Eddie Turner, a 65-year-old Pastor and Author from Cookeville, TN, had been living a fulfilling life, spreading messages of hope and mental health awareness through his teachings and books. Little did he know that his own physical health was quietly deteriorating. In 2014, he was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (a-fib) but managed it with medication. “Even with my a-fib I was feeling totally healthy,” said Eddie. Despite feeling healthy, he decided to address a sudden discomfort that felt like acid reflux by consulting his primary care doctor. “Due to my family history of heart issues, the doctor recommended I get some testing done,” said Eddie. Testing revealed plaque, prompting further investigation.
In the midst of a busy schedule and health concerns, Eddie still embarked on a book tour, planning to address his health concerns upon his return. “While unloading luggage in Texas, I experienced excruciating pain,” said Eddie. “I told my wife we needed to get to the emergency room.” There they found that Eddie was experiencing a heart event and found four major blockages that needed immediate attention.
Stranded in Texas, Eddie and his wife faced a dilemma. “I didn’t like being away from family and being in an unfamiliar hospital,” said Eddie. Eddie was recommended not to drive the distance back home to Tennessee or board a commercial flight where germs are promointment. “A pastor friend of mine found out what was going on and arranged a private jet to transport us back to Nashville for specialized care at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart West.”
Eddie was then seen by Dr. Ashok Babu, cardiothoracic surgeon, at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart, and it was confirmed that he would be spending the night at the hospital and scheduled first thing in the morning for a quadruple bypass surgery.
"I praise Dr. Babu and his staff,” said Eddie. “Dr. Babu continued to check on me daily while I was recovering in the ICU, sometimes even twice a day. I felt like I was treated like royalty. There was care and compassion from everyone."
Within 2 weeks, he was back in the office, and in 3 weeks, he was back to preaching. Beyond the physical healing, Eddie has been running, walking for miles, and sleeping better. He is off much of his medication, embracing a healthier and more vibrant life.
"Thank you for giving me an opportunity and quality of life that I didn't know existed,” said Eddie. “The care team at Ascension Saint Thomas Heart gave me my life back better than it had been for 25 years."
