder pain that followed was just part of the fallout. But by February and March, I couldn’t lift my arm properly. Physio raised a brow. My doctor raised a bigger concern: “If it weren’t for the accident,” he said, “this could be your heart.”
Turns out, it was. I failed my cardiac stress test in March—spectacularly. It took ages to catch my breath and calm my heart rate, and I was given nitroglycerin on the spot. The team suspected I might need a few stents. But after reviewing my angiogram, they changed course fast. No stents for me. My arteries were 80-90% blocked. At age 63, and despite my active lifestyle, I was told I’d need at least four, possibly five, bypasses.
I was expecting a six-week wait. They called me back in two. In April 2024, I underwent open-heart surgery at the Ottawa Heart Institute under the care of Dr. Voisine.
Post-op, I had no chest pain—just very numb hands and fingers. I followed the Heart Institute’s recovery program exactly. And then I did what I do best: I created something new.
From the moment I arrived, the Ottawa Heart Institute treated me like more than a patient—they treated me like a partner. Their communication was clear, compassionate, and consistent. Every step was explained, and my spouse was included and supported throughout. After surgery, I was guided by a full cast of experts: nutritionists, fitness specialists, medical staff, and wellness teams who all played a role in my recovery.
Their whole-person approach inspired me to create a recovery program that speaks to body, mind, and spirit. I’m grateful, I’m healing, and I’m still teaching—just with a few extra heartbeats of wisdom.
