“One word? Amazing!”
Craig Romanyk didn’t know much about our Mosaic Heart Centre, in Regina’s General Hospital, prior to February of this year. That changed when doctors discovered he had a blocked artery, which would have led to a major heart attack if left untreated much longer.
“I’d been experiencing symptoms off-and-on for probably a couple of years”, says the retired Regina sales executive. “Finally, it got the point where I’d be out of breath just taking the dog for a walk. My cardiologist ordered a stress test, which I subsequently failed miserably!”
That failed test in early February of 2024, led to a visit to the cardiac catheterization (cath) lab at the Mosaic Heart Centre, where an angiogram revealed the full extent of the blockage. A decision to insert a stent to enable full blood flow to and from Craig’s heart was made and the procedure was performed in the cath lab on February 28, 2024. Craig was able to go home to start his recovery the next day.
“Amazing! From the time I got to the hospital, I was blown away by the caring and professionalism of the staff”, Craig explains. “And thank goodness for the state-of-the-art technology that Hospitals of Regina Foundation donors help supply. Can you imagine? Having a heart procedure and going home the next day? One word: amazing!”
Heart disease and stroke account for almost 20 per cent of all deaths in Canada. Each year, thousands of people from across Saskatchewan receive cardiac care in Regina. As one of only two cardiac centres in the province, patients come from across the province to receive specialized care in our cardiac centre of excellence. Last year, doctors in the two Regina cath labs performed more than 2,400 procedures.
Investing in the best possible cardiac care is a priority for the Foundation. In 2020, the Foundation funded a technology update in one of our two cath labs.
“Now, the second cath lab needs to be updated”, says Lisa Green, senior vice-president, Hospitals of Regina Foundation. “ We are determined to deliver the best technology available to our Regina cardiac teams. That’s why the Foundation has announced a new, $2.5 million Cardiac Care Campaign to upgrade our second cath lab in order to meet the growing cardiac care needs of Saskatchewan and improve the heart health of our community.”
“I’m well on the road to recovery”, Craig explains. “And I owe it all to the amazing staff and technology at Regina’s cardiac centre, and all of the Foundation donors and supporters who help make stories like mine possible. Thank you!”