After emergency heart surgery at 84, Bob struggled to regain his strength and confidence. Cardiac rehab after heart surgery gave him a structured path back to the gym, the golf course and the life he loved.
When Bob was rushed to the hospital on September 21, he believed he was having a heart attack. Doctors soon discovered something far more dangerous: a dissected ascending aorta. At any age, this is a life-threatening condition. At 84 years old, Bob’s prognosis was dire.
“I was told I was going to die,” he recalls. “They couldn’t find a surgeon right away, and they didn’t think I would survive surgery anyway.”
For six hours in the emergency room, he said goodbye to his wife and children. Then Stanford agreed to take his case. A helicopter transported him for emergency surgery, where he spent 11 days recovering. Later complications required a brief return to Stanford before he could begin recovering at home.
Feeling Stuck in Recovery
Bob felt grateful to be alive, but he still had more to recover from than the physical effects of surgery. He felt mentally shaken, on top of the physical toll.
“I was extremely depressed. My anxiety was through the roof. I had to sleep with the light on because I was afraid of the dark. It hit me really hard.”
In the early stages of recovery, home health nurses helped him with light exercises, but it didn’t feel like the structured program he needed. He didn’t feel progress, and that uncertainty fed his depression and anxiety. He began to wonder if inactivity was simply his new reality. Stanford physicians recommended cardiac rehabilitation, and despite some initial doubts, his primary care provider helped him enroll in Carson Valley Health’s cardiac rehab program.
Progress You Can Feel
Three times a week for six weeks, Bob showed up and committed to the program. It gave him something he had been missing: purpose. Cardiac rehab provided a safe, structured environment where he could challenge himself and shift his mindset from maintenance to improvement. The change was far more than physical.
“That program gave me a purpose,” he says. “It wasn’t just ‘maintain.’ It was, ‘I’m going to get stronger.’”
He began looking forward to his sessions. There wasn’t a single dramatic turning point, just steady, measurable improvement. Cardiac rehab team members Maria and Barrett created a positive environment that energized him.
“The staff were so encouraging. They pushed me, gave me challenges, and every time I left, I felt successful. I felt like I was truly making progress, mentally and physically.”
The education component also played a key role. Bob learned how to monitor his blood pressure and better care for his heart for the long term.
“The difference from when people start to when they finish is amazing,” said Barrett Lichau, Certified Exercise Physiologist with Carson Valley Health. “They’ve got more energy, more mental clarity, strength, endurance, and most importantly, they feel closer to how they were before, no matter how big or small the event was.”
A New Outlook and a Stronger Life
Gradually, his appetite returned. His energy improved. His outlook brightened.
“I don’t think I’d be the same person without cardiac rehab,” he says. “I might be sitting in a lounge chair watching TV all day instead of living my life.”
Today, he plays golf regularly and goes to the gym proudly wearing his cardiac rehab shirt.
“I think it’s essential. I don’t even think it’s discretionary. It should be mandatory.” At 84, after staring down a recovery filled with unknowns, Bob isn’t just surviving, he’s stronger both physically and mentally. And he credits cardiac rehab for 99% of that turnaround.
Cardiac Rehab After Heart Surgery at Carson Valley Health
If you are recovering from a heart attack, heart surgery or another qualifying cardiac condition or procedure, cardiac rehabilitation may be an important part of your recovery.
Cardiac rehab after heart surgery can help patients safely rebuild strength, regain confidence and develop healthy habits that support long-term heart health. Carson Valley Health’s six-week cardiac rehabilitation program combines individualized, medically supervised exercise with education focused on nutrition, blood pressure, cholesterol, physical activity and other modifiable risk factors. Patients attend three days a week and exercise with a cardiac monitor while the team adjusts each workout to their fitness level, medical needs and stage of recovery. The program also helps patients learn how to continue exercising and making heart-healthy choices after cardiac rehab ends. By offering cardiac rehabilitation locally in Carson Valley, patients recovering from bypass surgery and other cardiac events can receive ongoing support without traveling to Reno or Carson City several times each week.
Learn more about Carson Valley Health’s Cardiac Rehabilitation program and talk with your healthcare provider about whether cardiac rehab is appropriate for you.
