STATE-OF-THE-HEART CARE

Bruce O’Neill, 78, is truly thankful that the team at Leesburg Regional Medical Center took his health to heart.

These days, Bruce, a resident of The Villages, is playing golf three times a week and walking two-and-a-half miles each day. He attributes that to the wonderful care he received as a patient of Leesburg Regional Medical Center.

In 1956, Bruce was diagnosed with a heart murmur while attending Springfield College in Massachusetts. Although he had periodic check-ups to monitor his condition, the murmur remained dormant for many years.

However, in April 2016, he began experiencing heart palpitations and shortness of breath. After undergoing both an echocardiogram and a heart catheterization, it was determined he needed an aortic valve replacement.

The surgery was performed in May by Wistar (Tim) Moore, MD, a board-certified cardiovascular thoracic surgeon with Ocala Heart Institute–Leesburg. He spent ten days in the hospital and speaks straight from the heart when talking about his wonderful patient experience.

“I received excellent service throughout my stay at Leesburg Regional Medical Center,” Bruce said. “I was extremely impressed that different doctors visited me on a daily basis to mo- nitor my progress. The entire hospital staff was extremely attentive and responsive. I am very satisfied by the overall level of care I received and would wholeheartedly recommend this hospital to anybody experiencing a heart problem.”

He has regained most of his strength and plans to enroll in a cardiac rehabilitation program.

“I’m looking forward to getting on with my life.”

Leesburg Regional Medical Center

352.323.5762

600 E. Dixie Ave. Leesburg, FL 34748 leesburgregional.org