Susan never expected a heart attack.
Healthy and active, she attended yoga classes, exercised regularly, and made healthy choices. Like many women, heart disease simply wasn’t something she thought would happen to her.
In early March 2026, Susan visited Urgent Care after experiencing back pain. She soon learned that what she thought might be a muscle strain was actually something much more serious. Testing revealed she was having a heart attack.
What happened next moved quickly.
Susan was impressed by the Urgent Care team’s swift response. An ambulance was called immediately, and she was transported to St. Joseph Hospital, where the cardiac team was ready for her arrival. Within a short time, she was in the cardiac catheterization lab, where a physician placed a stent to restore blood flow to her heart.
Following her procedure, Susan was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. To support her recovery, the staff moved her to a quieter room where she was able to rest more comfortably.
Throughout her hospitalization, Susan came to appreciate the importance of asking questions and taking an active role in her care. She believes every patient processes a diagnosis differently and encourages others to speak up if they need additional information or reassurance. For Susan, understanding her recovery was an important part of the healing process.
Just two days after her procedure, Susan was able to return home earlier than expected.
With encouragement from her husband, she enrolled in St. Joseph Hospital Cardiac Rehabilitation program, a decision she describes as an important part of her recovery. There, she met others who had experienced similar cardiac events and found comfort in knowing she was not alone.
Cardiac rehabilitation also reinforced an important lesson: overall health is influenced by many factors, and recovery looks different for every person.
Today, Susan shares her experience to help others understand that heart attacks can happen even to people who exercise, eat well, and live healthy lifestyles. She also wants women to know that heart attack symptoms may present differently than they do in men.
“Not every person is the same,” Susan says. “Heart attacks don’t always look the same, recovery is different for everyone, and what works for one person may not work for another. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and be your own advocate.”
By sharing her story, Susan hopes others will listen to their bodies, seek medical attention when something feels wrong, and advocate for themselves throughout their healthcare journey.
To learn more about St. Joseph Hospital’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and how it can support your recovery, visit our Cardiac Rehab page.