Husband and wife both saved by La Grange heart care

When Melina and Tom Schofield moved from the Chicago area to Louisville in 2018, they expected new adventures and challenges, though they never imagined both of their lives would be saved by the same heart surgeon at Baptist Health La Grange. 

It began one evening over dinner. 

“All of a sudden, Tom pushed back from the table and said, ‘Something is wrong,’” Melina recalled. 

They called 911. Although first responders found nothing alarming, Melina’s instincts told her otherwise. She insisted they go to the hospital – a decision that saved Tom’s life. 

At Baptist Health, CT scans revealed that Tom’s aorta had dissected, a life-threatening emergency requiring immediate surgery. That’s when the Schofields first met the cardiothoracic surgeon who would become central to their story. 

“The emergency room just filled with people, and then he came in. We had never met him before, but he was so calm and confident,” Melina said. “He told me he would be doing the surgery, and I knew Tom was in the right hands.” 

After nearly six hours in the operating room, Tom survived against the odds. 

“The doctor told me it was a miracle,” Melina said. “He was kind, patient, and never rushed us. He answered every question.” 

Just weeks later, it was Melina’s turn to face a heart crisis. 

“My parents had just gotten me a watch that could check my pulse and oxygen levels,” she said. “It said I was in atrial fibrillation.” 

At Baptist, doctors discovered her mitral valve had narrowed from stenosis and would require surgery. 

“The cardiologist told me, ‘If you don’t get this done, you’re going to die,’” Melina recalled. 

She had one request: that Tom’s doctor perform the procedure. 

“When he walked into my hospital room, I started to cry,” she said. “We knew the miracle the Lord had performed through him to take care of my husband, and I had every bit of confidence in him. I looked at him and asked, ‘Will you do my surgery?’ He smiled so big and said, ‘I will.’ In that moment, I knew I was in good hands.” 

The surgeon replaced her mitral valve, performed a clip procedure to prevent future atrial fibrillation, and later removed wires from her sternum that were causing pain. Today, both Melina and Tom are thriving, and remain deeply grateful for the care they received at Baptist Health, along with the community they’ve built in Louisville. 

“We’re grandparents, and Tom has great grandchildren, who I consider my great grandchildren, too,” Melina said. “We want to be here for our family. Before my surgery, I had no idea how close I was to not being here.” 

Stories like Melina and Tom’s are possible because of donor generosity. Your support helps Baptist Health recruit and retain top physicians, provide the latest technology for advanced heart surgeries, and ensure patients and families can receive life-saving care close to home. 

“It’s so comforting to know we have a doctor and a hospital we can truly trust,” Melina said. “Baptist has taken such good care of us, and we’ll never forget it.”