Cornville resident Alice Goodhart is no stranger to heart procedures. Her husband has had nine stents, a pacemaker implant and an aortic valve replacement. Even though Alice was feeling great, her husband’s history and the recent heart disease diagnoses of two female friends prompted Alice to see her physician to make sure her heart was healthy.

She was shocked to find out she had coronary artery blockages in her heart and she needed surgery. Samuel Butman, M.D., Goodhart’s cardiologist at the Heart & Vascular Center of Northern Arizona at Verde Valley Medical Center, referred her to FMC’s open-heart surgeon, Steven Peterson, M.D.

“My husband and I met with Dr. Peterson, and he completely put us at ease,” Goodhart said. “He explained the bypass procedure and how he would be able to perform the surgery while my heart was still beating.”

Dr. Peterson performed a double bypass, restoring blood flow to Goodhart’s heart. “I was up and walking the very next day, and was home in three days,” Goodhart said. “I hardly had any pain, and my scars are barely visible. Living in Cornville, I am delighted I can still wear the same hot-weather apparel I love.

“Working with physicians at both VVMC and FMC was like working with one major unit that spreads its arms out and gives you a big hug. The new technologies FMC uses for open-heart surgery are wonderful. Dr. Peterson and the open heart team gave me back my ‘good heart’ so I have many more years to share with my family and friends.”