The Art
After Heidi was diagnosed with migraine and had a mini stroke, she came to us for a second opinion—and learned she had a hole in her heart known as a patent foramen ovale (PFO). She became the first Texas patient to receive the lifesaving PFO Occluder. Today, Heidi is growing her own business, enjoying her family and living without limits.
After learning that Heidi is a painter who uses art as a form of healing, Laragh Gallagher found a way to honor Heidi’s recovery and her style of art. She painted a portrait of Heidi using patterns and brushwork that matched Heidi’s personal style, with both eyes surrounded by hearts. Each heart featured a small loop at its center, symbolizing the hole repaired by our care team.
The Science
The PFO, present in the heart of every developing fetus, typically closes after birth. But that was not the case for Heidi. While many people with a PFO never experience symptoms or complications, the condition can potentially allow dangerous clots to travel up to the brain and cause a stroke. The PFO Occluder device we placed closed the hole in Heidi’s heart and reduced her risk of having recurrent strokes.
Today, Heidi feels at ease, knowing her risk of having more strokes is low. She sees her diet as a form of medicine. She eats healthier foods that make her feel good, and she enjoys all of her normal activities. She believes it’s important to move forward—to believe in the power of healing and live life to its fullest.
*Heidi was the first patient to receive this device that had been in clinical trials prior to her procedure.
