Grateful for expert cardiac care….right here in Waterbury.

As a long time runner, John Marinaro assumed he would never be a candidate for a heart attack. But pressure in his chest after a few weekly runs warranted mention to his primary doctor. Not long after an immediate series of comprehensive tests, John learned his fate –triple bypass surgery. John shared his story….and his appreciation for not having to uproot his family to find the level of care he needed.

“You wouldn’t choose to have Open Heart Surgery. But if you have to have it, Saint Mary’s is the place to have it. It was the greatest place to be.” - John Marinaro

John was a runner for many years and always considered himself physically fit. When he experienced chest pressure after a few runs, his physician ordered tests and John learned almost immediately that he needed triple bypass surgery.   John hoped he wouldn’t have to go far to have the surgery. It was important to him that his family be close by so they could be with him throughout the surgery and his subsequent recovery.

With his wife, son and daughter around him, John underwent surgery at Saint Mary’s Hospital. “I had the utmost confidence in my physicians and the staff of the Cath lab, the Operating Room and the Cardiovascular Care unit at Saint Mary’s” John says. For 11 days, he recovered in the Cardiovascular Care Unit at Saint Mary’s – his family close by his side. “I was actually relaxed knowing that I was Saint Mary’s and that my wife and children could be with me - and that they didn’t have to travel to see me.”

“My experience in the cardiovascular unit was unbelievable. Nobody had their foot pointed toward the door anytime they came into the room. They answered any question I had – they were never in a rush. I felt like I was the only patient in the hospital. Best of all, they treated me with compassion and care – and they treated my family the exact same way.”

“I had phenomenal care as a patient. The staff at Saint Mary’s is like my family. I was never another patient there – I was ‘John’ or “Mr. Marinaro.’” My family is very fortunate to have Saint Mary’s.”

His surgery and recovery at Saint Mary’s weren’t far from John’s mind when he resumed jogging for the first time. “Saint Mary’s Hospital has made a lasting impression on me. My children were born there and anytime we’ve had a medical need in our family, we’ve gone to Saint Mary’s. I hope that people continue to support Saint Mary’s to ensure they’ll always be there for all of us. I want them to have the best equipment and to hire the best people and I know that takes money. I support Saint Mary’s 100%.”

Recently, when speaking to a group about his experience, John said “We need to keep our hearts in the right place, right here in Waterbury.” We couldn’t say it any better ourselves – and the need to keep quality medical care available to all patients in the Waterbury area has never been greater.