Nancy Greer wasn’t about to let something like major heart surgery keep her down.
At 77, she was still golfing four times a week, and throwing in regular walks and swims for good measure.
With that routine, she thought she could stave off the heart disease that had claimed three of her grandparents, her mother and her older brother.
But life had other plans, and on Jan. 13, 2022, she had a burning feeling in the middle of her chest during one of her walks. It only eased when she stopped.
She called her doctor, who said she should go to the emergency department if the feeling came back. And it did — a day later, during a round of golf.
In short order, she was admitted to the Coronary Care Unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital. Next came major open-heart surgery, a quadruple bypass in which blood flow was redirected around blocked and partially blocked arteries.
Fast forward a year, and Greer is feeling great — and the three main goals she set for herself in the wake of her procedure have all been accomplished.
A longtime supporter of the annual Uplands Golf Club Heart Tournament, Greer wanted to be able to play in the event in July. She was also determined to be back for a full round of golf by her birthday at the end of April, and to be able to hold her first grandson at his scheduled March arrival.
Little Hugo decided to make his entrance in late February, but Greer was still there to greet him.
To top it all off, she is back to her routine of four golf games a week.
The long-time Victoria resident said she considers herself “extremely fortunate” with how her recovery has gone, including the care she received from husband, Galen, to whom she has been married for almost 57 years.
Looking back to her hospital stay, she said she had a calmness when she there due to her familiarity with how things worked from helping with the Heart Tournament.
“While it was shocking to find myself in the hospital, I really can say that I never felt fearful.”
People on the Island are lucky to have a heart-health program that is “truly world-class,” Greer said.
“I realize that there are some challenges for the health-care system right now, but I tell you they were there when I needed them.”
She said that soon after being admitted to hospital she found herself getting an angiogram — with the very machine that the Heart Tournament had raised money for when she was co-chair for two years.
“How’s that for paying it forward?” she said with a laugh.
Greer said she is sharing her story to draw attention to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation and its Emerge Stronger Campaign, which aims to raise $10 million for more than 200 pieces of equipment as the health-care system continues to get over the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over $7 million has already been raised.
Greer also wants to advise people to “listen to their bodies” and to act if something doesn’t seem right. “I think so often we get into this denial mode.”
Dr. Lynn Fedoruk, medical lead for Royal Jubilee’s cardiac-surgery division, said donations from the public play an important role.
“The open-heart program in Victoria is one of the best centres in the world, and philanthropy has helped us achieve that,” she said. “This new equipment will allow us to take what is currently a standard of care and turn it into state-of-the-art care.”
Included on the list of new cardiac equipment sought through the campaign is a $292,000 “mitral valve set,” which will allow doctors to perform a minimally invasive type of surgery.
More than 200,000 Vancouver Island residents undergo cardiac assessments every year, and over 6,300 cardiac procedures are performed at Royal Jubilee.
Donations to the Emerge Stronger Campaign, which is also helping Victoria General and Gorge Road hospitals, can be made through the Victoria Hospitals Foundation website at victoriahf.ca or by calling 250-519-1750.
