For years, Erin Naspo had a tumor growing inside her heart.  Doctors weren’t sure if she was born with it, but they believe she had it from childhood.  Her only symptoms were those of asthma, for which she was treated since she was eight.

The symptoms stayed with her through college, marriage and the birth of her son.  By last year, doctors believe the tumor had grown so big – about the size of a baseball – that it covered the valves in Erin’s heart and interfered with her breathing by preventing blood flow.

“At work, I couldn’t climb stairs without losing sensation,” recalls Erin, “and at home, I couldn’t carry my 21-pound son.”  So last February, her doctor suggested a chest X-ray and a referral to Dr. Frederic Knauft, a pulmonary specialist at Hartford Hospital.

The X-ray confirmed Dr. Knauft’s suspicion – Erin’s heart was enlarged.  A follow-up test revealed myxoma, a rare tumor of the heart. 

“I was admitted immediately and was very fortunate to get [cardiovascular surgeon] Dr. Robert Gallagher,” says Erin.  “It was so wonderful when he came in to talk to my husband and me about the surgery, so calm and confident, saying he wanted to get me back to being able to lift my son as soon as possible.”

Erin was readied for surgery, which Dr. Gallagher was going to perform robotically.  “But my blood pressure dropped very low and he felt he couldn’t keep me stable long enough for that,” notes Erin.  “So he had to crack my sternum to get to my heart.”

Following surgery, Erin’s heart returned to full functioning with no damage to it.  “It took a while to get me stabilized, but I didn’t have to do any rehab,” she says.  “I’m walking twice a day to build myself back up, but I still get a little tired, especially carrying a 28-pound baby around.” 

Erin’s experience showcases the excellence of the Henry Low Heart Center, the dedication of its staff, and its broad array of sophisticated techniques in a setting of highly personalized care.

“Having access to quality care in a crisis is something people don’t often think about,” adds Erin.  “I didn’t think I’d ever have heart surgery, but when I knew it was going to happen, there wasn’t any doubt about where I would have it – even though some friends thought I should go to Boston.  That’s one of the first things I crossed off my to-do list – I knew I should be at Hartford Hospital.”

Annual gifts to the Henry Low Heart Center enhance this tradition of leadership in cardiology, through support of leading technology such as surgical robotics, staff training and education; community education programs, exercise and monitoring equipment for cardiac rehabilitation; and funding for programs such as the annual cardiovascular symposium and nursing cardiovascular symposium.